Diocesan priests honored for their service to the poor

Two American missionary priests and a Guatemalan layman were honored for their service to the poor with the 2003 Pilgrimage of Faith Award from the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA).

Monsignor Gregory Schaffer and Father John Goggin, long-time missionaries in Guatemala and priests of the Diocese of New Ulm and Gaspar Baran Guoz, coordinator of a mission site in Guatemala, were honored at CFCA’s Annual Dinner June 3 in Kansas City, KS.

The honorees were recognized for their support of CFCA’s work in Guatemala, where the organization has its most extensive outreach. More than 90,000 children and aging persons in Guatemala receive help with needs such as education, nutrition, clothing and medical care through a sponsorship program.

Monsignor Schaffer, a member of CFCA’s board of directors, has been pastor of the Diocese of New Ulm mission parish in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala since 1963. In October, he will celebrate his 40th year of service to the people of San Lucas.

Father Goggin has been pastor of San Lucas Toliman for 36 years. He serves as coordinator of CFCA’s Atitlan project in Guatemala.

Gaspar Baran Guoz works with the Atitlan project as subproject coordinator in Cerro de Oro. Both Fr. Goggin and Gaspar Baran Guoz have shepherded the Atitlan and Cerro de Oro projects since 1982 when CFCA sponsorship was introduced.

The Pilgrimage of Faith Award was established in 1996 following the journey of CFCA’s co-founder and president, Bob Hentzen, who walked from the organization’s headquarters in Kansas City, KS, to Guatemala to raise awareness of the poor. The late Bishop Raymond Lucker, who led the New Ulm Diocese from 1976 to 2000, was the first recipient of the award.

Founded by Catholic lay people, CFCA works with lay organizations, missionary orders and the local Church at Catholic missions in 25 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. More than a quarter of a million children and aging persons receive assistance through the sponsorship program.

For more information about the CFCA call (800) 875-6564, or visit CFCA online at www.cfcausa.org.

For information about the Diocese of New Ulm mission parish of San Lucas Toliman, please contact the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm San Lucas Mission Office, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; (507) 359-2966; www.dnu.org.