News-Noticias

Noticias: Mayo 2012

He estado viviendo de mi equipaje de mano desde que llegué a México. Después de nuestra reunión en Cuernavaca en abril, sólo tuve unas pocas horas para empacar lo que tenía que llevar conmigo cuando empecé mis visitas de seis semanas por México a nuestras comunidades pasionistas. Tenía que estar listo para hacer frente a la región montañosa de Chiapas y en la jungla de concreto de la Ciudad de México. En retrospectiva, mi maleta estuvo repleta de cosas que realmente no necesitaba para el viaje. En cierto modo, todo lo extra que empaque me dio una sentido de seguridad. Creo, sin embargo, que aún puedo presumir, porque es muy impresionante (en mi mente por lo menos) viajar durante seis semanas a seis estados con una sola bolsa, ¿no creen?

Después de visitar seis de las siete comunidades de la provincia mexicana, y después de las muchas y substanciosas conversaciones sobre el futuro de esta provincia, mi espíritu al igual que mi bolsa esta saturado. Me parece que no puede comprender la profundidad de la vida de esta Provincia. Sus obstáculos al igual que sus dones parecen estar más allá de mi capacidad de poder nombrar. Lo único que me atrevo a nombrees la lucha saludable que se encuentran entre los religiosos que quieren mantener nuestra Misión Pasionista vivay pertinente , y que los sueños de lo que nuestra presencia pasionista es que en México son muy diversas.

Antes del Capítulo Provincial de México (4-8 de junio) comenzare un proceso de discernimiento y conversación con mis líderes en cuanto a donde será mejor mi participación dentro de la Provincia de México para los próximos años. Para esto necesito de sus oraciones fervientes e incesantes. El Capítulo Provincial ofrecerá un nuevo liderazgo y un nuevo enfoque para los miembros de la provincia. Durante este tiempo, muchos de los hermanos en la provincia serán reasignados a diferentes comunidades. Mi oración y esperanza, mientras me encuentro en discernimiento, es de no aferrarme a las cosas que sólo proporcionan la seguridad, sino para buscar lo que se necesito para sostener un ministerio que sea digno del pueblo de Dios. Para esto tomo las palabras de una bella pintura realizada por las Carmelitas Descalzas, la Providencia de Dios es mi única esperanza mientras continuo mi viaje de regreso en esta tierra tan extraña y familiar que se llama México.

Hasta la próxima, la paz, la dignidad, y la bendición!

Hugo R. Esparza Pérez, C.P.

pd. Por invitación del Padre. Jim O’Shea, C.P. voy a viajar a Haití a partir de junio 11-14.

May 2012 Update

 I’ve been leaving out of my carryon luggage since I arrived to Mexico. After our busy meeting in Cuernavaca in April, I had only a few hours to pack what I needed to take with me as I began my six-week tour around Mexico, visiting our Passionist Communities. I had to be ready to deal with the mountainous region of Chiapas and the crowded streets of Mexico City. In retrospect, I over packed my bag with things that I did not really need it for the journey.  In some ways the extra stuff gave me a sense of security. I think, however, that I can still brag, because it is very impressive (in my mind at least) to travel for six weeks to six states with only one bag.

After visiting six of the seven communities of the Mexican Province and engaging people in conversations regarding the future of this province my spirit just like my bag is overfilled.  I cannot seem to grasp the depth of this Province’s life. Their obstacles just as their gifts seem to be beyond my ability to name. The only thing that I can dare name is the healthy struggle found among the men to keep our Passionist Mission alive and relevant and that the dreams of what our Passionist Presence is to be in Mexico are very diverse.

Before the Mexican Provincial Chapter (June 4-8),  I will engage in discernment and conversation with my leaders as to where I will fit best within the Mexican Province for the next few years. I will need your fervent and incessant prayers. The Provincial Chapter will provide new leadership and a new focus for the men of the province. During this time, many of the men in the Province will be reassigned to different communities. My prayer and hope, as I discern, is to not cling to those things that only provide security but to know what I will need to sustain a ministry that is worthy of God’s People. As I was reminded by a beautiful painting done by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, God’s Providence is my only hope as I continue my journey back in this familiar and yet strange land called Mexico.

