Making his mark in Mexico

Fr. John Reuter is originally from Kaukauna, but he now calls Mexico home after serving there for the past 31 years. Fr. Reuter is the pastor of Santa Maria Parish in Yucuhiti, as well as serving the surrounding 22 community parishes. Yucuhiti is the county seat where Fr. Reuter usually serves Mass unless there is a feast at one of the surrounding parishes.

"Yucuhiti is my home base, but I try to get out to the neighboring parishes as much as possible," said Fr. Reuter. "There are no roads for me to and from church so I have a 4X4 truck that allows me to get around pretty well. Some trips may take three and a half to four hours to get to by truck. Some I cannot even get to during the rainy season due to mudslides."

Fr. Reuter, who was ordained in 1967, spent his first summer as a priest in Wautoma. He then served St. Mary's in Menasha for the next three years.

"Menasha was a great parish. There were five of us together at that time," said Fr. Reuter. "Although I enjoyed it there, I knew I wanted something else."

That something else was to serve in Mexico.

"When I was in seminary, one of my classmates was from Mexico studying for the diocese of Tapachula," he explained. "I was ordained a deacon, and I was interested in serving for the summer in Mexico with my classmate, as a deacon. Bp. Bona gave me permission and I went to Tapachula for the three summer months, and after I saw the profound need as a deacon, I decided I would like to serve there as a priest."

At the time Fr. Reuter was ready to go to Mexico, St. Mary's was going through many changes. After asking Bp. Wycisolo for permission to go to Mexico, Fr. Reuter was told that if he would serve as the anchor pastor for St. Mary's for another year, he would be granted permission to go to Mexico. In 1970, Fr. Reuter departed for Mexico.

When Fr. Reuter arrived in his new home, he did not know how to speak Spanish.

"I was put directly into a parish, and I had to learn for myself," Fr. Reuter said with a chuckle. "I was assigned to Escuintla, from the diocese of Tapachula, and I was an assistant to another pastor for half a year. That pastor left, and I was left alone after six months to run the parish myself, still not knowing much Spanish."

"About 70% of the people from Escuintla are actually indigenous Indian, and they have an amazing sense of family and community," he continued. "Even the language used by them demonstrates the closeness. They also have deep faith. They live their lives in a day-to-day existence."

Escuintla was a large parish so it was eventually split, and Fr. Reuter became pastor of the newly formed parish of Acapatahua.

"I was at Acapatahua for seven and a half years, and in that time really built up the parish," said Fr. Reuter. "The people there were from the coast line, and they have a different mentality toward the church. They care about it, but it is difficult to get them to commit to anything."

In 1979, Fr. Reuter moved to Yucuhiti.

"I like this parish, and the people are so devoted and willing to help out. Especially my 'right hand man, El Pidio,'" said Fr. Reuter. "The people in the mountains are much more reliable and it makes it possible to do more. We have remodeled the main church, Santa Maria, and it is used for Mass and for many different events."

The people of the parish are involved in church activities. The catechists take a three-day retreat every two months to help them focus on their own spirituality as well as their teaching.

"We also have a band for the church," said Fr. Reuter. "A few years ago, through The Compass and parishes throughout the Diocese of Green Bay, we had a collection for used instruments, and Schneider brought down the instruments. We now have a weeklong practice every month for members of our band. They played for the first time for the feast of Corpus Christi, and they are coming along. They will be playing again on August 15, and they are looking forward to that one."

Fr. Reuter appreciates the help he receives from the parishes in Green Bay.

"I give thanks to all the good people of the diocese for your generosity," he said. "Most Precious Blood Parish in New London has been a sister parish to Escuintla. I would especially like to note my own home parish, Holy Cross in Kaukauna. They have raised money to give me a Jeep Wagoneer in 1980, and a Dodge 4X4 in 1992. My truck is necessary to move between parish churches."