Finding joy in the ordinary

Sometimes we take for granted the joy of sorting and washing laundry or ironing clothes. On a rare weekend with some extra time at home I experienced the simple pleasure of caring for our home. Often cleaning can feel like a chore, something I have to do between rushing from one activity to the another.

But the simple act of slowing down this particular weekend allowed me to appreciate a quiet peace. The clean smell of laundry, the pressed shirts ready for the week, life neatly sorted, gave me a new appreciation for the housework before me. The moment reminded me cleaning can be a form of prayer. It also reminded me that every moment is sacred.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux taught us her “little way” of doing every act, no matter how small, with love. Every act we do for our families at home exemplifies St. Therese’s self-surrender “to offer our Lord the flowers of little sacrifices.” Even St. Teresa of Calcutta worked alongside her sisters and maintained a cleaning routine.

These days we live in a culture fixated on attention-seeking moments. Many of the women I admire are not looking for the spotlight; they work behind the scenes. Take for example Bertha Garcia, 83, who has been a member of the altar society at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen for more than 50 years. She said washing the altar linens and decorating the altar gives her time to pray, sing and think.

Bertha finds pleasure knowing her work is appreciated. She shared a story about a child who asked her mother how it was possible that the altar was always decorated with flowers when she never saw anyone changing the arrangements. Her mother’s explanation: little angels came at night. Our parishes, our homes, our communities are filled with “little angels” whose work does not make headlines.

When it comes to our own homes, we cannot neglect our safe havens. Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” devotes a section on the “Ecology of Daily Life” in which he addresses the “setting in which people live their lives.” “These settings,” he said, “influence the way we think, feel and act.”

“In our rooms, our homes, our workplaces and neighborhoods, we use our environment as a way of expressing our identity.” He adds, “…when it is disorderly, chaotic or saturated with noise and ugliness, such over stimulation makes it difficult to find ourselves integrated and happy.”

I am guilty of neglecting my home at times. Guilty too of consumerism which has contributed to some cluttered spaces. For a year now I have been trying to declutter. While I have made some progress, I have much more work to do.

In “Laudato Si’,” the Holy Father also addressed the need for moderation. “Christian spirituality proposes a growth marked by moderation and the capacity to be happy with little. It is a return to that simplicity which allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities which life affords us…”

He goes on to talk about the need for inner peace, which he notes, “is reflected in a balanced lifestyle together with a capacity for wonder which takes us to a deeper understanding of life.” “Many people today,” he said, “sense a profound imbalance which drives them to frenetic activity and makes them feel busy, in a constant hurry which in turn leads them to ride rough-shod over everything around them.”

This Advent season, as we wait and prepare for the light of Christ, we need to slow down and appreciate the moment before us. It is easy as we prepare for Christmas to get caught up in the rush of decorating and shopping, just as it is easy throughout the year to rush from one project to another.

Pope Francis writes about “an attitude of the heart, one which approaches life with serene attentiveness, which is capable of being fully present to someone without thinking of what comes next, which accepts each moment as a gift from God to be lived to the full.” (Laudato Si’ #226)

Sometimes it seems we are chasing the grand moments of life and forget about the ordinary, everyday moments. Advent and Christmas remind us to pay attention. Note that Jesus, the savior of the world, was born in a simple manger in Bethlehem. I imagine his Blessed Mother Mary must have taken great care of their home throughout his childhood.

We are fortunate to have a home to keep in order. I think about the hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Central America who have left everything to find a safe place to raise their children. To date more than 57,000 people have received assistance at the Immigrant Respite Center at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen. Looking at the global picture, 65.3 million people have been displaced from their homes by conflict and persecution according to a Global Trends report. Their lives have been disrupted. The simple pleasure of cleaning their homes does not exist.

We are fortunate to have our homes, fortunate to have some stability; how can we not honor the blessing of keeping what we have in order for ourselves and for our families? Our homes are a safe haven, a place for peace, it is up to us as good stewards to maintain them as sacred spaces. And as Andrew Motion, an English poet, advises “honor the miraculousness of the ordinary.”

(Originally published in December 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Celebrating what's right, counting our blessings

What do your eyes see when you go about your day? St. Ignatius of Loyola said God is in everything.

When my daughter was young we played a game each evening to see how many blessings we could count in our day. The Daily Examen, which is part of the Spiritual Exercises developed by St. Ignatius encourage a similar approach. However, sometimes we can grow blind to the beauty in our lives, to the blessings we receive throughout our day.

Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium challenges us to live the joy of the Gospel. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” (1)

He reminds us also, “The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.” (EG 2)

Pope Francis writes, “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures.” (EG 6)

“Sometimes we are tempted to find excuses and complain, acting as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met.” (EG 7).

As we rise to the pope’s challenge as Easter people, I say we could each count 1,000 plus
blessings daily. At the top of my list are the people in my life, family, friends, coworkers, and others I meet. Add to that an awe for the innumerable gifts of beauty nature gives us. I find I need frequent doses of the outdoors to reenergize. It’s also a good way to slow down and take notice of what we might miss in our rush. For me each gardenia blooming outside my kitchen window, the salmon-colored bougainvilleas, the lizards scurrying on the window screens, are simple surprises I appreciate.

Our lists keep growing the more we take notice. From people and nature’s wonders to our health and the gifts we have each been given by the Holy Spirit to serve.

Yes, life is messy; we can’t ignore the realities of manmade disasters and those from Mother Nature. We can be blindsided, tempted into cynicism from all the pain and suffering in the world.

If we get caught in the undercurrent of negativity, we run the risk of becoming paralyzed and avoid finding ways to make a difference in the world. Dewitt Jones, a freelance photographer for National Geographic has a film titled “Celebrate What’s Right with the World” and now a workshop. “Celebrating what’s right” he said, “helps us recognize the possibilities and find solutions for many of the challenges before us.”

“By celebrating what’s right we find the energy to fix what’s wrong,” he said. In his approach, Dewitt notes, “To celebrate what’s right in the world means: believe it and you’ll see it; recognize abundance; look for possibilities; unleash your energy to fix what’s wrong; ride the changes; take yourself to the edge; be your best for the world.”

In this ever changing world and its varied moments of highs and lows, let us celebrate what’s right, counting each blessing. Social media sites make use of hashtags to link related subject matters and challenges are often issued to share moments of our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a stream of posts utilizing some of the following hashtags #CountingMyBlessings, #LifeIsGood, #CelebratingWhat’sRight.

Let’s start counting.

(Originally published in October 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

What death brings with our goodbyes

My father died a year ago at 79 and most recently my father-in-law who was 89 died on Aug. 20. Several co-workers have also suffered the loss of a loved one this past year. We have become too familiar with one of the seven corporal works of mercy, that of burying the dead.

Each of us is walking a different grief journey, but we do not walk alone. With each funeral I attend I become more cognizant of the graces that come from each part of the funeral ritual. I have come to understand the beauty inherent in each funeral. I confess I was surprised when I first heard someone describe a funeral as beautiful. How could an occasion tied to death and grieving be beautiful? Is it the flowers, the music, the readings, the eulogies? It is and so much more.

Death comes entwined with multifaceted layers as we grieve the loss of someone we loved, a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, child. It is a good bye to the person we loved as they “leave the body and go home to the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). Tears flood us, memories emerge, and in the midst of our grief, some of us still shocked and numb, we are surrounded by family and friends who help us find space to celebrate. Together we celebrate life, the gift of the one we loved in our lives and the life God has given to each of us.

In preparation for my father-in-law’s funeral, we gathered photos for a slideshow. The photos streamed forth with images of a life well lived. As the patriarch, his legacy is marked by a strong work ethic and unwavering love and commitment to his wife of 64 years, his five children (all adults and married now), 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. From teaching his grandchildren how to ride a bike or keeping them busy with wood projects, he devoted countless hours making sure not to miss any milestones. Even those of us who married into the family came to see him as a second father. He was a constant presence in each of our lives. So as we cried, we also celebrated what he gave to the world.

Additionally, death makes us pause, reminds us of our pilgrim status. It is a reminder of our mortality, our “memento mori,” Latin for “remember that you have to die.” More than a reminder, it should shake us to ask ourselves “how we are living our own life. What will be our legacy?”

After my father died, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who took the time to accompany our family for the funeral services. To this day I am most thankful for each person who was present in some way – each hug, prayer, condolence card, meal, flowers, phone call. Your kindness will always be remembered.

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notes, “Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times.  Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and comfort to those who mourn.”

How beautiful that we do not walk alone. God is present every step of the way. Family and friends too give us strength as we deal with death. The presence of the people in our lives who pause from their own day-to-day commitments to accompany us on our journey brings light to darkness. This as well is cause for celebration, as it gives us hope for the days ahead.

Lydia Pesina from our Family Life Office gave me a journal a year ago, “The New Day Journal: A journey from grief to healing” by Mauryeen O’Brian, which has been most helpful. After the loss of Lydia’s mother, and later her brother, we met together over the course of a year with another friend to work through what the book refers to as the “four tasks of mourning.” While we know that death is not the end and we have hope in the resurrection, death for those of us who remain is painful.

