Extension Magazine - Summer 2020

catholicextension.org
STORIES OF FAITH FROM CATHOLIC EXTENSION SUMMER 2020
CONNECTED BY
FAITH
THROUGH A
PANDEMIC
Sr. Guadalupe
Sr. Midory
Sr. Daysis
Sr. Chayito
Sr. Maria Teodosa
Sister Gabriela
Little Rock MC
Cheyenne
Sr. Yanina Martinez
Sr. Brenda
Sr. Constanza, F.S.
Sr. Margarita
Bishop Gerald Kicanas
Sr. Gladys
Sr. Andrea
Sr. Maria
Sr. Mayela
Hna. Delia
Sr. Maryud
Misioneras Guadalupanas
Sr. Maritza
Sacramento
Sr. Yurany
Sr. Yelitza
Sr. Ignacia
A CHURCH “VIRTUALLY” DEPLOYED 16
Navajo Nation reaches highest COVID-19 infection rate in U.S. 18

Extension | Summer 2020 3
S T O R I E S O F F A I T H F R O M C A T H O L I C E X T E N S I O N
Catholic Extension has published Extension
magazine since 1906 to share with our donors
and friends the stories illustrating our mission:
to work in solidarity with people in America’s
poorest regions to build up vibrant and
transformative Catholic faith communities.
Contact Us
Catholic Extension
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Chicago, IL 60606
800.842.7804
magazine@catholicextension.org
catholicextension.org
Board of Governors
CHANCELLOR
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
Archbishop of Chicago
VICE CHANCELLOR
Most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas
Bishop Emeritus of Tucson
PRESIDENT
Reverend John J. Wall
VICE CHAIR OF COMMITTEES and SECRETARY
Elizabeth Hartigan Connelly
BOARD MEMBERS
Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes
Bishop of San Bernardino
Most Reverend Steven Biegler
Bishop of Cheyenne
Dr. Arturo Chávez
John W. Croghan
Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores, STD
Bishop of Brownsville
Most Reverend Curtis J. Guillory, SVD
Bishop of Beaumont
The Honorable James C. Kenny
Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch
Bishop Emeritus of St. Petersburg
Peter J. McCanna
Andrew J. McKenna
Michael G. O’Grady
Christopher Perry
Karen Sauder
Pamela Scholl
Most Reverend Anthony B. Taylor
Bishop of Little Rock
Most Reverend George L. Thomas
Bishop of Las Vegas
Most Reverend William A. Wack, CSC
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Edward Wehmer
Your investment in Catholic Extension is tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law. Catholic
Extension is a nonprofit 501(c)( 3 ) organization.
ISSN Number: 0884-7533
©2020 The Catholic Church Extension Society
All rights reserved.
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continue receiving Extension, e-mail magazine@
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COVER STORY
Connected by
faith through a
pandemic 16
At this moment, Catholics are
being called to reach out to
America’s poorest regions and
help faith communities who are
being severely impacted by the
magnitude of this pandemic.
Across the country, heroes
are emerging on the frontlines
“virtually” as they provide
humanitarian and spiritual
care to those most in need.
BUILD
What we learned about the 1918
pandemic 10
INSPIRE
ROOTS | Response during 1918 pandemic is foundation
for our action today
The strength of the “domestic Church”
is revealed 12
FOCUS | Pandemic rekindles an appreciation for practicing
faith at home
Navajo Nation reaches highest
infection rate in U.S. 18
COVER | Church stands in solidarity with Navajo ravaged
by coronavirus
Nourishing those who pick the crops 22
COVER | Catholic Extension has long supported
farmworkers now being recognized as “essential”
IGNITE
DONOR PROFILE | Generous Catholic Extension donors
Recognizing the dignity of the poor 34
are a blessing to others
Letter from Father Wall 4
News Briefs 8

4
Letter from Father Wall
Extension | Summer 2020 5
Father Jack
Wall celebrated
a special Easter
Mass that was
livestreamed for
viewers.
Responding
with creativity
and love
Dear Friends,
We are living in extraordinary
times. We are confronted
with a vastly different world
than the one we knew only a
few short months ago. As we
grapple with the pandemic,
an economic downturn and
most recently, civil unrest, we
may be anxious, unsettled,
or hurting as we seek God’s
voice and presence in these
difficult times.
I encounter God’s presence
in the thousands of people
supported by you, the donors
of Catholic Extension, who
are the tangible touch of
God’s hope, reconciliation
and healing in these challenging
moments for our
country and our world.
