By Fr. Douglas Daro
Pastor, Sacred Heart Church, Crete
Hispanic Ministry
In June, I moved to Crete, to be the pastor at Sacred Heart Church. With any new appointment comes excitement, nerves, and a continued need to trust in Jesus.
However, before the transition into the new parish takes place, there comes a time to reflect on the amazing gifts God has given and the many blessings experienced from the wonderful and faithful people of God. This was my experience as I said goodbye to the people at St. Benedict Church, the surrounding Nebraska City area and, in a special way, the Hispanic community.
As I was getting ready to leave St. Benedict Parish, St. Paul’s words to the Romans seemed to continue to speak to me: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). How beautiful are these words and the reality that God’s love is greater than any imperfection; God’s love is more powerful than any mistake. These words are powerful and life-changing, but only if they come to life in the reality of the Incarnation. The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us. St. Paul’s words are beautiful, yet how much more beautiful and powerful they are when they are experienced in the flesh.
As the shepherd of the people, it is the pastor’s role to protect, guide and feed the faithful entrusted to his care. What a noble task for such a noble calling! Yet, in the midst of this vocation, a priest’s limitations and sinfulness become abundantly clear. Is this not also true for any parent bringing a child home from the hospital? What a noble task and noble calling to bring life into the world, to raise a child in virtue, and to give them Jesus Christ through prayer and example! Yet, in the midst of the great vocation of parenthood, moms and dads are confronted every day with their own imperfections.
My three years in Nebraska City made my own limitations and sinfulness abundantly clear, at least in my own heart. Between organizing the parish, preaching the truth, and loving with the heart of Christ, a priest’s limitations come to the light. But how beautiful are St. Paul’s words, “in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Or to put it another way, in that while I was imperfect in my duties and fell short of my Christian calling to holiness, the people of the parish cared for, supported, and loved me. When St. Paul’s words are brought to life and experienced in the flesh, they become even more powerful and beautiful. This was my experience for three years and saying goodbye to the people in Nebraska City, particularly with the Hispanic community.
On top of the normal difficulties and limitations of everyday life, ministering to a different culture brings with it a new set of challenges, and from this new set of challenges comes a new set of limitations. To preach the truth can be difficult, but how much more difficult it is when you lack the necessary vocabulary words to explain a certain detail and nuance. To accompany others and walk with them can be a difficult and long task since every situation is different and every person is unique, but how much more difficult when the person you are accompanying comes from a completely different culture or has life experience so different from your own.
Yet, in the midst of very clear limitations, St. Paul’s words ring so very loud which is what made saying adios to the Hispanic community at St. Benedict emotional, difficult, and also life giving. In that while you were imperfect with the language, and don’t come from the same culture, in that while you lack certain abilities, this community loves you with the heart of Christ.
You can almost hear St. Paul speaking his words to us today, that God’s love is not some theory. It is more than simply words we read on the page. Rather, God’s love is experienced in the flesh, in our everyday lives.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” This was the great gift I received from the Hispanic community at St. Benedict.