Death can also be a transformative experience. My mother’s death more than 20 years ago instilled in me the urgency of living each moment as a gift. Each death that has followed emphasizes the lesson. Each life we celebrate at each funeral reminds us life is a gift, a gift we have to honor by living it the best we can. Pope Francis, in this Year of Mercy, prompts us to live it the best we can serving others.

Death brings us bitter-sweet moments. I have found it is most helpful to count my blessings daily. It is important as well to be there for family and friends who experience a loss. As we journey together, I know in time, grief and darkness will loosen its grip and light will fill our days.

St. Augustine prayed, “There are days…when our lives have no music in them and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, we beseech thee Lord. Turn our eyes to where the heavens are full of promise.”

(Originally published in September 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Because the mercy of God knows no limits

Why Peñitas, in a colonia known as Pueblo de Palmas? Why such a remote area along the U.S.-Mexico border where many in our own Rio Grande Valley here in South Texas have never visited? And why would the Holy Father send a message to the people of a rural area that some say is “insignificant”?

These are questions Father Michael Montoya, a Missionary of Jesus priest, who is pastor of St. Anne Quasi-Parish in Peñitas, Texas and its three missionary churches, continued to hear as he was finalizing plans for a World Youth Encounter/Encuentro Mundial de los Jovenes on July 26. This local celebration, which coincided with World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland started off as an idea to help the young people in one of the poorest areas in the country see how they are connected with the Church and young people from around the world.

Given the extreme poverty levels in the community and their immigration status, it is impossible for most to travel. In Peñitas, explains Father Montoya, traveling even from their homes to church comes with risk. Some fear the real danger that if they are pulled over for even a minor driving infraction, they could be deported. Father Montoya points to what he refers to as a “military presence” in the area. There is a no shortage of local police, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, U.S. border patrol agents and National Guard patrolling the area located just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

“It’s a constant reminder to the people that something is not right. We live so close to the wall that divides families, it affects self-identity. All the images we receive from the outside are negative. It’s always connected to the border, always connected to the things we cannot do,” said Father Montoya.

Add to this the poverty and lack of basic infustructure in some neighborhoods that do not even have sewage and water lines. “There are many circumstances,” Father Montoya said, “that make it difficult for the people. They think they are forgotten.”

But they are not forgotten. Today they are celebrating after learning that the Holy Father prepared a personal message for the youth of the diocese, specifically for the youth attending the Encuentro Mundial de los Jovenes at St. Anne Church in Peñitas.

“The parish of St. Anne is beyond happy. Things like this don’t happen to a place like Peñitas,” said Father Montoya. “The pope is sending a message to us! I think that is proof enough, that the love of the Church for our poor people is really palpable, it’s real.”

So even before they heard the message, the community celebrated the fact that a message was on its way, that the Holy Father took the time to think of them.

As Father Montoya stressed, the idea of hosting the encuentro in Peñitas was to help the people witness that “the mercy of God knows no limits within a Church that knows no borders,” “that it reaches even the remotest part of the world. We don’t have to be in the center of power to be recognized by the Church.”

Forgetting perhaps, that the infant Jesus chose to be born in the small town of Bethlehem and not a city center, many doubted that such an event like the encuentro could happen in such an “out of the way” place. The people of Peñitas and surrounding communities proved otherwise. “Not everyone can travel to Poland for World Youth Day,” explained Father Montoya, “but we believe that even in our area, a profound and meaningful encounter with the world’s youth can be organized.”

“It’s a re-imagining,” Father Montoya said, “of who we are. We are not defined by the border, we are defined by our culture and by our faith.”

This is truly a testament that the mercy of God knows no limits. It should also serve as a reminder to each of us that no matter where God places us, no matter where we stand in the world, we each matter and must do what we can to reach out to those in need and foster a “culture of encounter.”

Some people may still be asking, “Why Peñitas?” Three Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who have been living and helping in the area for 12 years will tell you, because the people of God here have a deep faith that is not daunted by poverty or other hardships they may endure.

The rich faith of the people moved the ICM sisters – Sister Carolyn Kosub, Sister Emily Jocson and Sister Fatima Santiago to remain in the area after they arrived in 2004 to help rebuild the community after it was devastated by a tornado. Through an outreach center they started, Proyecto Desarollo Humano, this underserved area started to blossom. They also built St. Anne Church in 2009. They never dreamed it would become a mother church of a parish four years later, or that one day, on the feast of St. Anne, the Holy Father would send a personal message to the youth of that parish. In the words of ICM Sister Kosub, “God has certainly worked wonders.” 

