La Vocación al Servicio de Atención a Migrantes: Un Reflejo de Pbro. Hector Trejo Cano
(See below for English Translation)
Hace unos cuantos años atrás tuve mi primer contacto con personas de Centroamérica, que viajaban en el techo de los trenes o en la unión de los vagones, de estas personas algunas veces hemos leído en los periódicos sobre migrantes que viajan persiguiendo el sueño americano que se quedan dormidos, caen y el tren les pasa por encima dejándolos desmembrados o sin vida. En ese entonces yo era un simple agente de la policía montada en la ciudad de Chihuahua, Chih. y tenia mis labores de patrullaje por ciertos senderos en donde el acceso no era fácil desde la calle. Pienso que esa fue el llamado personal de nuestro Señor a escuchar a los que nunca había escuchado, hombres y mujeres (a veces jovencitas en estado de embarazo) que cortaban su hambre y manejaban su agotamiento mental usando drogas para relajarse. Recuerdo haber sentido un enojo al escuchar a uno de ellos decir que tenían ya dos días ahí, que los dos días habían sido asaltados por unos “cholos” que les quitaban lo poco de valor que llevaban consigo, y que no podían irse de ahí porque en cualquier momento iba a pasar el tren que seria su oportunidad de continuar con su viaje.
Les confieso que mi humanidad revestida por la autoridad civil en ese momento, sintió un nudo en la garganta al escuchar las penas de estas personas que no tenían un lugar digno para continuar con su viaje.
Ya han pasado más de siete años desde aquel momento.
Nuestro Señor Jesucristo me llamo, como a muchos de ustedes hermanos y hermanas, a ser Pescador de Hombres. Me identifico con aquel Apóstol Pablo en su postura de trabajar y vivir del fruto de su trabajo, me identifico con un Francisco de Asís en su ánimo de tratar de entender la voz de aquel que le llama por su nombre a “Construir su Iglesia”, me identifico con un Juan de la Cruz que “vive su desierto espiritual”, me identifico con un Ignacio de Loyola que levanta su mirada hacia el Creador y se reconcilia con la creación, y descubre en la vida de los santos a hombres y mujeres tan parecidos a él en los retos que tienen que enfrentar en su vida ¡que concluye que cualquiera podría ser santo solo si se propusiera ser feliz cumpliendo el propósito por el que fue llamado a la vida!.
Porque la vida en servicio se nutre a si misma, no buscando las cosas fáciles sino los Tesoros del Cielo.
Fui ordenado sacerdote el viernes 22 de junio del 2018, siendo asignado casi en ese momento mas que por pura necesidad a tomar la responsabilidad de las iglesias Espíritu Santo, San Matías y San Jose el domingo 24 de junio de ese mismo año. Aun y cuando ya había hecho un par de viajes exploratorios, no tenia idea de lo que el Señor tenía en mente...
Después de haberme involucrado desde mayo del 2019, he conocido muchas personas amadas en Cristo, que tienen algún tipo de curiosidad por descubrir como interiorizar en su llamado a servir en algo, cualquier cosa pero quieren saber como identificar su “llamado especifico” y se aproximan para ver cómo pueden ayudar. Yo les recomiendo esto: AYUDEN SIEMPRE AL NECESITADO.
Un día socorriendo a un enfermo, a un migrante, a los jóvenes, a los matrimonios, a los que no tienen hogar, a los huérfanos, a las viudas, a los que sufren por algún tipo de adicción, descubrirás tu ministerio de forma personal; escucharas la voz del Señor llamándote por tu nombre y pidiendo tus manos para trabajar, tus pies para ir a ayudar o tus labios para orar. Solo les puedo compartir, que desde entonces han pasado situaciones que quizás he manejado bien, otras en que he sido superado por el momento y otras que aun no sé cómo se resolverán. Debemos estar alertas como dice el apóstol Pedro “Sed Sobrios, velad despiertos porque vuestro enemigo el diablo ronda como león rugiente buscando a quien devorar”. ( 1 Pedro 5,8)
Me ha tocado observar y al mismo tiempo defender con celo nuestros refugios con mucha prudencia y decision, cuando los criminales buscan introducir halcones (informantes) entre la misma población migrante, como las ovejas más débiles del rebaño caen presa de alguna banda criminal y empiezan a usar nuestro recinto como sitio seguro para guardar su “mercancía”, me ha tocado sorprenderlos con sustancias ilegales, me ha tocado ver cuando la población se despide de nosotros, engañados por coyotes y son llevados a casas de seguridad donde después de varios intentos que concluyeron en fracaso, son vetados por los mismos criminales a menos de que traigan a otros migrantes incautos que paguen por ellos.
