Life of Peacemaker Testifies

"She pointed her finger at me," explains Tom, "and said you be holy and pray." "From that day on I made time for prayer."

In these countries he saw the worst suffering, and "when you see the worst suffering, you always see the highest faith,"

Tom understands that he cannot solve the whole issue of poverty on his own however; he does feel "he can do his part."

"When you go against the grain…you can loose friends and upset people, but you get to the point where you care less about it."

by Mystique Adams

This is just one of the direct interactions Tom had with Mother Teresa, later while sitting at the table Tom pulls his wallet out of his pocket. He shuffles through it and after a few seconds, he comes across what it is he was looking for. He reveals a simple pink business card with four lines. The last line of the card reads, "The fruit of Service is Peace," signed Mother Teresa.

Tom admits to carrying the card with him every day, but more importantly, he admits how his encounter with Mother Teresa (who gave him the business card) changed his life.

On a trip to Calcutta with the Ministry of Money, a Christian ministry which encourages all persons to live out God’s call for their lives and resources, Tom had an opportunity to work in one of Mother Teresa’s first missions. One day while he was there, she spoke to him, and the words she shared inspired Tom to make an adjustment in his life. "She pointed her finger at me," explains Tom, "and said you be holy and pray." "From that day on I made time for prayer."

Prayer is an essential aspect of peace and justice work admits Tom. "The spiritual base is most important in everything we do." He feels it is how we "keep close touch with God." It was prayer that led Tom to work in countries like Israel, Bolivia, India and Africa. "I just prayed about it," says Tom. In these countries he saw the worst suffering, and "when you see the worst suffering, you always see the highest faith," said Tom. He recalls the people he encountered there, whose situations were so bad, that they would beg for the garbage from the hospital in hopes of finding that night's dinner. It amazed Tom to see people suffering in such poverty hold an unwavering faith in God. "No matter how bad their situation was, they still believed." He admits that, "you get transformed by the experiences you have,"

Moreover, those experiences he had abroad have inspired him to continue his contributions to peace and justice here in the states. Tom understands that he cannot solve the whole issue of poverty on his own however; he does feel he "can do his part." Ordained as a deacon in 1979, Tom is currently a member of the Immaculate Conception parish in Elmhurst.

One of the people responsible for the creation of Native American Mission, Tom is definitely doing his part. An extension of the Catholic Construction Corps, the Native American Mission travels to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Here volunteers work to repair and build homes and schools on the reservation. He admits that the Navaho Mission is "doing what the people need." "Because your idea of what the people want and what they actually need can be two entirely different things." Tom feels the mission is filling a need, but is also a lot of fun, "it’s not a chore…I like to do it." The mission is also building and repairing relationships, something Tom feels needs to take place within the church. Through the mission, "the Navajo had an opportunity to come out with all of their hurt." As a result a stronger bond between the church and the Navajo people was formed. The mission will be working with the Diocese of Gallop to do more.

While Tom knows the road to peace and justice is not an easy one, he is ready to work at it. "When you go against the grain…you can lose friends and upset people, but you get to the point where you care less about it." With a supportive family to back him, Tom Goebel has become a worker for peace and justice.