(Originally published in August 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper. Another version was also published on the Catholic News Blog, July 26, 2016 - https://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/why-a-poor-rural-texas-town-captured-the-popes-attention-on-wyd/) 

A ‘small servant’ learning and sharing

It’s not every day you see a nun in Piazza Navona in Rome livestreaming video as she walks to her next destination. Meet Sister Xiskya Valladares, the tweeting nun from Palma de Mallorca, Spain who has more than 37,000 followers on Twitter. I met Sister Valladrares at a seminar for Church Communication Offices in April at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

What caught my attention was the joy she exuded in communicating live with others what she had just learned at the seminar. She was joined in her livestreaming interview by Father Daniel Pajuelo Vasques, a Marianist priest from Spain, who added an impromptu rap to the online conversation.

That moment illustrated the seminar’s theme, “Participation and sharing: managing Church communication in a digital environment.” In their genuine and spontaneous conversation, both Sister Valladares and Father Vasques, who started iMisión, an online platform to evangelize on the internet, gave witness to one of the ways we can engage in a digital environment. It is about sharing and having a dialogue with others.

The social media landscape which keeps unfolding requires a real presence of the Church, one focused on a genuine encounter and not just dissemination of information. I am grateful I had a chance to attend the seminar alongside some 400 communications professionals from around the world to focus on how we can better utilize the technology before us to evangelize and foster a public dialogue centered on the message of the Gospel.

The seminar left me with much to process and to recount. To begin, it was a thrill and an honor to present an overview of the Mobile Journalism initiative we started here in our diocese. We have trained more than 100 teens and young adults as photographers to cover events at their local parishes and some have even covered diocesan events. Mentoring others has been among the most rewarding part of my vocation. While this has helped our communications outreach, the bigger benefit has been the catechesis component. In reporting, they learn more about the teachings of the Church.

Following the presentation, it was affirming to hear that colleagues from different countries were interested in learning more about our efforts to see how they could implement something similar. Our mobile journalists here in the Rio Grande Valley and all involved should be proud to know they are trailblazers.

Second, I return with new ideas to enhance our communications efforts here in the diocese, starting with expanding our outreach on social media and looking at more live broadcasts. I also plan to move forward in evaluating everything we do in the area of communication just as the Vatican is doing. Msgr. Dario Edoardo Viganò, prefect of the Secretariat for the Holy See’s Communications, outlined for us the study and some of the changes underway. Listening to his presentation affirmed that we are in sync with our own plans.

I am thankful for each encounter with fellow communicators and for our mutual exchange of experiences. It is inspiring to witness how we are each striving to share God’s message in the different corners of the world where we serve. And as the seminar organizers noted, there are some challenges we face in “a communications environment characterized by more numerous relationships, faster dissemination, and less time for reflection and response.”

Third, and most important I return with a new zeal for my vocation. April marked my 18-year anniversary of working with the Diocese of Brownsville. It has been an incredible experience, one that has enriched my faith journey and helped me to understand the significance of our communications ministry. This understanding resonated during my most recent trip to Rome.

Attending the seminar in the Eternal City with communicators from around the world felt like a gift from God. I did not understand at first the tears that came as I listened to Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See’s press office, speak about his works over the years with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis. He reminded us that we are all “small servants,” and that it is a privilege to serve in this “wonderful vocation.”

It certainly has been a privilege to serve. But why the tears? I think it was the realization that I am exactly where God wants me to be, doing what he wants. In the words of Father Lombardi, “I am a small servant; we are all small servants.”

Yes. There is much work ahead in promoting a culture of encounter and communicating the Good News. I trust, however, God is leading the way, providing the learning and the moments for sharing we need as he prepares us for the work in his fields. As was emphasized at the seminar in Italy, “every action from every colleague is speaking to the world.” In our diocese we are blessed with a team of talented people working in each of the different ministries, each of us collaborating as co-workers in the vineyard.

(Originally published in June 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Talking story: Who will tell yours?

Growing up in Brownsville I was formed by two cultures, two languages, two sides of the U.S/Mexico border. Over the years I have come to a better understanding of how this has shaped and influenced the person I am today. We all have a story to share, multiple stories actually.

Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation on the Family, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), said “Everyone has something to contribute, because they have their life experiences, they look at things from a different standpoint and they have their own concerns, abilities and insights.”