He escuchado a un hombre de 36 años proveniente de El Salvador que tenia varios años viviendo en EUA y que fue deportado junto con su hija adolescente y fueron victimas de Trata de Personas y Extorsión: Le amputaron un dedo de su mano izquierda y lo enviaron a su familia con la condición de que pagaran o matarían a ambos. El aprovecho un descuido cuando fueron a recoger el dinero para escapar, el entrego a su hija en la frontera de Tijuana, de ahí migro a Cd. Juarez, Chih. por miedo a ser encontrado por el cartel. Cuando llego sufría de ansiedad, insomnio y algún tipo de trastorno alimenticio. Después de un tiempo con nosotros, recupero el sueño, luego vino el hambre y después llegaron los ánimos de servir. El contribuyo al menos un mes en Espíritu Santo, recibiendo a las personas repatriadas e incluso llego a ser parte del liderazgo a cargo de ver por los demás.
Una vez una mujer de honduras, de 40 años de edad que salió de su país sin problemas económicos, llego por entusiasmo de su pareja que vive en EUA para ya estar juntos y casarse, pues el tenia mas de seis años viviendo allá y quería que se casaran. A ella el coyote la robo $8,000 dólares y abuso sexualmente de ella. Fue terrible cuando llego a pedirme ayuda para conseguir una prueba de embarazo para ver si aquel hombre infame la había dejado embarazada.
En otra ocasión me llamo un hombre de Brasil que había decidido salir del albergue a inicios de la semana para cruzar ilegalmente junto con su hijo de 9 años... El se escuchaba con tanto miedo, que no dude en ir a sacarlo hasta la casa de seguridad en ANAPRA en donde se encontraba. Recuerdo que apenas subimos al carro, el se fue en el asiento trasero de mi carro, abrazando a su pequeño hijo llorando mientras lo besaba en su frente.
Hubo otro hombre de Honduras que fue persuadido de ir a entregar a su hija de 13 años al puente, creyendo que fácilmente seria puesta en disposición de su hermana que es ciudadana en EUA. Me llamo a media noche para pedirme auxilio, quebrado en llanto porque ni las autoridades de EUA ni las autoridades de México sabían del paradero de su hija. Sin tomar mas armas que un komboskini (rosario ortodoxo) me fui hasta la casa de seguridad allá por el Periférico Camino Real en donde tenían a varias familias, tomamos sus cosas y nos regresamos hasta San Matías. Apenas apague el motor del carro, nos bajamos y aquel padre, viéndome a los ojos me dijo con la voz sofocada por el llanto “ya no quiero saber nada del sueño americano, solo quiero saber donde esta mi hija, encontrarla y si ella no cruzó, la tomo y me regreso para Honduras...”
Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, siento un pequeño ardor en mis ojos mientras escribo estas líneas que están lejos de reflejar el amor que mi esposa y yo sentimos por todas estas personas que llegan desde tan lejos, tan desprovistas de si mismas: de lo que un día lucharon por ser, de lo que fueron, y de lo que no son en este momento.
Les mentiría si les dijera que en medio de esta pandemia no he sentido el temor de no poder seguir adelante con esta misión, que no sería posible si el Amor no fuera el lenguaje común de nuestra Fe. Aunque nadie de nuestra población, de nuestro equipo o de mi familia (esposa y dos pequeñas de 9 y de 13) ha tenido síntomas, desconozco si alguno de nosotros habrá tenido este virus que ha golpeado tan duro nuestros países (EUA y Mexico). En el Refugio estamos orando por las luchas que ustedes también están enfrentando en la Diócesis de Rio Grande.
A pesar de que la pandemia nos golpeó duro y no tenemos celebraciones al público, si celebramos la misa dominical con la población. Luego de una misa en donde el Espíritu Santo toco un par de corazones, hubo dos mujeres y un hombre (Guatemala y Honduras) que se sintieron inspiradas a pedir permiso para entrar de vez en cuando a hacer una oración al templo. Así que las coincidencias en los tiempos de oración personal volcaron un día volcaron en un acuerdo de ir juntos a orar y el Señor ha organizado un Festín diario con sus hijas que se han comprometido a orar diariamente y atraer a otras para que igual oren a Dios.
