Two years ago, when I retired from teaching at St Paul's High School in Winnipeg, I thought I had done my farewell tour of El Salvador but was drawn back again this summer by my good friend and mentor Dennis Kuzenko. It was a short visit, travelling with eleven teachers and an alumnus from St. Paul’s High School. The purpose of this recent visit was to provide insights for the faculty into our student’s experiences when they journey to El Salvador each summer.

On Wednesday, June 29th, the first day, our group, carrying a large cross, trekked into the village of La Loma. La Loma is a tiny, isolated village, accessible only by trails up the side of the mountain or across a mountain ridge. Led by Adrian, a dynamic and inspirational leader, they have accomplished many great things there in their school, the church and their community.

Three years ago I was fortunate enough to have worked there with a delegation of eighteen St. Paul’s students. At their request we helped them build a foundation around an existing building to support the new chapel.

It was difficult work which the students carried out with a great deal of enthusiasm and diligence. Each day after an hour trek up the hill they worked in the heat with the prospect of the return trek at the end of the day. We worked side by side with any men from the village who could be spared from work in the fields.

Two years ago we returned with another student delegation to finish the job but were prevented from reaching the site by dangerous gang activity along the trail. Instead we worked at another village called El Faro. The chapel was completed by the village in our absence.

At my retirement dinner in 2014 altar vessels were gifted in my name to the church. These were taken there two years ago. Fr. Altilia used them in the little church for the first time last year. Unfortunately, I was not present!

This year we began our mission to El Salvador with a trip into La Loma. Like modern day Simon of Cyrene’s we trekked over pretty rugged terrain carrying with us a large cross which we planned to present to the community for their altar.

Father Altilia, SJ blessed the cross and then celebrated mass with the people from the village and us. It was a beautiful Spanish service with pious people who have a simple and profound faith. They stand out to many of us, like myself, for whom faith and practice are convenient and not something we have to struggle for.

The trek out was momentous. “Mad dogs and Englishmen” and St. Paul’s teachers, alone venture out in the noon day sun. In the midday heat and humidity, we struggled up and on while encouraging each other and worrying about those who were suffering the most. Thankfully the village supplied a few small horses to help those in the most need. In the end, we brought each other out. After what seemed like an eternity of bouncing in the boxes of old pickup trucks we made it to the port where gallons of cold water were greedily gulped.

In the bible many people ascend mountains to find and listen to God. In this mountain village we have met people who have suffered exploitation in the past, violence and murder during the revolution and now live as isolated subsistence farmers. Still they have community, their faith and their families. In many ways they are happier than many people where we come from. God’s message through them comes through loud and clear.

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Photographs courtesy of Larry Franz