By Jeannine Caraciollo

One of the hardest things about our busy lifestyles is being present to those around us. One reason I’ve taken the pilgrimage to Guatemala the last two years is because as a pilgrim I am able to be present to where I am and I am open to being transformed. In this way being a pilgrim feels like meditation to me. It helps me see God in other people and it helps me see the barriers in my own heart. This leads to compassion and concern for the people of Guatemala rather than complete despair. And it is easy for me to despair.

I keep close watch on the human rights situation in Guatemala and I don’t like what I see. In a report from the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) it is clear that the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996 has done nothing to heal the collective trauma of the society. It describes how a culture of corruption and violence has taken hold via bands of illegal armed groups that act “at the behest of members of an inter-connected set of powerful Guatemalans… they oversee and profit from a variety of illegal activities that they carry out with little fear of arrest or prosecution. These illegal activities often involve the improper exercise of influence in the state – skimming at customs, bribery and kickbacks, for example – and include connections to drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime.” The report goes on to say, “Their activities undermine the justice system and perpetuate a climate of citizen insecurity, which in turn creates fertile ground for the further spread of corruption, drug trafficking and organized crime.”^1.

To despair would mean I throw my hands up and forget about it. After all, I live far away from the problem. But instead I pray over the situation, feel deep concern, and resolve to stay involved in small ways by supporting NGOs like PAVA that are working in the country. PAVA is the nonprofit that selects projects and villages for us to visit when we are on the Faith @ Work pilgrimage. 

During the pilgrimage we read the book “A Mile in My Shoes” by Trevor Hudson. He describes the experience of the pilgrim that is visiting a struggling community. He says, “Our encounter with those who suffer reveals our hidden riches and helps us become our true selves.” He further describes this transformation by saying, “As our hearts open to our suffering neighbor and enter into communion with him or her, our concealed compassionate nature begins to flower.”

I actually had an experience of this during my last pilgrimage to Guatemala. It was near the end of the pilgrimage and we were in Panajachel, a tourist trap where there are plenty of things for sale. You have to watch where your eye lands at all times or risk women scrambling up to you with their weavings. I was sitting outside waiting for my friend, Aeren who was in the bank getting money. From the corner of my eye I saw a vendor walking toward me and decided I would buy something this time.  This vendor was a small, elderly woman who shuffled over and took her wrap of items off of her head. She pulled out a dirty cloth and a purse with bits of thread hanging off. I was surprised because the weavings were usually very beautiful. Aeren came out at that point and commented that there was nothing much to buy here. I chatted with the woman a little bit and bought a few things. As we were walking away I suddenly burst into tears. Aeren asked what was wrong but I couldn’t really say. It was something about the woman’s warm toothless smile and the dirty little scraps she had to sell. I decided I wanted to find her again and give her a bit more money as I figured she wasn’t going to sell much that day. We found her sitting contentedly inside one of the shops resting her legs. Evidently other people are charmed by her and took care of her as she walked up and down the street selling. That was good to know.

When I got back to the retreat center I sat alone and cried. This felt like the “heart opening” that Hudson talked about. For me, this opening resulted in a caring response, growing self-awareness of other’s needs, and a growing concern for the common good just as Hudson described. This experience is rare in my regular world of work and busyness. I just don’t sit on benches with nothing to do but chat with someone who comes by. After this experience I now ask myself, “Why not?”

^1. Hidden Powers in post-conflict Guatemala. By Susan C. Peacock and Andriana Beltrán

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Jeannine Caraciollo is on staff at the Center for Educational Design and Communication, an organization sponsored by the US Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

See below for more photos.