La mayoría se reconocen como católico romanas, algunas evangélicas protestantes y saben que somos iglesia Anglicana, pero ante todo se reconocen como hijas de un Rey y que aquí no hay discriminación en la fe. Aunque Nuestro Señor Jesus ya obro organizándonos mejor de lo que cualquiera de nosotros lo hubiera hecho, creemos necesario y así lo queremos, dejar instituido un ministerio de oración continua para los migrantes que apenas están saliendo de sus lugares de origen para que el Espíritu Santo les de sabiduría, los que van en la mitad de su viacrucis migratorio para que el Espíritu Santo les de Fortaleza en las Pruebas y por los que ya solo están esperando en las fronteras para que el Espíritu Santo les llene de Paz.
Pido de sus oraciones para que este pobre ministerio de atención a migrantes que ustedes han hecho posible que nazca en ciudad Juarez, Chih. pueda continuar adelante.
Pido de sus oraciones para que el Señor nos asista con sabiduría en toda decisión.
Pido de sus oraciones para que nunca nos falte el Amor.
Por los que cuidan los tesoros del cielo, por los que rescatan los tesoros del cielo.
Afectuosamente,
Pbro. Hector Trejo Cano
Parroquias y Refugios Anglicanos en Ciudad Juarez, Chih.
The Vocation to the Service of Migrants: A Reflection from Padre Hector Trejo Cano
A few years ago I had my first interaction with people who had arrived from Central America, who traveled on the roofs of trains or in the junction of the wagons, like the migrants we often read about in newspapers who travel to the border in pursuit of the American dream. The migrants I met told me of the tragedies of losing their loved ones. While on the train they’d fall asleep, fall and the train passes over them, leaving them dismembered or lifeless. Upon first meeting these migrants, I was a simple agent of the mounted police in the city of Chihuahua, Chih. and I had my patrol duties on certain trails that were not easily accessible from the street.I felt the Lord's personal call to listen to those he had never listened to, men and women (sometimes young pregnant women) who were cutting off their hunger and managing their mental exhaustion using relaxation drugs. I remember feeling angry I heard one of them say that they had already been there for two days, that both days they had been assaulted by some "cholos" who took away what little belongings they had with them, and that they could not leave because at any moment the train was going to pass, which would be their opportunity to continue their journey.
While I confess that my humanity was clothed by civil authority at that time, I felt a lump in my throat when hearing the sorrows of these people who did not have a decent place to continue their journey.
More than seven years have passed since that time.
Our Lord Jesus Christ called me, like many of you brothers and sisters, to be a Fisher of Men. I identify myself with that Apostle Paul in his position of working and living off the fruit of his work. I identify with Francis of Assisi in his spirit of trying to understand the voice of the one who calls him by name to “Build his Church.” I identify with John of the Cross, who "lives in his spiritual desert.” I identify with the Ignatius of Loyola, who raises his gaze towards the Creator and reconciles himself with creation, and discovers in the lives of the saints such men and women similar to him in the challenges they have to face in their life, which determines that anyone could be a saint only if they decided to be happy fulfilling the purpose for which they were called to life!
Life in service nourishes itself. It is not looking for the easy things, but for the Treasures of Heaven.
I was ordained a priest on Friday, June 22, 2018, being assigned almost at that time more out of necessity to take responsibility for the Espiritu Santo, San Matías, and San Jose churches on Sunday, June 24 of that same year. Even though I had already made a couple of exploratory trips, I had no idea what the Lord had in mind...
Since I got involved with this work in May 2019, I have met many beloved people of Christ, who have some kind of curiosity to discover their call to serve in something, anything. They want to know how to identify their “specific call” and they approach to see how they can help. I recommend this: ALWAYS HELP THE NEEDY.
After one day of helping a sick person, a migrant, young people, married couples, those who are homeless, orphans, widows, those who suffer from some type of addiction, you will discover your ministry in a personal way. You will hear the voice of the Lord calling you by name and asking for your hands to work, your feet to help or your lips to pray. I can only share with you that since then there have been situations that perhaps I have handled well, others in which I have been overcome for the moment, and others that I still do not know how they will be resolved. We must be alert as the apostle Peter says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)
I have had to observe and at the same time zealously defend our shelters with great prudence and decision. When criminals seek to introduce hawks (informants) among the same migrant population, the weakest sheep in the herd fall prey to some criminal gang and begin to use our compound as a safe place to store their "merchandise.” I have been surprised by illegal substances. I have seen when the population says goodbye to us, deceived by coyotes and they are taken to safe houses where after several attempts that concluded in failure, they are vetoed by the criminals themselves unless they bring in other unsuspecting migrants to pay for them.