Over the last several
months, we have heard from
hundreds of Extension-supported
leaders throughout
the nation about the creative,
courageous and compelling
ways that the Church
is “walking by faith” as we
strive to help the poor, the
sick, the vulnerable and
those on the peripheries.
As you will read in this edition
of Extension magazine,
many inspiring priests, women
religious and laypeople are
re-imagining their ministries
and finding new ways to keep
their communities connected
with God, with the Church,
and with each other during
this time of isolation and unrest.
Just like our heroic first
responders, they are ordinary
people doing extraordinary
deeds. Their dedication
is their very personal witness
to every one of us that there
is something deep down at
the core of their being—and
indeed within every human
heart—that is more powerful
than our fears and more
connecting than all the things
that we let divide us.
Whether these brave women
and men would articulate
it or not, I believe that each
one is revealing the reality of
God’s love incarnate at work
in their lives. And the world is
witnessing through them the
power of that love to become
a life-giving force even in the
most dire and dangerous of
times and circumstances.
Even before there was a
pandemic, economic downturn
and civil unrest, we
know that there has always
been another kind of “social
distancing” in the world. We
are especially conscious of
the distancing between “the
haves” and “have nots” in
society.
We can never ever let distance
become the reason for
a lack of concern or compassion
for others. Physical distance
must not mean disconnection
from one another nor
desertion of those in need.
We have come to know
through our experience of
encountering and accompanying
so many good people in
our Extension Dioceses that
the one thing that bridges
every form of social distancing
and division is mercy. As
“Priests, women religious
and laypeople
are re-imagining their
ministries and finding
new ways to keep
their communities
connected with God,
with the Church, and
with each other during
this time of isolation
and unrest.”
“Everything good that ever happened to me in my life began in
the Church. I ask you to do three things: Stay close to God. Stay
close to one another as a family. Stay close to the Church.”
—CATHERINE WALL, Fr. Jack’s mother
Pope Francis says, “Mercy is
truly the beating heart of the
Gospel.”
If there is one thing that
Catholic Extension has come
to mean and has attempted
to do every day for decades
and decades is to hear the cry
of the poor in our land. More
importantly is our response
to those cries by bridging the
distance between donors and
people living on the peripheries
and by supporting our
lay, religious and ordained
ministers whose faith calls
them to embrace God’s suffering
people, pour out mercy
in abundance and work
daily to build a more just and
peaceful society.
On a very personal note,
I want to let you know I
am mourning the death of
my mother, Catherine, who
passed away on May 1 at the
age of 101. She was one of the
biggest blessings of my life.
Last year, as we celebrated
her 100th birthday, she said,
“Everything good that ever
happened to me in my life
began in the Church. I ask
you to do three things: Stay
close to God. Stay close to
one another as a family. Stay
close to the Church.”
My mother was so supportive
of our work at Catholic
Extension and prayed for us
daily. I am passing on her
beautiful advice to you because
it is at the heart of what
Catholic Extension is seeking
to accomplish in being present
to America’s poorest faith
communities.
Thank you for your loyal
support.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. John J. Wall
PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC EXTENSION
Catherine Wall,
Father Jack’s
mother, passed
away on May 1 at
the age of 101.

Extension | Summer 2020 7
BUILD
NEWS BRIEFS 8 | ROOTS 10
Good news from
around the country
Support poor Catholic
faith communities with your
A religious sister helps students in Monitor, WA.
DONOR-ADVISED FUND
Give to Catholic
Extension from your
Donor-Advised Fund.
Log into your Donor-
Advised Fund account
today and recommend
a grant to the Catholic
Church Extension Society
of the United States
of America,
EIN 36-6000520.
Your generous gift will
○ Make a dramatic
difference for
poor Catholic faith
communities without
jeopardizing your savings
or taking a loss on your
assets.
○ Have a meaningful
impact on our nation’s
most vulnerable
populations.
WANT TO LEARN ABOUT
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS?
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are
accounts permanently designated
for charitable purposes. They are an
easy and effective way to make a taxwise
philanthropic impact.
DAFs give you the flexibility to
○ contribute cash, appreciated stock,
and/or complex assets
○ receive an immediate tax deduction
○ invest your contributions tax-free
○ recommend grants whenever
you’re ready
For more information, please contact Laura Garlock at lgarlock@catholicextension.org or cut along the dotted line and
mail to: Catholic Extension, 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606
Name________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________
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Phone__________________________________Email_________________________________________
During the
1918 Spanish
Flu pandemic,
Catholic
Extension had
to temporarily
suspend chapel
car services, so
cars sat empty.