Until next time, peace, dignity, and blessing!

Hugo R. Esparza-Pérez, C.P.

p.s. By invitation of Fr. Jim O’shea, C.P., as the Eastern Province engages in the Provincial Visitation to Fr. Rick Frechette, I will be traveling to Haiti from June 11-14.

April 2012 Update

“We must dare to plant beautiful flowers in the deserts of our life, our Province and our Country”, these were the words with which Fr. Octavio Mondragon, CP closed his homily as the Passionist Mexican Province of Cristo Rey began its Pre-Chapter .Without a doubt Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection has given us the privilege to hope where there is no hope and to proclaim life in the midst of death. Fr. Octavio’s words have been my prayer and constant thoughts this Easter Season.

With the help of my Passionist Brothers in the USA this is my first week back in Mexico after over 20 years of economic exile in the USA. As the plane landed in Mexico, City, and I tried to find my way into the two-hour bus that would take me to Cuernavaca, Morelos, I felt like a tourist. I was very eager to experience the new smells, sounds, ideas and sites, and, yet, I had a tiny inkling in my mind and body telling me that I did not belonged here. As soon as I was getting acquainted with the surroundings of our retreat house in Cuernavaca, I was told that I would have to pack and begin my travels around the different Passionist Communities in Mexico.

I am writing to you from Tumbalá ,Chiapas. Fr. Jenaro, the Pastor, and I arrived a week in a half ago just in time for the Parish’s Sports Youth Rally. After the four-hour ride from the airport we arrive to a plateau surrounded by the beautiful green, fertile mountains of Southern Mexico. There were almost 300 young people from all over the Parish, which extends to almost 60 Communities made up of twelve-thousand inhabitants out of which 36 % are Catholic. These Communities live in rural areas in the north-side of the Diocese of San Cristobal. This sector of the Diocese is made of the Ch’ol People.

As soon as I stepped out of the car the small inkling I had once I landed became even more present. There were the strange sounds of a complete different language and setting. Beyond my hesitation at the beginning in this new place, the mutual curiosity among some of the young people and mine began to pull us together. They knew immediately that I did not spoke Ch’ol, so they addressed me in Spanish. Once Fr. Jenaro told them that I spoke English they came over very eager wanting me to recite from the Pledge of Allegiance to the Lord’s Prayer, they did the same in Ch’ol. Their youthful guile as they tried to pronounce words in English and I tried to pronounce words in Ch’ol helped me relax and play my role as a privileged visitor in the life of this young people.

During my stay in Chiapas I was lucky enough to travel to different areas of the Diocese. I met other Religious who work within the Ch’ol Community of the Diocese. I was also able to partake on a leadership meeting. Over 100 young-adults gathered form the five parishes that constitute the Diocese of San Cristobal. The Communities are vibrant with young people, who are willing to walk up to four hours for a meeting since transportation can be expensive or not available. The words of Fr. Mondragon came alive for me as I experience the zeal and the joy found in the Youth and Passionist in Chiapas. I could see how this Youth risked planting beautiful flowers into what sometimes has been barren desert, us, the institutional church.

Friends, may we dare to plant beautiful flowers in the deserts of our life and in our World, especially, during this Easter Season! Until next time, peace, dignity, and blessing!

Hugo R. Esparza-Pérez, C.P.

P.s. My next visits will be to Guadalajara, Queretaro, Mexico City and finally Cuernavaca, Morelos. 

Noticias de Abril 2012

“Hay que atreverse a plantar bellas flores en los desiertos de nuestra vida, nuestra Provincia y nuestro País”, estas fueron las palabras con que Octavio Mondragón, C.P. cerró su homilía cuando la Provincia Mexicana de Cristo Rey comenzó su pre-capítulo. Sin lugar a dudas la pasión y resurrección de Jesús nos ha dado el privilegio de la esperanza en donde no hay esperanza y proclamar la vida aun en medio de la muerte. Las palabras del Octavio han sido mi oración y pensamientos constantes durante este tiempo de Pascua.

