FORT LORAMIE — A year ago, parishioners of St Michael in Fort Loramie, Ss Peter & Paul in Newport, and St. Augustine in Minster participated with an 8-day delegation to El Salvador, to “build bridges of solidarity.” The Newport – Fort Loramie (NFL) Pastoral region has been working on developing a sister-parish relationship with the community of San Cristobal, El Salvador since 2012. Juan Gomez is a Maryknoll Lay Missioner and a parishioner of San Cristobal. He will be spending time in the NFL Pastoral Region June 10-13, 2017.
A two-part series is planned to inform the public and to share the opportunities involved with building global solidarity through missions and by fostering relationships through a Sister-Parish or Twinning relationship.
“The Life of a Modern Day Missioner” is Sunday, June 11, from noon to 1:15 p.m. in St Michael Hall, Fort Loramie. The public is invited to share in Gomez’s story, by meeting new people and to listen to Gomez’s presentation on his journey as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, in El Salvador. In a short amount of time participants will meet solidarity-minded people, learn about Maryknoll, being a lay missioner, and participating with a dynamic mission awareness program called “Friends Across Boarders.” “FAB” is a short term global mission trip for participants to deepen and enrich their understanding of mission worldwide. A free, light lunch is provided.
“Twinning in El Salvador – the Fruits of a Sister Parish Relationship” is Tuesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. in St. Michael Hall. Gomez and parishioners from the sister parish planning team will report on the “twinning” relationship that is being fostered between St Michael, Ss. Peter & Paul and San Cristóbal, El Salvador. Gomez will share his perspective on how this relationship and delegations from Ohio affect the community of San Cristóbal, and parishioners will share their insight on what our pastoral region has to gain from these visits. Individuals or groups of other communities who are in a “twinning” relationship are invited to briefly share your experience on Tuesday.
Gomez will report on the progress of El Programa de Ingles – the English Program initiated in 2014 between the sister parishes, and he will present a draft of the proposed University Scholarship program intended to provide youth development in El Salvador.
Gomez lives and works primarily with youth in the rural area of San Cristobal, El Salvador where the community makes its living on survival farming. Juan graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, and worked as a manufacturing engineer after graduation.