We learn when we give people room to share their experiences and talk about what matters to them. I observed this in April when I spent a full day leading a writing workshop in Alamo with the women who are active in ARISE. Co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of South Central and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, ARISE is a community based program that works with colonia families to strengthen their communities by helping residents identify life goals and providing resources to help them reach those goals on their own. The invitation sent by the organizers said the workshop was being offered to build confidence in the bilingual experience through poetry and bring to the surface saved emotions.

Listening to the women’s stories and later reading their feedback reconfirmed for me the need to provide venues for learning and sharing. The women from ARISE shared stories about their childhood, about their children, about where they came from. I have Sister Rose Marie Quilter of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to thank for inviting me to lead the workshop and witness the transformative power of storytelling through writing. In the words of Sister Rose, “I can see the women of ARISE growing in confidence in their voice.”

I read and reread the comments because so many shared the same sentiments about their desire to learn and to write their stories, their realities. In her comments about the day’s workshop, Petra Hernandez said “hoy me di cuenta que mi vida y las demás es una historia la cual podemos dar a conocer con frases escritas.” She said she wanted to continue learning because “today I realized that my life and that of others, is a story we can make known with written sentences.”

Why do our stories matter? Stories work on multiple levels. The Bible is filled with them. Stories connect us, help us grow in understanding (of ourselves and others), they give witness to our values and our faith. By taking note of our lived experiences, our stories teach us and can lead to change and growth. They help us see more clearly sometimes. This is one reason journaling is recommended by many spiritual directors. Just as the daily Examen recommended by St. Ignatius of Loyola helps us reflect on the consolations and desolations, those moments that bring us closer to Christ or take us further away, our stories, whether written or told, are a way of paying attention. They can help us see more clearly how God is in everything.

Travel writer Don George said in an interview once, “In writing about it, you appreciate your own experience more. Somehow it becomes deeper and richer.” Also, Dorothy Day, who was recommended for canonization by the U.S. bishops, once referred to writing as “an act of community. It is a letter, it is comforting, consoling, helping, advising on our part, as well as asking it on yours. It is a part of our human association with each other. It is an expression of our love and concern for each other.”

There may be stories we are not ready to share, but by writing about them (for only ourselves), they can be helpful. The Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko makes a strong case for storytelling in his poem “The Unexpressed.” Among the lines that resonate in the poem are, “The unexpressed, / the 

unarticulated / are frightening, / when as fragments / they burn / beneath the skin, / with no way at all/to be scratched out.”

In my writing workshops, I encourage everyone to share their stories with their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. If you don’t tell your story, who will? Will it have heart; will it be infused with life and emotion?

My father died in August. I continue to mourn him, but I am grateful that years earlier I started asking him questions every Sunday when he came over for dinner. I learned my lesson after my mother died 23 years ago. I try to remember as much as I can of the stories she shared when I was young, but there is so much more that went untold.

Last summer I learned about the Hawaiian tradition of “talking story,” which is linked to their oral tradition of passing on culture from one generation to the next. The use of this term when I was in Kauai gave what I thought was a casual conversation more significance. It was a respectful way of acknowledging that what people say matters. Whether written or spoken, stories are treasures we pass on from one generation to next. Don’t let yours get buried. Tell your story.

(Originally published in May 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Be intentional, take action

Deadlines. They haunt me, but I need them. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush or the prompting to let a project go, but I credit deadlines for pushing me to action. Setting targets and cut off points, both at work and home, pushes me to reach my goals. Otherwise “mañana” finds a way into my day and I give myself a pass to put off something I want to accomplish.

The seven-year-old protagonist, Pepper, in the movie “Little Boy,” became intentional with his actions after his priest gave him a list of the corporal works of mercy. He found strength in carrying out each task by answering a question his father asked frequently, “Do you believe we can do this?” It’s a question for each of us as we look at our own list this Year of Mercy.

If we are not deliberate in scheduling time, our good intentions will never move forward. Bishop Daniel E. Flores in his column, “Mercy is a work,” encouraged us to try “during the Year of Mercy, not simply to think pious things related to mercy, but rather to search for how we can attend to those who suffer.” He said, “An attitude doesn’t make us merciful; searching for ways to alleviate suffering is the step that God asks us to take in order for us to enter the mystery that he began with his Incarnation.”

One of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson illustrates what happens when we don’t move beyond thinking to doing. She writes,

A DEED knocks first at thought,
And then it knocks at will.
That is the manufacturing spot,
And will at home and well.

It then goes out an act,
Or is entombed so still
That only to the ear of God
Its doom is audible.”

Unfortunately there have been times when a good intention goes “entombed” because of my failure to act. It is one of the reasons I set deadlines for myself and make lists. The CommitTo3 app is a helpful tool to track and follow through with the items on my list. The more specific the better. “We live in a world of unlimited choice,” said Michael Kripalani who developed the app. “The trick is to decide which things are really worth doing at any given time.”

