Eternal Manna

For much of my life, especially after my mission experience in Bolivia, I struggled with my vocation. I wasn’t sure what I was being called to do and felt my heart being tugged in two very specific but contrary ways. I had always been attracted to the vocation of marriage and all that came with it. But I also felt like God was calling me to be a priest, especially when hearing about the shortage of priests, how under-served the church is in some areas.

However, when I had the opportunity to walk the Camino de Santiago, (a pilgrimage in Spain) it became abundantly clear to me that I would be able to respond to God’s love the strongest through the holy sacrament of marriage. This knowledge filled my heart with not only peace, but also much love and strength in knowing that THAT was God’s invitation. However, if I’m completely honest, there was also a small sadness that I wasn’t called to be a priest. 

I knew God’s love for me, and that He wanted a personal relationship with me, but sharing it as a lay person would be harder. Or so I thought at the time. This is not to say, mind you, that I was sad for my own vocation—on the contrary, meeting and marrying my wife, Jessie, was a complete confirmation of all that God had for me through her “yes” to me. 

Fast forward a few years to now, that same “yes” to our vocation has borne fruits (among them our children), and we are serving in ways we hadn’t anticipated. This past year, with special permission from our parish priest and the bishop of our diocese, I have been entrusted with not only bringing Jesus in the Eucharist to the homebound and sick, but also bringing Him to the faithful in areas that Padre Daniel cannot get to on a regular basis.

Our town, General Cepeda, has about 51 ranchos (small desert communities) surrounding it, ranging in distance from a 15-minute drive to a 90-minute drive. Some of the routes are paved, but many are dirt roads. Padre Daniel is responsible for all of these communities along with his duties as a parish priest at the main church: daily happenings of parish life, Mass, confessions, etc.

This is where we, the laity, come into play. Most ranchos have Mass just once a year, if that. The rest of the time, they would have to either find a way to come into General Cepeda (which is challenging for the poor) or are simply not be able to partake of the Eucharist at all. With the special permission given to us, we are able to hold a communion service in the chapels at the ranchos. Of course, it isn’t the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but they can still receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus more frequently!

I am humbled each week when Padre Daniel asks me to visit a rancho he can’t get to. To be honest, sometimes I tear up when I think about the many opportunities I’ve had throughout my life to go to daily and Sunday Mass. I sometimes take for granted something that many people don’t have.

It is a necessary, unique, and humbling calling for my family to bring Jesus to our brothers and sisters in these communities. As I close, I would like to ask for continued prayer for our mission here and those we serve.