Thursday, November 26, 2015

¡Siempre Adelante! We move in the direction of hope

What would you do if you were left alone on Mars?

Each morning we make the choice on how to face our day. Sometimes, we can get discouraged by circumstances and the challenges before us, those in our personal lives and those on a grander scale. Saint Junipero Serra, recently canonized by Pope Francis during his U.S. Papal Visit in September, lived by the motto: ¡Siempre Adelante! Always move forward.

Pope Francis at the Canonization Mass in Washington, D.C., opened his talk recalling the words of St. Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice!” “This command,” said the Holy Father, “resonates with the desire we all have for a fulfilling life, a meaningful life, a joyful life... Something deep within us invites us to rejoice and tells us not to settle for placebos which simply keep us comfortable.”

“At the same time, though,” he added, “we all know the struggles of everyday life. So much seems to stand in the way of this invitation to rejoice. Our daily routine can often lead us to a kind of glum apathy which gradually becomes a habit, with a fatal consequence: our hearts grow numb. We don’t want apathy to guide our lives… or do we?”

How opportune that in November we take time to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Even the feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day remind us to celebrate life. We honor the memory of the saints in heaven and all our ancestors who went before us.

As we give thanks, we can also take time to reflect on the direction our lives are moving. Are they moving in the direction of hope? Are we taking steps to bring joy to others, to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need? Or are we letting apathy guide our day?

No matter what is occurring in our lives, no matter the challenges, we must move forward. There are some noteworthy takeaways from the movie “The Martian” about an astronaut left behind on Mars when his team thought he was dead.

The astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, never gave up when he awoke and found himself alone on the planet. While some might have given up in the face of the extreme odds of survival, he instead took action. He looked at every possible way to stay alive. He remained positive, focused and looked for solutions.

The Martian is a story about survival and perseverance. Sometimes our days can feel like we are on Mars, alone and miles from a solution to our problems. Each day we wake does not come with a guarantee that it will be easy, but guided by our faith and trust in God we can find the courage to move forward. Don’t panic. Just as the astronaut in The Martian, take time to figure out what comes next. He did not give up on life or remain idle waiting for someone to come and save him.

We read in Sirach 15:14, 17 “God in the beginning created human beings and made them subject to their own free choice. Before everyone are life and death, whichever they choose will be given them.”

Just as the astronaut Mark Watney had to overcome one obstacle after another to the point of what could have led him to defeat, the world too presents us with a slew of challenges. The headlines remind us daily about the struggles in our communities and around the world. 

We read about the plight of migrants and refugees who embark daily on dangerous journeys trying to flee from violence. In the midst of this humanitarian crisis are stories of hope, of men and women who take the only action they can to save their children. Here in our community, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley helps 50 to 100 people each day. More than 25,000 have received assistance at the respite center at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen since it opened in June 2014.

We read too about growing infringement on religious freedom here in our own country. Most tragically, we have also heard about the horrors of human trafficking and the profiting from the organs of unborn children.

Bishop Flores in his column which we published in our October edition, “The Dismembered children will rise to judge us,” reminds us “We cannot relent.” He said, “We will continue to sound the drum, today and tomorrow and beyond.”

The bishop stressed we need to “Let state and local officials who are slow to express the truth to higher levels of government know that the nation is bleeding and the trafficking in unborn children must end.” “Let our faith in the Lord’s promise strengthen us to fight unceasingly to help our nation find its soul and reason again,” he said. 

There is much work ahead for each of us. We must continue to speak up for the vulnerable. We must look for ways to make a difference. Thankfully, we are not alone on our journey. Let us remember Saint Junipero Serra’s motto ¡Siempre adelante! We must keep moving forward.

(Originally published in November 2015 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

We do not walk alone on the journey

Rosa Valencia
1959 - 2015
We never know how a person we meet will impact our lives. Unfortunately sometimes it takes a death to make us reflect on the particular encounters and what they meant.

The month of August came with great loss. My father passed way after a four-month health struggle. While our faith assures us he is in a better place, we are still dealing with the loss for which we were not prepared. It will take some time before I can write about this part of the journey and the significance my father had in my life.