I think the liturgical celebrations – Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, work in the same way. They help refocus us and make us more intentional on our faith journey. During Lent, some families commit to praying the Stations of the Cross each Friday; others dedicate time to praying the Rosary together. This Easter season, which continues through the Feast of the Pentecost on May 15, might serve as a good time to consider how intentional we are with our time. 

Here are five steps that can help us:
1. Determine what you want to be more intentional about.
2. Set clear goals and measurable objectives. It’s easy to say I want to practice the corporal works of mercy, but it’s more specific to say I am going to visit my sick aunt on Sundays after Mass.
3. Look at your calendar. What do you have scheduled? Is what matters listed? Set aside dates and times for what you want to do.
4. Share your plan with someone. We are more likely to follow though if we are held accountable.
5. Commit to your list and do it.

Bishop Flores, at the Stewardship Conference March 10, reflected on the scripture in John 5:17, “My father is at work until now and so am I.” He said we all have work to do to help build the Church. “We all have something to do, something to offer, something to build.” “We need to ask ourselves,” said Bishop Flores, “Where should I be, and what should I be doing?”

Pope Francis in Mexico City stressed “todos somos necesarios.” (We are all necessary.) He also invited the bishops in Mexico City, to give themselves “tirelessly, tirelessly and fearlessly to the task of evangelizing and deepening the faith…” “Los invito a cansarse, a cansarse sin miedo de la tarea de evangelizar y de profundizar la fe…” I think this is an invitation for each of us. 

In this issue of The Valley Catholic, we find examples of people who are being intentional and working tirelessly – Benedictine Sisters Rosalia Fink and Jeannine Spain, both in their 80s, who are helping women who have experienced domestic violence; Ofelia de los Santos, director of jail ministry, and Ezequiel “Zeke” Martinez and other volunteers, who work in jail ministry; Cecilia Abbott, the first lady of Texas, who is a pro-life advocate; Martin and Angelita Leal who founded pregnancy centers in Brownsville and Harlingen; and Sister Mary Ann Potts, who plays the piano each Sunday at Mass.

The fruits of their labor are a result of their commitment to waking each morning and saying ‘yes’ to the work before them. What are we saying ‘yes’ to? And what action are we taking?

(Originally published in April 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

On the other side of the fence

Growing up on the border in Brownsville with family on the other side of the Rio Grande River in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, I was accustomed to life on both sides. We traveled back and forth without worry. I say “without worry” because as a child I did not realize the barriers some of my aunts and uncles faced when crossing to the U.S. side. One of my uncles drowned in his last attempt.

Where we stand, where we are at any given moment informs our perspective.  Two experiences in February during the Holy Father’s visit to Mexico, both pure gift, enriched my perspective in new ways. One, the Mass in Mexico City on Feb. 13 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, helped me reflect on the gift of waiting. The other, with a view of the Mass in Ciudad Juarez from across the border in El Paso, Texas on Feb. 17, gave me a new perspective on the immigrant experience.

In Mexico City, Sister Norma Pimentel and I waited 11 hours before for the Mass with Pope Francis. Entry began at 6 a.m. for the 5 p.m. Mass, so we woke before sunrise, gobbled a portion of a prepacked lunch before going through security and then finding our seats inside the basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

As we sat there, we knew it was Nuestra Virgencita who brought us to this point. Arriving early gave us time to gaze at her image on San Juan Diego’s tilma framed behind the altar, just as the Holy Father would do later after the Mass. Naturally, he had a private viewing, but we were content to sit before her in the pews.

I discovered as I sat there the gift of waiting. Sometimes waiting can feel like a burden, but in the light of the Basilica, I saw it as an opportunity. Waiting forced me to pause from my tendency to rush from one project to the next; it gave me time to pray, especially for the intentions of family and friends. One senses the responsibility of being entrusted with such personal prayer requests, and I did not want to fail in this responsibility. Waiting also gave me time to thank God for the blessings of the moment.

Our days are not built around waiting. So much is designed to rush us through from one experience to the next. But what a gift when we remain stationary in readiness or expectation. What a gift to have 11 hours to prepare for Mass.

Four days later, we were in El Paso on the levee across from Ciudad Juarez along with two of our sisters who work with immigrants in the colonia of Peñitas, Sister Carolyn Kosub and Sister Fatima Santiago, Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In Mexico City, we sat inside the basilica with a clear view to the altar and to the Holy Father. The story changed in El Paso. While more than 200,000 attended the Mass with Pope Francis in Juarez, we were among some 400 guests hosted by the Diocese of El Paso and Catholic Extension on the levee. Among the guests were the pope’s “VIPs,” immigrants, refugees and people who assist them.

