Young adult from diocese experiences ‘globalization of love’ a continent away

by Katie Blaschko

We have all heard people talk about "what a small world it is," but I got to experience this phenomenon first hand when I spent one month at the San Lucas Toliman Mission in Guatemala this summer.

With communication and travel so easy today, we are connected physically, economically, and more importantly, spiritually to people all around the world. Fr. Greg Schaffer, pastor of the Diocese of New Ulm Mission Parish of San Lucas Toliman, insists there needs to be a "globalization of love."

This process was explained to me by a Mayan man named Andreas. Andreas has worked for the mission for 25 years and shared some of his profound wisdom with me, explaining; "We (Guatemalans and Americans) have very different cultures and languages, but we have one Church. The language of the Church is service and we can all speak and understand that language."

Instantly we overcome that language barrier when we speak the language of service. This does not account for the first time the garbage man came to my door and asked for the trash. In my broken comprehension of Spanish, I gave him the broom instead. Most lessons I learned, however, transcended the language

barrier. I volunteered in a kindergarten class at the mission school and these kids taught me about blind love. The men I did construction work with taught me about human dignity, hard work and dreams. I was not sent to Guatemala to change, fix or help these people reach for the American dream. Instead I was there to learn, love and encourage; empowering the people to attain their goals and dreams. The specifics of our dreams and goals are very different, but our need for dignity and respect is a universal necessity.

Whether we are traveling around the world, or grocery shopping at home, we affect people all around the world because of globalization. The challenge is to make the affects of our everyday choices good. Our goal is to improve the "globalization of love." Let’s work together for social justice and human dignity in all the big and little decisions we make everyday.

Katie Blaschko is the daughter of Russ and Deb Blaschko, members of Holy Rosary parish, North Mankato. She is

a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University, Winona and is a new youth minister for an Area Faith Community in Sauk Center, MN.