I have heard from a 36-year-old man from El Salvador who had lived in the United States for several years and who was deported along with his teenage daughter and were victims of Human Trafficking and Extortion: They amputated a finger from his left hand and sent him to his family on the condition that they pay or kill both. He took advantage of an oversight when they went to collect the money to escape. He handed over his daughter to the Tijuana border. From there he migrated to Ciudad Juarez, Chih. for fear of being found by the cartel. When he arrived, he was suffering from anxiety, insomnia and some kind of eating disorder. After some time with us, he regained sleep, then hunger came and then came the courage to serve. He contributed at least a month to Espiritu Santo, receiving repatriated people and even became part of the leadership in charge of looking out for others.
Once a 40-year-old woman from Honduras, who left her country without financial problems, arrived with enthusiasm to be with her partner who lives in the US and get married, because he had more than six years living there without her. The coyote stole $8,000 from her and sexually abused her. It was terrible when she came to ask me for help getting a pregnancy test to see if her assaulter had gotten her pregnant.
On another occasion, a man from Brazil called to say he had decided to leave the shelter at the beginning of the week to cross illegally with his 9-year-old son. He listened to himself with so much fear that he did not hesitate to take him out to the safe house in ANAPRA where he was. I remember that as soon as we got into the car, he went in the back seat of my car, hugging his crying little son while kissing him on his forehead.
There was another man from Honduras who was persuaded to go deliver her 13-year-old daughter to the bridge, believing that it would easily be placed at the disposal of her sister who is a US citizen. He called me at midnight to ask for help, broken into tears because neither the US authorities nor the Mexican authorities knew of his daughter's whereabouts. Without taking more weapons than a komboskini (orthodox rosary), I went to the safe house there by the Periférico Camino Real where they had several families. We took their things and returned to San Matías. As soon as I turned off the car's engine, we got out and that father, looking into my eyes, told me with his voice suffocated by crying “I don't want to know anything about the American dream, I just want to know where my daughter is, find her and if she didn't cross, I take it and go back to Honduras... "
My dear brothers and sisters, I feel a little burning in my eyes as I write these lines that are far from reflecting the love that my wife and I feel for all these people who come from so far, so devoid of themselves: of what a day they struggled to be, what they were, and what they are not at this moment.
I would be lying if I told you that in the midst of this pandemic I have not felt the fear of not being able to continue with this mission, that it would not be possible if Love were not the common language of our Faith. Although no one from our population, from our team or my family (wife and two little girls, 9 and 13) have had symptoms, I do not know if any of us have had this virus that has hit our countries so hard (USA and Mexico). At El Refugio, we are praying for the struggles that you are also facing in the Diocese of Rio Grande.
Despite the fact that the pandemic hit us hard and we do not have public celebrations, we do celebrate Sunday mass with the population. After a mass where the Holy Spirit touched a couple of hearts, there were two women and a man (from Guatemala and Honduras) who were inspired to ask permission to enter the temple from time to time to pray. So the coincidences in the times of personal prayer turned one day into an agreement to go together to pray and the Lord has organized a daily Feast with his daughters who have promised to pray daily and attract others to pray to God the same.
Most of them recognize themselves as Roman Catholics, some Protestant Evangelicals and they know that we are the Anglican Church, but above all, they recognize themselves as sons and daughters of a King and that there is no discrimination in faith here. Although Our Lord Jesus has already worked to organize us better than any of us would have done, we believe it is necessary and we strive to establish a ministry of continuous prayer for migrants who are just leaving their places of origin. May the Holy Spirit of wisdom guide those who go through their own stations of the cross during migration. May the Holy Spirit give them strength in their trials and for those who are must wait at the borders, may the Holy Spirit fills them with peace.
I ask for your prayers so that this poor ministry of attention to migrants that you have made possible is born in Ciudad Juarez, Chih.
I ask for your prayers so that the Lord assists us with wisdom in every decision.
I ask for your prayers so that we never lack Love.
For those who care for the treasures of heaven, for those who rescue the treasures of heaven.
Affectionately,
Padre Hector Trejo Cano
Anglican Parishes and Refugees in Ciudad Juárez, Chih.
