Set for El Salvador

30 May 2008

Trisha Antolik - who works for the Clifton Diocese as the Primary Adviser - is off to El Salvador with CAFOD (Catholic Agency Development Agency).  She fills us in with the details.

CAFOD’s school team was looking for new and creative ways of supporting the work of RE advisers in Catholic schools throughout our diocese.  The schools’ programme works in close relationship with the diocesan advisers who are key partners in CAFOD’s education outreach work.

In December 2007, RE advisers from dioceses in England and Wales were invited to apply for places on the trip, and after interview and selection I was delighted to be invited to be a member of this project team’s trip to El Salvador.

The aim of the visit is to enable diocesan RE advisers to experience first hand the work of CAFOD partner organisations in El Salvador, and thereby gain greater understanding of the struggles and challenges of people in developing countries, so as to act in solidarity with them.

As a result of the visit, diocesan RE advisers will:
Understand how CAFOD tackles the causes and impact of poverty, working in partnership with local organisations and communities.
Understand the role of the history of the Catholic Church in El Salvador as an advocate for social justice and human rights.
Have experience of the richness of community organisation and solidarity at grass roots.
Be empowered and motivated to act as strong ambassadors for CAFOD in their dioceses and networks.  

The itinerary includes:
A briefing and reflections with Father Jon Sobrino SJ, and other church leaders who knew Archbishop Romero and lived in El Salvador during the Civil War.
A visit to the Maryknoll Sisters to hear about their educational work in schools and parishes with people living with HIV and Aids and to visit the clinic and patients.
A visit to health clinics and communities on the border of Honduras to experience the richness of grass roots parish life in all its diversity and dynamism.  
Work with the legal aid of the Archdiocese of San Salvador who campaign for justice for war victims and work on human rights at local level.   
An interview at YSUCA - radio station to understand the importance of radio as a means for awareness raising and reflection on social justice.

As the RE adviser for primary schools for the Clifton Diocese, I feel privileged to be going on this trip.  The team has received three day’s training at the CAFOD centre in London.  I am collecting my mosquito creams and packing the essential mosquito bed net and hope to return with the words ‘me gusto El Salvador’  which means ‘I loved El Salvador’.

We're writing a blog during the trip - so keep on eye on our visit. 

Trisha Antolik