Esta es mi primera semana de vuelta en México después de más de 20 años de exilio económico en los EE.UU. A medida que el avión aterrizó en México, DF, y traté de encontrar mi camino hacia el autobús que me llevaría a Cuernavaca, Morelos, me sentí como un turista. Estaba muy ansioso por experimentar los nuevos olores, sonidos, ideas de este lugar, y, sin embargo, había en mi un sentimiento en mi mente y en mi cuerpo me dice que no me pertenezco a este nuevo entorno. Tan pronto me comenzaba a familiarizar con los alrededores de nuestra casa de retiro en Cuernavaca, me dijeron que tendría que hacer las maletas y comenzar mis viajes por las distintas Comunidades  en México.

Me dirijo a usted de Tumbalá, Chiapas. El P. Jenaro Reséndiz, C.P., el Pastor, y yo llegamos a la semana en un medio atrás, justo a tiempo para el encuentro juvenil deportivo de la Parroquia. Después de que el viaje de cuatro horas desde el aeropuerto arribamos a un altiplano rodeado por las hermosas montañas verdes y fértiles del sur de México. Había casi 300 jóvenes de todo la Parroquia, que se extiende a casi 60 comunidades constituidas por doce-mil habitantes, de los cuales 36% son Católicos. Estas comunidades viven en zonas rurales en el lado norte de la Diócesis de San Cristóbal. Este sector de la Diócesis es conformado por una gran mayoría del pueblo Ch’ol.

Tan pronto como salí del auto la sensación de ser un extranjero  que traía desde que había aterrizado se hizo aún más fuerte. Los extraños sonidos de una lengua completamente diferente y el ambiente eran más que notables. A pesar de mi desconcierto al principio en este nuevo lugar, la curiosidad mutua entre algunos de los jóvenes y yo comenzó a atraernos. Los jóvenes sabían inmediatamente que yo no habló Ch’ol, por lo que se dirigían a mí en español. Una vez que el padre Jenaro les dijo que hablo inglés llegaban hacia mi con muchas ganas escucharme recitar desde el juramento a la bandera hasta el Padre Nuestro. Los jóvenes hicieron lo mismo en Ch’ol. Su jovialidad y sencillez mientras trataban de pronunciar palabras en Inglés y yo intentaba de pronunciar palabras en Ch’ol me ayudó a relajarme y a participar bien en mi papel como un visitante privilegiado en la vida de estos jóvenes y de su Parroquia.

Durante mi estancia en Chiapas tuve la suerte de viajar a diferentes áreas de la Diócesis. Conocí a otros religiosos que trabajan en la Comunidad Ch’ol. También tuve la oportunidad de participar en una reunión de líderes.  Más de 100 jóvenes-adultos se reunieron formar las cinco parroquias que conforman la Diócesis de San Cristóbal. Las Comunidades son vibrantes con jóvenes que están dispuestos a caminar hasta cuatro horas para una reunión ya que el transporte puede ser caro o no existe. Las palabras del padre. Mondragón cobraron vida en mientras experimentaba el compromiso y la alegría de la Juventud y los Pasionistas en Chiapas. Pude ver cómo la juventud corría el riesgo de plantar flores hermosas en lo que en ocasiones ha sido árido desierto, nosotros, la iglesia institucional.!Amig@s, espero a que nos atrevamos a plantar flores hermosas en los desiertos de nuestra vida y nuestro mundo especialmente durante esta temporada Pascual!

¡Hasta la próxima,  paz, dignidad y bendición!
Hugo R. Esparza-Pérez, C.P.

P.s. Mis próximas visitas serán en Guadalajara, Querétaro, D.F. y por ultimo Cuernavaca, Morelos. 

Update for July & August 2011

At the end of last month (July) I took part of the wedding of two very good friends, Laura and Javier. I was honored to be part of this moment in the life of this young and passionate couple. While I was overjoyed in witnessing the union of these two beautiful lives—two different cultures / languages, Laura is from Philadelphia and Javier from Mexico, and two religious traditions, Laura is Presbyterian and Javier is Catholic—I was also filled with anxiety. I was told, 24 hours before the wedding, that as the best-man I would have to say a toast during the reception. Apparently this is one of the duties of the best-man. This was my first time playing this role.