See story
page 10.

8
BUILD
News Briefs
Extension | Summer 2020 9
HIGHLIGHTS
Online Masses
While churches
nationwide are now
offering livestreaming
or recorded Masses
weekly, Catholic
Extension is also
providing this service
on our website and
Facebook page.
On March 15, our
livestreamed Mass was
viewed by 7,000 people.
Every Sunday we
feature online Masses
in English and Spanish,
from an Extension
Diocese. Please visit
catholicextension.
org/onlinemass or
catholicextension.
org/misaenlínea.
Website Updates
Catholic Extension’s
newly designed
website brings to life
the inspiring stories
of the Catholic faith
communities supported
by our donors. Visit
catholicextension.org
to take a look!
Ordination Masses adapt to pandemic
Across the country, COVID-19 has dramatically changed ordination
ceremonies for seminarians who are set to graduate and
become priests in 2020.
In the dioceses supported by Catholic Extension, about 100
ordinations are taking place in a variety of ways—some are
being postponed and others will be livestreamed to comply
with social distancing requirements. This is a difficult reality for
seminarians who have studied for years and looked forward to
their ordination as a culmination of their education.
In the Diocese of Yakima, Washington, Father Edgar Quiroga
Ceballos (above right, with Bishop Joseph Tyson) was ordained
on May 22 in a livestreamed ceremony at St. Paul Cathedral with
only a handful of guests. He later gave blessings to visitors at
Holy Family Parish as they greeted him in their cars.
Catholic Extension supports 450 seminarians annually.
MUSIC MINISTRY
NATIONWIDE
To spotlight the magnificent
talent that exists in
Extension Dioceses, we
have launched a weekly
concert series called
Songs in Solidarity. Featuring
musicians—priests,
sisters and laypeople—
tens of thousands have
tuned into these performances,
which have been
featured on Good Morning
America’s “Quaranstreamed.”
Concerts include
Gospel sounds, mariachi
and contemporary music.
Please visit catholic
extension.org/songs.
HONORING HEROES
ALBUQUERQUE,
NEW MEXICO
On Memorial Day, Catholic
Extension was honored
to share the extraordinary
story of Deacon Enrique
Padilla, the wounded warrior
who became a faithful
soldier for Christ, after returning
from the Vietnam
War as the lone survivor
of his platoon. He serves
as a deacon at St. Jude
Thaddeus Church in Albuquerque
and a spiritual director
for veterans. Join
the thousands who have
viewed his inspiring story,
please visit catholicextension.org/padilla.
In Sturgis, Michigan,
three sisters
who recently
arrived from
Nicaragua to serve poor
parishes through Catholic
Extension’s U.S.-
Latin American Sisters
Exchange Program had
to quickly shift gears in this pandemic.
DEDICATION
TO MARY
NATIONWIDE
In this pandemic, the United
States Conference of
Catholic Bishops reconsecrated
our nation to Mary,
Mother of God on May 1
to protect the vulnerable.
Catholic Extension offered
a special video reflection
of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Patroness of the Americas,
narrated by Dr. Arturo
Chávez, president of the
Mexican American Catholic
College and member
of Catholic Extension’s
Board of Governors. Visit
catholicextension.org/
MonthofMary.
SAFELY DELIVERING GROCERIES TO THE POOR
RADIO TOUR
NATIONWIDE
Father Jack Wall recently
completed a series of
national radio interviews
to cast a light on the plight
of poor Catholic faith communities
during the pandemic
and discuss the
response of the Church
to help them. Airing on
major networks, including
The Catholic Channel and
Sacred Heart Radio, his
talks reached nearly 26 million
listeners and inspired
their participation in Catholic
Extension’s COVID-19
relief efforts.
As they minister to
families, the sisters are
seeing greater food
insecurity, so they are
distributing groceries.
“We are helping
people stay calm and
not feel alone. The
Church gives them
hope,” said Sister Delia Aurora Ibarra.
NEWS BRIEFS

10
BUILD Extension | Summer 2020 11
Roots
PHOTO COURTESY OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
PHOTO COURTESY CATHOLIC SENTINEL
All Catholic Extension
chapel cars were
temporarily grounded during
the 1918 Spanish Flu.
