Indigenous Apostles: Maya Catholic Catechists Working the Word in Highland Chiapas. (Studies in World Christianity & Interreligious Relations)

206 Pages·2010·1.79 MB·English

by  Ruth J. Chojnacki

IndIgenous Apostles
this is no. 46 of studies in World Christianity and Interreligious Relations.
the studies are a continuation of the Church and theology in Context
series.
the studies are published by the Foundation for studies in World
Christianity and Interreligious Relations in collaboration with the nijmegen
Institute for Mission studies and the Chair of World Christianity and
Interreligious Relations at Radboud university nijmegen, the netherlands.
the aim of the studies is to publish scholarly works on Christianity and
other religions, from the perspective of interactions within them and
between them. the studies are peer-reviewed.
general editor:
Frans Wijsen, nijmegen, the netherlands.
editorial board:
Michael Amaladoss, Chennai, India.
Francis Clooney, Cambridge, united states of America.
diego Irarrazaval, santiago, Chile.
Viggo Mortensen, Aarhus, denmark.
Robert schreiter, Chicago, united states of America.
Abdulkader tayob, Cape town, south Africa.
eric Venbrux, nijmegen, the netherlands.
Manuscripts for consideration can be sent to Frans Wijsen, Radboud
university nijmegen, p.o. Box 9103, 6500 Hd nijmegen, the netherlands.
IndIgenous Apostles
MAyA CAtHolIC CAteCHIsts
WoRkIng tHe WoRd
In HIgHlAnd CHIApAs
RutH J. CHoJnACkI
Amsterdam - new york, ny 2010
The paper on which this book is printed meets the requirements of “ISO
9706:1994, Information and documentation - Paper for documents -
Requirements for permanence”.
ISBN: 978-90-420-2872-2
E-Book ISBN: 978-90-420-2873-9
©Editions Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam - New York, NY 2010
Printed in the Netherlands
In grateful memory of my
Mother and Father
and
with admiration and gratitude
for all who practice
the Word of God in
Santa Maria Magdalenas
6 Introduction
Introduction 7
Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Orthographic Note 11

Introduction 13

Chapter 1: Contexts and Conversion
Origins of an Ecclesial Cargo 25

Chapter 2: Constructing Highland Mission
Proposals and Problematics 51

Chapter 3: Position and Place
Church, State, and Mission on the Ground 87

Chapter 4: Proclaiming Religion, Reclaiming Land
History, Cognition and Religious Change 115

Chapter 5: Working the Word
Constructing a Tzotzil Maya Theology 145

Chapter 6: Decolonizing the Saints
From Myth to History 171

Chapter 7: Epilogue
Doing What the Apostles Did 181

Bibliography 191

Index of Names 203
8 Introduction
Introduction 9
Acknowledgements

This book owes its existence to the generosity of the catechists and Catholic
community of Santa Maria Magdalenas. Their engagement of the new age of
globalization with the power of Christian faith showed me the face of the
world church.
Whatever intellectual light this study sheds owes substantially to Jonathan
Z. Smith, distinguished scholar of religion at the University of Chicago.
Other Chicago scholars – theologians Anne E. Carr and Kathryn E. Tanner
and. Mexican historian Claudio Lomnitz – encouraged me by word and
scholarly example. Dartmouth Mayanist John Watanabe generously critiqued
every page I wrote.
The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and the Office for World
Mission of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee opened the door to Chiapas for
me. Bishop Samuel Ruiz García and the pastoral agents of the Diocese of San
Cristóbal de Las Casas extended extraordinary hospitality in the midst of war
and peace negotiations. So many friends supported me in countless ways in
Chiapas. At terrible risk of overlooking any in naming some, I am especially
grateful for insights and companionship to the late Andrés Aubry, Hrna.
Clemen Becerra, George Collier, Dra. Margarita Herrera, Hrna. Luci Jimé-
nez, la familia Ruiz Martinez, Charlene Floyd, Padre Eduardo García, Pati
Gómez, the late Angélica Inda, Christine Kovic, Diane, Jan and Jacob Rus,
Sr. Giulli Zobelein and colleagues in the Centro de Derechos Humanos,
“Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas.”
Family, friends, and fellow scholars here at home patiently stood by me
as I wrote. Abena Apea, Mary Finger and Sheri Lee at DePaul University
gave me time and assistance to complete the manuscript. Robert Schreiter
and Frans Wijsen generously enabled its publication.
Cary Tucker could not have dreamed that marriage entailed proofreading
and indexing. I am grateful for his unstinting labor on these pages and for so
much else outside of them