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Diocesan Dominican mission celebrates 40th

	Related articles ... From 10/24/2003 Compass Web issue:  • Bishop Banks' Corner --     Joyfully celebrating anniversary From 10/10/2003 Compass Web issue:  • Seminarian finds new experiences in mission  • Diocese celebrates 40 years of mission

Forty years ago, Fr. Ray Conard, a Green Bay diocesan priest felt called to be a missionary. With the support of Bp. Aloysius Wycislo, he wrote to the bishop of a poor, struggling diocese in the Dominican Republic about serving there.

The bishop replied that Fr. Conard would be more than welcome to serve as pastor of a parish in Banica.

That began the relationship between the Dioceses of Green Bay and San Juan De La Maguana.

On Oct. 16, Bp. Robert Banks led a small delegation from the Green Bay Diocese to the diocesan mission in Elías Piña to remember, celebrate, and rekindle the mutually enriching 40-year relationship.

Other delegation members were Frs. Bill Hoffman and Tom Reynebeau, Gary and Helen Crevier, and myself.

After a four-hour drive in two 4-wheel-drive trucks along the potholed main highway, Fr. Mike Seis, an Antigo native serving in the Dominican Republic, got the group to Elías Piña. Fr. Conard, who flew in from Kazakhstan, was waiting and the stories and remembrances began.

We heard how Fr. Seis had preached weeks earlier, saying that priests who had served them for 40 years were coming to celebrate. He asked the people to give generously for the celebration. There was a significant increase in the collection - from the usual $7 U.S. to almost $12.

We heard often how our priests had lovingly worked for the poor and needy, braving risky confrontations with corrupt and unjust government officials.

A constant stream of people came to the parish center and its tin roofed courtyard, long plastic patio table, coffee pot and domino board.

Among those who traveled miles to extend their thanks was a young cardiac doctor from Santo Domingo; he is an Elías Piña native and a former acolyte. The elderly former cook sat with Bp. Banks to ask him to send more priests to help Fr. Seis.

There also were seminarians and a newly ordained Dominican priest from the parish. A team of shoe shine boys appeared each morning to practice their trade and get a cup of coffee with at least four spoonsful of sugar. And on and on. Each had a story of gratitude about how they were helped.

Daily, we visited favorite places of our group. We traveled into the mountains, along "roads" that tested the mettle of our trucks and us. Fr. Seis joked that a Hummer would help reach the 90 small communities he serves. Bp. Banks replied that a bulldozer to fix the roads would help more.

We never made it to El Llano, the second parish Fr. Seis serves, because heavy rains had wiped out the bridge and left the roads too muddy.

We heard countless stories of faith and conversion, from both the Dominicans and the priests who served there. The priests said service there made them better people. They fondly remembered youth groups and parishioners from the Green Bay Diocese who visited over the years.

In the early years, the nearest phone was miles away. The sick would walk or be carried miles to the parish so they could get a ride to the nearest hospital a few hours away. Even today, the school, when it functions, only educates to the fourth grade. The group laughed about times without electricity - which went out only two nights for several hours during our visit - or running water.

Poverty is still common and can be seen in makeshift, floorless shacks made from branches and sheets of tin. Fr. Seis said that, on a recent visit to an outlying community, the children had red hair - a sign of malnutrition.

The inflation rate last year was 25% on many things and 100% on others. Last year, the government announced a 7% salary increase, which was never paid. And no one expects to see this year's announced 9% salary increase.

We visited the regional medical center in Elías Piña, where we met a family grieving for a young doctor who had died a few hours earlier in a car accident. The administrator showed us patient wards with 10-12 beds each. Family members sat next to patients on folding chairs. There are no partitions between the well-worn beds.

The administrator said the government has not sent the hospital's financial subsidy in four months and that the x-ray machine that arrived two years ago still hasn't been set up. Those with broken bones need to drive an hour for x-rays.

The anniversary celebration started with Bp. Banks and Fr. Seis leading a procession through Elías Piña. They were accompanied by a statue of St. Teresa and 150 chanting, singing Dominicans - many of whom walked hours to participate.

Abp. Timothy Broglio, apostolic nuncio for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, presided at the Mass, which included drums and dancing. Bp. Banks preached the homily about the mutually enriching friendship between the two dioceses.

He expressed hope that his successor, Bp. David Zubik, would continue the relationship. Bp. Jose Grullion of San Juan, talked about how grateful he has been for the service and presence of so many good priests from Green Bay (Fr. Seis is the diocese's vicar general and Fr. Hoffman, who had been the pastoral vicar for the diocese, also celebrated.)

At the feast after Mass, I met Sr. Rosalyn, who has connections to the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Oshkosh. She discussed her work in education, nutrition, reforestation, sanitary systems, housing and medical care. I asked where she gets financing. "I don't know," she said, "God kinda takes care of it and the money just comes."

Through it all, Fr. Seis exuded warmth, humor, energy and hospitality. When I asked how he keeps up his spirits, he smiled and said, "If you love what you are doing, it's easy."

But, at times, he gets angry, he added - usually with corrupt politicians or government officials who are not serving the people as they should. When that happens, he said with a laugh, "you don't want to be around."

You can't spend time exposed to the faith and spirit of the Dominican Republic, its spiritual leaders and people and not be touched deeply. Being there helps put some of our personal and collective problems into perspective. I'm sure we each came away grateful and committed to do what we can to support and continue to help our mission in the Diocese of San Juan.