Catholic Extension
founder Father
Francis Clement
Kelley protected faith
communities during
the pandemic and also
advocated for religious
freedom as World War I
was drawing to a close.
What we learned about the
U.S. newspapers reported the closing
of churches and public spaces. St. Peter
Church, left, in Newberg, Oregon, which
Catholic Extension helped build in 1908,
closed briefly.
Sisters nationwide, including these
in San Francisco, responded
creatively and fearlessly by
undertaking new roles to help
Americans navigate the crisis.
At the time, Catholic Extension
was helping to build and repair
churches in that area.
For months in 1918,
priests on chapel cars
had to halt services to
isolated Catholics.
Response during earlier
pandemic is foundation
for our action today
A
s one of a few organizations
that endured the
1918 Spanish Flu and
the COVID-19 pandemic,
we looked into
our archives to learn
more about how
we responded
back then. We learned that
our famous “chapel rail cars”
were temporarily halted. Theaters,
schools and churches
along with other public venues
were shuttered much like
today. We also learned that
an Extension magazine staff
member, John F. Bankow, a
23-year-old illustrator, died
at the peak of the influenza
outbreak in October 1918.
Interestingly, we learned that
many publications were prohibited
from talking about
the pandemic given that it
coincided with the ending
of World War I.
At that vital moment of
history, our founder, Father
Francis Clement Kelley,
was not looking back,
he was looking forward.
He understood that he was
living in a transformative
time of history that would
shape the future. Speaking to
his national audience through
Extension magazine during
the pandemic and just weeks
after the end of the war, he
pondered how their actions
could define who they would
become as a society from that
point forward.
In his January 1919 editorial,
Father Kelley spoke of
the dream for lasting peace
that was on everyone’s mind
after whole nations had been
forever scarred by so much
1918
pandemic
For a historic tour, see Holy Thursday Virtual Pilgrimage video, at catholicextension.org/Easter
death and suffering. He asked
a timeless question that still
resonates today:
“What will the historian a
century hence have to say of
us?”
Father Kelley sought to
bring peace by sailing to
Europe to attend treaty talks
among the newly formed
League of Nations. His goal
was to advocate for those in
the Americas experiencing
religious persecution, such as
Mexican clergy, religious and
seminarians caught in the
political revolution in Mexico
at that time. These religious
exiles, who had fled to the
U.S., were being supported
by Catholic Extension.
In this time, when so much
is unknown, we are certain of
this: While supporting faith
communities among the poor
is always important, it is in
times like these that their
role is never more vital, as
is Catholic Extension’s mission
to walk with them in solidarity.
These Catholic faith
communities are not only a
source of hope, healing and
help for the spiritual, psychological
and economic victims
of this pandemic, but are
also a reminder of our universal
duty to “flatten the curve”
of rampant indifference and
abandonment that the poor
face in times of pandemics
and in all other times.
What will the historian a century
hence have to say of us?”
“—FATHER KELLEY, regarding
the need to consider the future
in navigating a current crisis
Our friendship with and
support of poor parishes will
hopefully help inoculate us
against what Pope Francis
describes as an even “worse
virus” than COVID-19, which
is that of “selfish indifference.”
And, paraphrasing
Father Kelley, “What will
they say about us a century
from now?”

12
BUILD
Focus
Extension | Summer 2020 13
The strength of the
“domestic Church” is revealed
The Easter of 2020 was certainly odd
and painful for many, but it was ultimately
made easier by Catholics’ belief
in the idea of the “domestic Church;”
namely that faith has its foundations
in our homes. In apostolic times, when
there were no public churches, Christian
communities gathered in homes. If any good has
come as a result of sheltering in place, it is that we have
been able to recapture that sense of our faith being
grounded in our homes once again.
Pope Francis said in his apostolic exhortation,
Amoris Laetitia, “The Church is a family of families,
constantly enriched by the lives of all those
domestic Churches.”
Just before the start of the Easter Triduum, Catholic
Extension reached out to faith communities nationwide,
asking them to submit photos of how they spent
these holy days. A montage of these photos can be
viewed at catholicextension.org/DomesticChurch.
It is a remarkable collection of how Catholics across
the country are successfully living the faith in their
homes. They are participating in streaming Masses and
online devotions supplied by their local parishes and
dioceses. They are designating sacred spaces with
religious imagery in their homes as places for prayer.
