This blog is an attempt to offer reflections related to historic events, witnesses to peace and justice, and the daily lectionary readings by John Donaghy, a lay missioner with the Catholic diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras.
I arrived in Honduras on June 13, 2007, to be of service to those most in need in the poorest diocese in Honduras, but with a bishop committed to the poor, Monseñor Luis Alfonso Santos.
Before that I had spent 24 years in campus ministry and social ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center (at Iowa State University) in Ames, Iowa. I also occasionally taught at ISU.
St. Thomas has supported my presence here and is developing a relationship with the Dulce Nombre de María parish in Dulce Nombre de Copán, where I am helping.
In the parish of Dulce Nombre de María I am assisting in the formation of pastoral workers, the preparation of materials, and visits to the villages of the parish.
In December 2014 I moved to the village of Plan Grande, Concepción, in the parish in order to better serve the people.
My spirituality has been influenced by the Jesuits with whom I studied at the University of Scranton and Boston College, as well as by the Franciscans with whom I studied in high school and the first two years of college at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, NY. Since December 2012 I have been an associate of the Dubuque-based Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family.
These reflections are, of course, totally mine and do not reflect the opinions or positions of any the organizations noted above.
walk the way 
John,
You appear to be about the right age, so I am concluding you are John Donaghy who I clearly remember from our class at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon , N.Y.
I was there for the first three years of high school from 9/61 to 6/64. Do the names of Bob McSherry, Vincent Cama, Jerry Shea, Leonard Vignault, Paul Foisy, Joseph Gourley, and Dan Kenna bring back memories of some names from our class? How about Father Anthony McGuire, Father Brennan Connelly, Father Aidan Gara, Father Elmer Wagner?
I have been doing internet searches of St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary as in “studied at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary” and your blog showed up among other responses. Another response tonight showed one person I recall was our head student of the sixth year class during our freshman year, Mike Putich, who I just learned tonight that sadly he passed in 2014.
I have joined the Secular Franciscans here in Virginia and have been reminiscing about Callicoon and my old Franciscan parish back in New Jersey where I grew up.
I hope you see this brief post. Congratulations on becoming a Deacon. That’s a wonderful ministry.
Jerry Shea
sheaj48@yahoo.com
PS- A book that first introduced me to living in ‘poverty’ was a memoir by Helen Nearing. Though I believe her husband Scott was an atheist, she followed Krishnamurti. (sp?) He was an economics professor in the ’40’s and blackballed for speaking out against the war and child labor and was labeled a ‘communist’. I was only in my late twenties and had not yet come to faith. Trying to find rest in the mystery of what He has in store for me- I tend toward anxiety but it’s getting better.
I read Scott Nearing’s story of their community decades ago and found his account telling. It was one of a number of books I read about that time on rural-based community living. Though I live in the country now, it’s not in community.
A book that I also read about that time was Lanza del Vasto’s RETURN TO THE SOURCE. He was a philosopher who went searching in India, found Gandhi (who names him Shanti Das, Servant of Peace). He eventually with his wife, Chantrelle, founded a rural pacifist community which only used electricity to grind wheat. I visited there for about two weeks in 1973.
Yes, Thank you for clarifying. And I guess they weren’t living in ‘poverty ‘ as St.Francis (or you) refer to- minimalist is a better word. Anyway, I look forward to reading more of your work and inspirations!
I am so moved by your writing especially the recent series on St. Francis. I was praying a couple of weeks ago and told the Lord that I needed to go back to the prayer of St. Francis. I use the Magnificat as my devotional and lo and behold, when I sat and opened it- there it was for that day. Now I come across your beautiful essays. Thank you for being His.
thank you for sharing your mission. if the Lord is calling me to do likewise, i will rejoice!!