(L-r.)(Mary Duginski with one of the Jamaican girls and Father Richard Holung, MOP Founder and Superior General.
One Joyous Experience
By Russ Mancl
When 72 year old Mary Duginski of Merrill, WI, spent two weeks in Jamaica, working with the Missionaries of the Poor, it was icing on the cake. Mary had made a half dozen faith journeys to Rome, the Holy Land, Greece, Germany, and Switzerland among others. Each time her faith deepened. But this time working with the poor was a joyous experience.
Mary, who has been married 52 years to Lawrence Duginski, is an associate with the Holy Cross Sisters. She departed October 29 for Kingston, Jamaica, along with Sister Mary Angela Sackmann of Wausau, WI, who was making her second straight visit, and Rachel Riehle of Wausau, WI. While in Jamaica they stayed at the Prince of Peace compound, which was in the heart of the ghetto where cement walls, and steel doors, and iron gates were used to provide security for those inside. At night guard dogs were let out inside the walls.
(Above, second from the left is Rachel Riehle of Wausau)
The Brothers from the Missionaries of the Poor have different ministries which work with babies and teenagers, men and women with AIDS, and compounds that house middle-aged and old men. Most of them have been left at the compounds or abandoned on the streets.
Mary told of one encounter at The Lord's Place, which houses women. "The ladies were so happy to see you. They put there arms around you and hugged you. They're grateful to have a bed to sleep in and food to eat. Like one of the residents said, "When you're hungry, that's all you can think of." Mary helped wash their faces, apply lotion and clip nails.
While working at Bethlehem Home, Mary helped feed and change the children. "I can still see this one girl who had her head on this pillow and her mouth opened and a blank stare. I kept thinking, Lord isn't there something that you can do?" Perhaps her prayers would be answered later that evening as a group of men from California, who represented a foundation, were visiting and looking at ways that medically they could reach out to those in need. She said that working with the children was probably the most satisfying part of the trip. "They captivate your heart," Duginski said.
The three women took part in a silent retreat at Mt. Tabor Monastery and Retreat Center which was given by Father Richard Holung, MOP Founder and Superior General. He stressed that the church of the future is the church of the Beatitudes and that "The call to serve the poor is an invitation to happiness." Mary said that you can't help but be impressed and touched by the spirituality of the Brothers.
"We have so much here in the United States. Sometime in your life, you have to step out of your comfort zone," she said. And would she go back, "Oh yes, without a doubt," Mary said.
The trip was funded primarily by (FAME) The Formation and Ministry Enablement Fund of the Holy Cross Sisters. For more information on the Associate Program of the Holy Cross Sisters, call Sister Helen Huss (715) 539-3748 or Carol Mancl (715) 539-1471.