Hours before the Mass, the experience started to shift my view. The immigrant experience came into focus during our half-mile walk up to the levee as Homeland Security checked our green wristbands to make sure we belonged in the group. We walked without water on a dirt path along the fence with signs indicating the international boundary and “DO NOT TRESPASS.” Ours was a short walk and water was waiting for us at the end. What must the journey feel like for those who walk countless miles and face an uncertain path in their quest for a better life? Will we be there to offer them water?

On the border between Mexico and the United States, two nations joined in prayer, but on this day we were the outsiders looking toward what lay beyond our reach.  We could see the Mass about 100 yards away, but our view was blocked. However, it was just as moving to see the pope through the fence and participate in the Mass.

Crowds on both sides of the river welcomed the pope’s arrival before the Mass with chants of enthusiasm and watched as he walked up the partial bridge leading from Mexico into the United States. Organizers said the Holy Father originally wanted to cross the border, but the logistics dictated otherwise.

Near the edge of the bridge that stopped midpoint, the pope placed flowers near a giant memorial cross and prayed for those who have died along the Mexican-U.S. border. Tears flowed from many who had been waiting hours to witness the Holy Father come to the border.

Throughout the event, Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents maintained a visible presence along the fence. Some made reference to a “militarized zone” we were in at the levee, but that did not deter our focus on the historical moment. Peace reigned on in El Paso and throughout Juarez. As Sister Norma said after Mass, the pope’s presence leaves us with love and joy and we must continue doing the right thing.

One thing was clear. While we strained to hear Pope Francis’ homily from where we sat, his message of helping those in need and ensuring everyone’s human dignity reached us on the other side of the frontera. Faith has no borders. We were two nations joined in prayer.

(Originally published in March 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

Why we do what we do

What did I agree to this time? Why did I say ‘yes’? Do you ever ask yourself these questions? I do at times after I commit to something I have never attempted and I realize what this commitment entails. I credit my sister for offering the latest challenge – a sprint triathlon in May. From the moment I said yes to this birthday gift, it gave me four months to train.

Sometimes we need a challenge to jolt us out of our routine. The beginning of a new year can have that effect. Lent too provides some prompting. We all know someone who made a resolution in January to exercise. By February some of these resolutions are forgotten. The animo wears off and we return to our sedentary lifestyles.

Sometimes it’s a health scare that brings us to attention and makes us take action toward living a healthier lifestyle. My husband had a stroke in December. We took this wake-up call seriously. We started making adjustments in our lives, thinking twice about the foods we eat and looking at how we could arrange our schedules to include more exercise.

Why do we wait for a health crisis to shock us into taking care of our well being? Being a good steward, includes taking care of our bodies. We have an obligation to care for the gift of life God has granted. In this Year of Mercy, we are reminded to reach out to others and help those who suffer. But how can we expect to be of service to others, to be God’s hands and feet, if our own health hinders us? As the U.S. bishops note, “As Christian stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

It’s easy to find excuses not to exercise, to promise ourselves we’ll eat healthier tomorrow. How many mañanas will it take before we take action? Now that I am 50 I am certainly more health conscious. My husband’s stroke elevated our consciousness to full alert. To maintain a year-round focus on our health it helps to sign up for an event, such as the triathlon or other community sponsored run and cycling activity. They give us a goal to strive toward. I am thankful the event in May is not a full scale triathlon, but it’s a start. February, American Heart Month, is a good time to set some goals aimed at taking care of our hearts and bodies.

It’s encouraging as well to have a support system. Knowing my sisters and I are all training for the same event serves as motivation to stay on course, as do their weekly texts and phone calls. I know we have some exhausting, sweaty moments to endure, but together they will be joyful.

Another source of encouragement can come from tracking our progress. Our smart phones and now smart watches can log the number of steps we take. Most health websites recommend at least 8,000 steps. They say the average adult walks about 5,900 steps. Once I started tracking my own, I realized how negligent I had become these past two years. I had even ignored my weight gain, which served as an obvious clue to how remiss I was with the responsibility toward my health. Trying to reach a daily goal pushes me to find creative ways to build in physical activity throughout my day.

Setting goals is helpful. We need challenges, the carrot, if you will. Goals spur us to take action. Only by outlining a plan can we take the needed steps to see results. We also need measureable objectives to chart our progress, or if needed, to refocus. A friend and I laughed when on the same day our batteries died, which meant they could not track our steps, our interest in walking that day diminished.