Despite my predisposition to panic, the friendship that I have developed over the years with Laura and Javier came to the rescue. The inspiration before me, Javier and Laura, gave me the courage to speak truth from the heart through words that echoed in the spirits of others (this is what I was told by one of the Bride’s friend after my toast, and, no, she was not drunk). What I said is inconsequential to the epiphany I received that weekend. I learned that I am as good as those I have around me. I know that Laura and Javier would have been pleased with me if I had recited the words for “Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star” as the toast. Yet, the love that I have experience through their friendship allowed me to convey a tiny piece of the depth and beauty of their life through the limits of words.

As I continue to enter fully into my first assignment, which will be over in less than five months, I feel encouraged to take the gift of those around me as such, as a gift. We have a very devout Staff in the Parish, who are always willing to help me. Parishioners are very welcoming and have been patient with me as I am learning the particularities of this Community. A few weeks ago I decided to make a questioner asking parishioners to rate my style of presiding in Mass. Their responses have been very insightful. They have given me really good recommendations that I hope will help me become a better preacher and presider.

The gift of the “other” has given me the confidence to minister in this community, because they have roused in me things that are beyond my imagination and sight. I know I will need this kind of inspiration to be able to minister creatively and efficiently in my current community.

To all of you who are my gift and source of inspiration, I ask for your prayers as I continue my ministry in Novato, and as I begin the process of discerning what will be next for me. I know I still have a little bit over four months before my assignment here is over, but time is really flying. I need to begin to listen, see and feel God’s Movement in my life and find the courage to respond.

Peace, blessing, dignity!

July 2011: Update / Novedades

Peace Y’all,

I am settling in into my first official assignment as a Priest at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church (OLL). As my Provincial, Fr. Don Webber, put it, this is not a conventional assignment granted to one recently ordained. I do agree with that. My life, however, has been anything but conventional in many ways, so this comes not as a surprise.

On July 1st I started my ministry at OLL. OLL is located in the City of Novato in beautiful Northern California. OLL is medium size Church with about 800 families. The community is more diverse than some would like to admit. We have Parishioners from Vietnam, Philippines, Niger, Korea, Portugal, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru (to name a few).  My job has consisted in celebrating daily and Sunday Masses and Confessions. Thus far, no funerals, weddings or visits to the sick have been required of me (this is only the end of my second week here). I live with a young Priest from Nigeria, Fr. Edward.  Fr. Edward seems to be a very kind minister. During our first weekend in the Parish, throughout the five Masses, without planning, we both introduced ourselves to the parish as Priests who are coming to learn from this Community. On my part, I have come to this community to learn everything seminary and life in ministry has not been able to teach me.

The unconventionality of this my first assignment has given me many joys. Among these is the fact that I am only twenty minutes away from my home, the place where I grew up, where my family and friends live. I have come back home! My Passionist Brothers also live less than two hours from OLL. I visited them almost three weeks ago and I am ready for another visit to our home in Sacramento. The picture of the clay sun above is from my Sister’s balcony. I have been able to spend more than a few mornings outside contemplating the beautiful Northern California Sun and this beautiful clay masterpiece. Just like the Sun and this wonderful piece of clay my family and friends have brought a lot of warmth to my life since my arrival back home from Chicago. They have helped me get my heart and mind ready for ministry. I have started to miss the wonderful friends I made while in Chicago. You all are constantly in my mind and prayers.

Finally, my Sister’s neighbor keeps this striking old boot that was turned into a flowerpot outside his house. This interesting looking pot has really called my attention because it reminds me of how the unusual use of things may bring about beauty. This is my prayer and hope as I minister with and to this Community. I pray that I may find God’s beauty through service and may bring beauty to the life of those that I will serve.

I will try to write some of this short notes every once in a while to keep you all informed of what is happening in my life. ‘till next time!

Peace, dignity and blessing!