Sin Fronteras Reading Group, Co-Led By Padre David Ulloa Chavez, Missioner for Border Ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona and The Rev. Mike Wallens, Co-Chair of Rio Grande Borderland Ministries
Over the course of six weeks, we will read, reflect, and pray for the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the US/Mexico border. Our primary text will be Miguel de la Torre’s book The Immigration Crisis: Towards an Ethics of Place. The group’s second meeting will be today at 2:30 MST. We hope to see you there! NOTE: The Diocese of Arizona is hosting these Zoom sessions at Mountain Standard Time (MST). Since, daylight savings has passed, Mountain Standard Time is now in line with Mountain Time. Today’s meeting will be at 2:30 MST (2:30 MT/3:30 CST/4:30 EST). We apologize for any confusion regarding time differences! Below is the Zoom information for the Sin Fronteras Reading Group. To learn more about the reading schedule, please see the full lesson plan here. Questions? Email David at david@azdiocese.org or Mike at michaelwallens@gmail.com
Episcopal Diocese of Arizona is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Without Borders Reading Group
Time: Every 2 weeks on Wed, 7 occurrence(s)
Oct 28, 2020 02:30 PM - (Mountain Standard)
Nov 11, 2020 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Nov 25, 2020 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Dec 9, 2020 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Jan 6, 2021 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Jan 20, 2021 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Feb 3, 2021 02:30 PM- (Mountain Standard)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84481427404?pwd=ODI1RDBydmVWUGpkblpWY1JrUG8wQT09
Meeting ID: 844 8142 7404
Passcode: borders
Neighbor to Neighbor Learning Event: December 5th, 2020
The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande invites you to consider a new way for DRG Congregations to support asylum seekers as we partner with Episcopal Migration Ministries in being a pilot diocese for the Neighbor to Neighbor program.
Neighbor to Neighbor is a new network designed to connect asylum seekers with Episcopal congregations in local communities across the US. Led by Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Rev. Cristina Rathbone, Neighbor to Neighbor seeks to provide a way for Episcopalians to accompany, assist and support asylum seekers who live close to them, and is committed to offering congregational groups training and support as their relationships with these newest neighbors develop and grow.
To learn more, please come to our Neighbor to Neighbor learning event on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00-11:30 AM MT. To register for the event, click here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kcO6tqz8sHN2za3S1WAmQhpbV-Q_IC9wy
For any additional questions, or cannot make this event, please contact DRG Bridge Chaplain Ana Reza at areza@dioceserg.org.
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego Presents: The Border Ministries Summit 2020November 20-21, 2020
Join us for the Virtual Border Ministries Summit 2020 and hear from those at the center of the immigrant community in San Diego. Our focus will be on Christian Peacemaking in a World of Conflict. Learn from undocumented people, deportees, first generation immigrants and Christian leaders who live in Tijuana and San Diego. We will hear from Episcopal / Anglican Bishops and other leaders on both sides of the border, as well as from the Border Patrol and legal experts. We will not only learn about immigration but will be equipped with tangible Christian Peacemaking practices to live out in our own contexts as Everyday Peacemakers. The pain is real and the opportunity for transformation and healing is as well. This is the Third Annual Border Summit, designed for Episcopal and other Christian leaders wanting more information about the US-Mexico border, and for those who want to learn the basics of becoming Christian Peacemakers in this time of deep division. To learn more about The Border Ministries Summit 2020 and register for the event, please visit borderministries.com.
Advocacy Update from Episcopal Migration Ministries
Ministry Networks
If you are seeking opportunities to connect to a community of welcomers and advocates, you are cordially invited to join one of EMM’s ministry networks. These are vibrant virtual spaces for conversation, collaboration, and taking action, together. We would love to have you join us:
EMM’s Immigrant Detention Ministry Network meets the first Monday of the month, 12:00-1:15pm Eastern. Join.
EMM’s Asylum Ministry Network meets the third Monday of the month, 12:00-1:15pm Eastern. Join
Episcopal Migration Ministries offers Virtual Advent Vigil
Episcopal Migration Ministries, in partnership with the EMM Asylum Ministry Network and EMM Immigration Detention Ministry Network, will host a virtual Advent vigil on Sunday, December 13, 7:00 – 8:00 pm EST. The Advent vigil, available via Zoom webinar and Facebook Live, will offer a time of prayer and reflection in a world being transformed by forced migration.
Registration is required and is available here. The vigil will be available on-demand following the event.
In addition, Episcopal Migration Ministries offers a downloadable vigil order of service for local adaptation and use. It is available here.
Episcopal Migration Ministries is a ministry of The Episcopal Church and is one of nine national agencies responsible for resettling refugees in the United States in partnership with the government. Episcopal Migration Ministries currently has 13 affiliate offices in 12 states. In addition to its long-standing work in refugee resettlement ministry, Episcopal Migration Ministries is The Episcopal Church’s convening place for collaboration, education, and information-sharing on migration. To directly support EMM and its life-changing work, visit www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text ‘EMM’ to 41444 (standard messaging and data may rates apply).
#WeAreEMM: Episcopal Migration Ministries Apparel Fundraiser
Join with EMM this season and share your support and welcome. The EMM apparel fundraiser includes multiple styles for adults and children. The fundraiser can be accessed at bit.ly/weareemm and will close on December 1.