Training to bike, run and swim for the triathlon in May are concrete steps for me to being a better steward of my health. I have had to make some changes in my life. Some mornings this means waking up an hour earlier. While some evenings it means cycling indoors at midnight.

There are varied reasons why we do what we do. Some are fed by obligation, some are doctor prescribed, some are tied to a challenge. In the end, we each have choices to make. 

(Originally published in February 2016 edition of The Valley Catholic newspaper) 

On turning 50 & lessons learned

I was 26 years old when my mother died of cancer at age 50. In the aftermath of her passing and fearful of the limited time I might have, I learned to value each moment. I tried to fit as much as possible into each year. Now as I reach the half century point of my life on January 17 I am grateful for the adventure God has granted me.

The journey did not come without turbulence and challenges, but the dark days did not swallow me.  I am alive, and I feel even more alive because I am not afraid of death. Yes, I have a growing list of what I would like to do and I certainly need more time to try to do it all, but I embrace each day as it comes.

A half-century of stumbles and falls amidst the joys and exhilarating surprises provide for some lessons learned. 1. Be grateful. 2. Don’t take anything for granted, especially people. 3. Don’t be afraid.

There are not enough words to enumerate all I am grateful for in my days. When my daughter was younger, we played a game to see who could list the most blessings in our day. What a joy to see how endless the list became. Principal on my list each day are the people in my life, namely my husband, son and daughter along with my friends who inspire me forward by their words of wisdom, encouragement and example. I am also grateful for the capacity to love and to count myself as a lifelong learner, a citizen of the world with a growing curiosity about everything before me.

While I am not thrilled with some of the physical changes that come with aging – the added weight, new wrinkles and greys, I am thankful that with age comes wisdom, a greater awareness of what matters. In Proverbs 3:13 we read, “Happy the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding!” This wisdom helps us prioritize what’s important in our lives. It teaches us not to take anything for granted.  This helps me live in the moment, being present to people, recognizing that it’s not about me, but about serving others.

It also means we can’t take our health for granted. We can’t stop the aging process, but we can take steps to eat healthier and exercise. Carmen Tafolla, the Poet Laureate for Texas, wrote an open letter to the people in San Antonio when she was diagnosed with cancer urging people to take steps to stay healthy. We take extreme measures to fight cancer once it is diagnosed. Why not take action aimed at prevention? 

Wisdom, which comes from trusting God, helps us let go of our fears. Childhood experiences created a river of fears in me which have taken this half-century to overcome. How refreshing to leave those fears behind, to accept who I am with all my imperfections. Surrendering to the Lord makes the journey less worrisome. Yes, we may stumble along the way. There will be espinitas, but it is part of the growing. Not only am learning to speak up for my beliefs, these days I am more motivated to try something new, especially if it scares me. In 2015, I wrote about one such moment when fear prompted me to accept an invitation to turn some of my poems about my mother into a short play.

Letting go of fear has been part of my faith journey. I have stopped worrying about how many more tomorrows wait. I start this New Year and new chapter ready with anticipation for what comes next, ready to say “yes” to God’s calling. I realize, as St. Ignatius of Loyola notes in his spiritual exercises, I am a work in progress. I also know death does not have the last word. As I wrote in my death poem, “La muerte no triunfa” – “We don’t know when / the ink will dry in our hands, / when the words will stop / mid breath. But we know the hour / will come, the hour for our story’s last page.” In the meantime, I pray my days be an offering and that they may be pleasing to God.

New Year & I Start Wondering

Ushering in a new year sparks both nostalgia and anticipation. Personally I am ready for 2016 and the adventures that wait.

It was an honor to start the year by being included as a guest contributor on the I Start Wondering website which highlights the journey of lifelong learning. Dorian Martin does a great job of finding “people who continually seek ways to stretch and grow as well as resources on which to reflect.” As she notes, “Ultimately, the goal is to encourage you to invest in your curiosity and to follow Albert Einstein’s advice: ‘You have to color outside the lines once in a while if you want to make your life a masterpiece.’”

In this New Year, I certainly want to color outside the lines from time to time. I also continue my focus on living lightly and purging the excess in my life to make room for what matters. Already the results yielded some rewards. After almost a month of decluttering and organizing, I now have a creative space to work and pray. 

My first project of 2016, making a memorial shrine box for a friend, was particularly meaningful. It gave me time to pray and honor the memory of her loved ones who died in 2015.

It is indeed joyful to have space to create. The challenge now, to schedule some time for art throughout the year.