Gregory Thomas Schaffer, long time missionary for the Diocese of New Ulm's mission, the San Lucas Toliman Mission in Guatemala, died May 24, 2012 after a long battle with a rare form lymphoma/cancer.



A funeral Mass for Msgr. Greg will be at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm on Wednesday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm Tuesday from 3 – 9 p.m. and on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service. There will be a parish prayer service followed by a rosary on Tuesday at 8 p.m. A second funeral Mass will be held at the Church of St. John Neumann in Eagan on Thursday May 31 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 5 – 9 and on Thursday for one hour prior to the service. There will be a parish prayer followed by a rosary on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Msgr. Greg will then make the long journey back to San Lucas Tolimán for a final Mass and burial in the San Lucas Tolimán cemetery in San Lucas.


Msgr. Greg was born on January 29, 1934 in St. Paul, Minnesota to John Conrad Schaffer and Ann Catherine (Regan) Schaffer. He attended high school at Nazareth Hall where he enjoyed sportslete. He entered the Saint Paul Seminary in 1954 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New Ulm by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye on February 21, 1960. Fr. Greg was assigned associate pastor at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Marshall where he taught religion to juniors and seniors at the Central Catholic High School and was also a high school counselor.



On July 16, 1963 he accepted the appointment as a diocesan missionary to the San Lucas Mission Parish in Guatemala. He attended an eight week linguistic course at Georgetown University and a four month Spanish and Culture Course sponsored by the Maryknoll Fathers in Huehuetenango, Guatemala before going to the mission.



Fr. Greg was instrumental in helping to establishing many projects during his time in San Lucas. They now have a medical and dental clinic, elementary schools for over six hundred students, a library, various land projects, extensive sustainable housing, a Women's Center, and many others too numerous to mention. He was also responsible for getting the Juan Ana coffee program started and sending it to the States, acting as an advisor for the coffee growers at the mission.



Numerous awards were bestowed on Fr. Greg throughout the years as a result of his work with the people of San Lucas and his plight to help them live their culture but rise out of poverty. The most important award was the Order of the Quetzal, the highest honor bestowed by the Guatemala Government for his long-lasting service and commitment to the people of San Lucas. He accepted the award in the name of the people of San Lucas. Some of the others are: Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Loyola University in Chicago, IL; International Aware known as Anonymous Heroes Working for Peace Through Development (Heroes Anonimos en el Marco de la Cultura de la Paz) for his work with agricultural and economic development whose efforts lead to peace; Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from University of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA; St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity Distinguished Alumnus Award for his service in missionary work; Diocesan Distinguished Service Award from the Diocese of New Ulm; Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. Paul. On October 18, 1984 Fr. Greg was appointed the title of Monsignor (Protonotary Apostolic) by Pope John Paul II.



He is survived by sisters and brothers-in-laws Elizabeth (Beth) (Martin) Meidl of Lamberton; Judith (Robert McCown) Gust of Iowa City, IA; Geraldine Cunningham of Chicago, IL; Ann Therese Wiggins of Eagan; and Monica (Robert) Schwartz of Tucson, AZ; brothers J. Patrick (Rita) of Saint Paul and John Jr. (Rosemary) of Burnsville, foster brother, Robert O'Brien of Omaha, NE, sister-in-law, Kathy Schaffer of Mankato; and a brother-in-law, Robert Lemons of St. Paul.. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and their families. Other survivors include the special people of San Lucas and the many friends and benefactors of the mission. Fr. Greg was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Mary Alice Lemmons, and brother James, brother-in-law, Robert Wiggins, and foster sister-in-law, Janice O'Brien.



Fr. Greg had a great love of sports, reading, woodworking, and being with his family. He loved his family gatherings, presided at many nieces and nephews weddings, baptisms, and funerals for them. He was an avid reader of daily papers and was known to keep files of newspaper articles. Father Greg especially read articles on Liberation Theology which is an attempt to interpret Scripture through the plight of the poor. He was widely known for his efforts in working with the poor. Fr. Greg had a great love for the people of San Lucas and his 'education' into their culture. His smile, his personality, and his ability to talk of theology to farming to teaching to family in the same breath will be greatly missed.



Memorial donations are preferred to the San Lucas Mission. Fr. Greg's long range visions for the mission included a Men's Center, where men could gather to learn trades such as woodworking, furniture building; the playground at the Women's Center; and an addition to the present school (a second story) for more classrooms.