The montage shows families performing traditional
Catholic rituals in their living rooms. Movingly,
parents recognized the importance of these holy days
in choosing to elegantly dress themselves and their
children, even though they never left the home.
What all of this is perhaps signaling is a
renewed gravitational pull among Catholics
toward the domestic Church as the privileged
place where faith is lived, taught, and transferred
from one generation to the next. Perhaps, this
new emphasis or understanding of the evangelizing
power of the domestic Church will be here to
stay, long after social distancing restrictions are
relaxed.
This resonates with our experience at Catholic
Extension. Even though we have given 12,600 grants
to build and repair church facilities in our history and
work with 86 dioceses today, faith leaders often bring
Pandemic rekindles
an appreciation
for practicing
faith at home
us to the “domestic Churches” in their
diocese to see the places where the
faith is alive among the people we
support in the poorest regions of the
country. As a result, we often find
ourselves visiting humble households,
where we witness vibrant spiritual
movements that are organized in people’s living
rooms, robust prayer groups among many households
routinely convened, or immigrant communities celebrating
devotions among their neighbors in preparation
for feast days.
We know that these homes are where the
Church has a strong foundation in our poor faith
communities and they bring that lively spirit of
togetherness to their parishes.
So often, the teachers of the faith are mothers and
grandmothers, and thankfully a respectable number of
fathers as well. Bishop Emeritus of Las Cruces, Ricardo
Ramírez, recalled that as he was being ordained a
bishop, his grandmother, “Abuelita Panchita,” kept
teaching him about the faith.
This strong woman raised many children and was
known to catch and kill rattle snakes with her bare
hands. She showed that same legendary strength in
the face of death. At 90, Ramírez remembers Panchita
singing joyfully on her deathbed, telling him, “It is a
privilege to be able to die.” To see a video of this story,
visit catholicextension.org/DomesticChurch.
This kind of faith, this depth of credal conviction,
is uniquely instilled in us and witnessed to us in the
domestic Church.
In the weeks and months ahead, as social
distancing measures begin to relax, we must not
lose sight of the unique power and privileged
place of the domestic Church in the ongoing work
of evangelization. Families are so very critical at this
moment. While we all look forward to the reopening
of our houses of worship, we hope that the recent
surge in faith and religious activities among families
will be ongoing, and that there continues to be an
enriching dialogue and complementary relationship
between our domestic Churches and the larger
Catholic Church.
BELOW In the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, Latin American sisters
attend Mass “virtually” during the pandemic.
Families pray together during Holy Week in the Diocese of Chalan
Kanoa in the Mariana Islands (seen in first four photos).
A family gathers to pray during Holy Week in the Diocese of Nashville,
Tennessee.

14
BUILD
Focus
Extension | Summer 2020 15
BELOW Catholics create sacred spaces in their homes in the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee.
LEFT In the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, households prepare for their own
Holy Week celebrations. ABOVE A family gets together to pray during
weeks of social distancing in the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In the Diocese
of Ponce, Puerto
Rico, children
celebrate Easter
Mass 2020 on the
big screen.
In the Diocese
of Knoxville,
Tennessee,
extended family
members gather
to practice their
faith in new ways
during pandemic.
A family grows closer by worshiping, reflecting and praying together in
the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Extension | Summer 2020 17
INSPIRE Features of faith
CONNECTING VIRTUALLY IN FAITH
On Giving Tuesday Now, Catholic
Extension featured a program with 60
sisters who are tirelessly serving across
America during this pandemic.
CONNECTED BY
FAITH THROUGH
A PANDEMIC
A Church “virtually” deployed
IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, as we all are facing the
trauma and division of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic
Extension remains resolute in our mission to working in solidarity
with people in America’s poorest regions to build up
vibrant and transformative faith communities.
In this special COVID-19 edition of Extension, we are
bringing to you the compelling stories of the singularly
important role of faith in the forgotten, poor, isolated
underserved and under-resourced faithful in the Extension
Dioceses. These are stories of people on the frontlines who
are making enormous differences in the lives of those who
they courageously serve bringing empathy to places where
empathy is so desperately needed.
Additionally, as represented on our cover, the stories
describe the role of technology in enabling communities
of faith to remain connected though social distancing. As
we face these extraordinary times, one thing is certain—in
solidarity, we are all in this together.
Sisters take to
the internet to foster faith
and inspiration
Catholic Extension
highlighted religious
sisters on Giving
Tuesday Now who
are serving the poor
during this COVID-19
crisis—fearlessly and with great
compassion and ingenuity.