In August, another death took a friend and mentor. The Rio Grande Valley lost an astute business women who was guided by her faith in God. Rosa Valencia, who lived life boldly, always speaking up for herself and for others, died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 55.

As the founder and president of Homes of America, a successful manufactured home retail company, Rosa epitomized how a person with determination could accomplish her goals. She crossed into the United States as an immigrant when she was 19 years old, learned to speak English and worked three jobs to pay for her studies at St. Edward’s University in Austin, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management.

Rosa came to the United States with three goals. She wanted to be the first in her family to earn a college degree; second, to provide financial support for her parents; and third, provide jobs for people like herself. She accomplished all three and went beyond.

Pope Francis reminds us often about the encounter, about the people we meet and the moments we share. On my pilgrimage, I have been graced with people who have mentored me at different points of my journey. Seventeen years ago I met Rosa on a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrines in Europe. I was inspired by the unwavering faith of the women on this pilgrimage. Rosa was among them. As an introvert who tends toward the reserved in my own approach to life, I admired Rosa’s boldness in everything she did, even how she said her name – RRRRRRRooooooosA.  

Rosa introduced me to St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux. I still have a book she gave me about the Little Flower, “The Story of a Soul.”  She told me when we were Avila to pay attention to the scent of roses, their fragrance a possible indicator the saints or the Blessed Virgin Mary have heard your prayer.

In my estimation, mentors are important. You learn from the personal encounter what can’t always be transmitted through books or university classrooms. Mentors help us see some of our blind spots, they share the knowledge of their experience, shed light on territory that may be new to us. Their example can also reinforce what we know to be true.

Among the lessons we can all learn from Rosa: 1. Share your faith without apology. 2. Live joyfully. 3. Be bold, speak your mind, otherwise you won’t be heard. 4. Strive for excellence. 5. Be available for others. We are here to serve.

Few know that while she was receiving treatment at M.D. Anderson, Rosa went to daily Mass when her health permitted, and after Mass she hand washed the altar linens. Even in illness she found ways to serve the Lord.

Through her business acumen and strong work ethic, Rose ran a successful business. She knew what she wanted in life and pursued it tirelessly. She did not apologize for insisting on the best from herself and her employees. “Top of the line, first class,” she would say. Rosa did not accept mediocrity.

Knowing she managed a large team, I asked for her advice on motivating and management. She said it starts with empowering people to do what is expected and then holding them accountable. Her advice at other times gave me the courage to start new projects. Thanks to her guidance, we added a roundtable segment on Diocese Insight to address women’s issues.

Anyone who spent time with Rosa, knows she was passionate about life. Her smile and energy were contagious. Rosa desfruto de su vida. She lived the joy of the Gospel, no matter the situation. She often recited her favorite prayer from St. Teresa of Avila, “Nada te turbe, nada te espante, todo se pasa. … Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta. ¡Sólo Dios basta!” (Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away. … Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.)

Even as she favored the dramatic, she humbled herself before the Lord, and credited him for her success. In a 2007 article in McNews magazine she said, “It’s not me. It’s all through his mercy and hard work. I better never forget who is the real boss!”

She said, “It does not matter how financially successful you are, do not let power and money own you... Give credit where credit is due and always show an attitude of gratefulness. The Bible says that to whom much has been given, much is expected (Luke 12:48).”

Rosa supported her Church and her community.  For 19 years she served as a lector and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – National Shrine. She was most kind and generous to the religious sisters in her life. She cared for them selflessly like a mother hen. She referred to them as “spiritual mothers” for the work they do in God’s vineyard. She reminded me often to make sure to acknowledge them at Mother’s Day.

Bishop Daniel E. Flores has said, “The Christian life is about being attentive to the person we’re with, attentive to the way we’re called upon to respond to their need, or them to our need. Estamos caminando juntos. We are walking together on this road.”

I am grateful that we do not walk alone. Just as Rosa was attentive to the people in her life, I pray that my own alertness to each encounter will grow.  I am grateful for Rosa’s example.  She lived life on a grand scale, her days filled with joy in service to others. May she rest in peace. 

(Originally published in September 2015 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper)