Far-Flung Parishes Build Wells and Partnership

By Mari Barboza

In May 2009, the village of Hoja Blanca in the Diocese of San Marcos, Guatemala, inaugurated a potable water project. Like many of the villages in San Marcos, Hoja Blanca is remote and among the neediest in the country. The celebration had the customary speeches by local dignitaries, the celebratory Mass and the feast consisting of soup and poches, the local tamales. But what will this mean for the people of the community?

Having potable water means the women and children will no longer have to go fetch water in the river and carry it on their heads up the mountain to cook and bathe. Having latrines and proper sewage means that families will have a clean place to use as a toilet and will reduce the chances of getting sick from exposure to dirty water.

This is no ordinary water project; it is the third water project in the Diocese of San Marcos funded by their sister diocese in Wilmington, Delaware. Over seven years, Diocese of Wilmington parishes and schools have raised funds for the projects and awareness about Guatemala.

These two dioceses are participating in a Catholic Relief Services Global Solidarity Partnership program. They have developed a relationship based on mutual respect, appreciation for each other's gifts and a shared goal to improve the lives of the people in their dioceses.

'It Was Inspirational'

In 2006, I accompanied the group who attended the inauguration of the water project in the village of Yalu. This day is still fresh in my memory. We drove for one and a half hours across the border into Mexico because it was easier to access the village from that side, since they had better roads. We walked for almost two hours going up and down the mountain paths, walking among coffee plantations and very steep cornfields. Some of the members of the Wilmington delegation were nervous about being able to complete the hike, but we walked slowly and rested.

Finally, we were very close to the village and saw the beautiful white church on the side of a very green mountain. It was a small village of about 300 people. As we approached the village center, people came out to greet the group. When language failed, people communicated with gestures. An elderly gentleman gave Mary Jo, a very lively member of our group, a hug and then walked arm in arm with her up to the church.

Local leaders spoke about what they had accomplished and their gratitude to their brothers and sisters in Wilmington. To build this project, they organized everyone in the village, collaborated with laborers and used local materials. The CRS and Caritas offices provided the technical know-how and organized the water committee that regulates water use.

Two Wilmington delegation members cut the ribbon. Andy Zampini, director of parish social ministry in Wilmington, was one of them. He has promoted the water projects for years in his diocese, giving countless talks at schools and parishes.

"It was inspirational to me on various levels, first, to see that the money we put into the project had actually come to fruition. Seeing sinks in the yards in front of huts, seeing toilet seats, things that we take for granted, but people were so happy about," Zampini said. "At a deeper level, to know that children would not be getting sick or dying as frequently because they were not drinking dirty water: We in our diocese were able to make a difference. I felt many emotions, a sense of pride. It was a joyful occasion with [officials] from the town, the diocese and CRS, to see the water flowing though the pipes was incredible. I was happy and even got teary-eyed when I saw the impact this was having for 60 or more families."

Hoja Blanca, Yalu and Serchil are three remote villages in the mountains of Guatemala that today have potable water. But they are much more than this: They are concrete examples of what people can achieve working hand in hand, across cultures and languages but joined together as one family in faith and solidarity.

Mari Barboza is based in New York as the program officer for Global Solidarity Partnerships and the Hispanic community at CRS' Northeast regional office.