Healing bodies and souls: Parishioners lead medical mission to El Salvador

Answering the Gospel call to serve the least among us, a dedicated team of 20 missionaries from across the United States traveled to Sonsonate, El Salvador, this past fall to provide life-changing medical and surgical care to those who could not afford it.

Organized by Helping Hands Medical Missions (HHMM), the trip took place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, 2025.

The mission was strongly supported by Catholics of the Diocese of Jefferson City, with several local parishioners stepping up to provide critical care and spiritual comfort to the Salvadoran people.

Dr. Erik Meidl, a member of Holy Family Parish in Hannibal, served as the mission’s Medical Director.

Joining him was a strong contingent of local faithful, including Dawn McKenzie, N.P., T.C. Pierceall, and Chuck Cormier, all from Holy Family Parish.

Dr. Steve Halpin of Hannibal treated many patients. Shawn Washausen represented the Hannibal Knights of Columbus Council 907, while Doug and Marie Baker of St. Joseph Parish in Palmyra also made the journey.

They were further supported by fellow Missourians Doctors Michael and Kathleen Dixon of St. Louis.

Care for the most vulnerable

Operating out of five rural clinics, the team worked tirelessly to address the physical needs of the local communities.

For patients requiring more advanced interventions, surgeries were performed at a local Franciscan hospital.

Here’s a look at the mission’s impact by the numbers:

• More than 1,000 patients were evaluated and treated;
• 20 life-changing surgeries were performed;
• Over $7,000 worth of prescription medications were provided to patients entirely free of charge;
• 800+ pairs of eyeglasses were distributed.

The vision clinic was particularly successful thanks to a newly-developed system used by the team.

This innovative approach allowed missionaries to perfectly match eyeglass prescriptions to individual patients and assemble the correct lenses into frames on the spot, restoring sight to hundreds immediately.

A mission of spiritual accompaniment

While physical healing was a primary focus, the mission was deeply rooted in Catholic spiritual care.

A priest accompanied the missionaries, offering daily sacraments, guidance and spiritual support for both the team and the patients they served.

The missionaries also took their faith directly into the neighborhoods, conducting door-to-door visits to offer Catholic spiritual support and pray with local families in their homes.

Walking in the footsteps of St. Oscar Romero

The spiritual journey culminated at the end of the trip with a powerful pilgrimage to the site of the martyrdom of St. Oscar Romero.

The missionaries then visited his burial site in the lower level of the El Salvador National Cathedral in San Salvador, where a special Mass was celebrated for the team.

This visit held profound significance for the volunteers from central and northeastern Missouri.

Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell of Jefferson City recently completed his own pilgrimage to El Salvador, bringing a first-class relic of the martyred bishop back to the Jefferson City diocese.

Praying at the tomb of St. Oscar Romero provided a beautiful spiritual bridge between the local Church in Missouri and the people of El Salvador.

Looking ahead to 2026

The work in El Salvador is far from over. Helping Hands Medical Missions is already organizing its next trip to Agape in Sonsonate, El Salvador, scheduled for Oct. 23-31 of this year.

Whether you are a medical professional or a willing volunteer looking to serve, there is a place for you.

To consider joining the 2026 mission trip, or to make a vital financial donation to support this ministry, please visit the Helping Hands Medical Missions website at hhmm.org.