“Women religious are the heroes
of our Church. They are agents of
change who make our world a better
place,” said Bishop Emeritus
Gerald Kicanas of Tucson and vice
chancellor of Catholic Extension.
Featuring 60 sisters from Catholic
Extension’s U.S.-Latin American
Sisters Exchange program,
from countries across two continents,
the event engaged viewers
with stories of the sisters’ life-giving
work among our nation’s and
their home countries’ poorest faith
communities.
These “ZOOM” sisters presented
an iconic image from this pan-
demic: neatly arranged rows of
faces on video screens streaming
through our laptops, cell phones
and smart TVs. This is how we
gather “virtually” for work meetings,
family and friend gatherings
and entertainment programming.
The use of video conferencing has
helped us to feel in some way humanly
connected amidst the realities
of all the social distancing.
Since transformative, human
connection is the core of Catholic
Extension’s mission, it made sense
that a video conferencing format
was selected to deliver inspiration
and hope in our Giving Tuesday
Now program shared live across
the internet on May 5.
The sight of 60 sisters appearing
together via teleconference was a
remarkable technological feat. As
they prayed for an end to the pandemic,
the presence of the Spirit
was palpable.
Catholic Extension believed
bringing the sisters together online
during this crisis time would bring
comfort and joy to many, especially
in impoverished communities
most impacted by COVID-19.
Bishop Kicanas said, “During
COVID-19, we are in awe of the
healthcare workers, first responders,
grocery store workers and others
who are putting their lives at
risk. Let’s also look to these extraordinary
sisters who are working
on the frontlines of this pandemic
to mitigate the unimaginable
pain and hardships that it has inflicted
on the poor. These sisters
are present to those who are struggling
to survive, anxious about
their future and worried about the
well-being of their families.”
He added that the sisters are
providing basic needs, spiritual
nourishment, compassion and
encouragement to those who need
it the most.
These Latin American sisters,
sponsored by Catholic Extension,
serve diverse faith communities
throughout the country to bring
marginalized Catholics, including
immigrants, closer to the Church
in a five-year program. After the
program concludes, they return to
their home countries and continue
their work.
View the Giving Tuesday Now program or support the work of these selfless
sisters by visiting catholicextension.org/givingtuesdaynow.

18 INSPIRE
Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 19
The Church stands in
solidarity with Navajo
people ravaged by the
coronavirus
Catholic Extension has
a long history of supporting
the Navajo
reservation—which
is geographically the
largest Native American
reservation in the country,
located mainly in the states of Arizona
and New Mexico.
Reports of COVID-19 on the reservation—where
the living standard
often resembles the developing
world—have been concerning
for weeks. Today, the rate of
per capita infections among the
Navajo reached the highest in the
entire country—another indicator
of the pandemic’s disproportionate
impact on the poor.
Catholic Extension supports 15
poor parishes spread across Navajo
Nation which is the size of West
Virginia. The community has many
challenges even in “good times.”
Pre-pandemic, up to 70 percent of
the population was unemployed.
More than a third of the people live
below poverty and have no access
to running water.
Despite the very limited
resources in this area, the Church
has not abandoned her people.
Sr. Theresa Chato is director of
religious education at Our Lady of
Fatima, a parish of about 800 that
Catholic Extension supports, in the
heart of the Navajo reservation.
Though Masses are canceled, the
parish is still serving as a vital food
Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., is particularly hard
hit by COVID-19, ranking first nationally in terms of infection rates.
Residents of Navajo Nation face extreme
poverty with many residents lacking basic
resources, such as electricity. Additionally, a
third do not have access to clean water.
NAVAJO NATION REACHES HIGHEST INFECTION RATE IN U.S.
distribution site for its struggling
families. Sister Theresa explained
that in her community, multiple
generations live under one roof
and many have underlying health
concerns—both of which contribute
to the disease’s spread. She has
seen a troubling uptick in traffic to
the local hospital that also serves
outlying areas.
About 120 miles away in Zuni,
NM, also on the Navajo reservation,
Father Patrick McGuire, SMA,
serves three churches, including
ones in Chichiltah and Ramah.
Catholic Extension supports his
salary.
As pastor, he expressed that
being apart from his people in this
time of social distancing is one of
the saddest parts of his life.. The
same is true for his parishioners
who tell him that they miss being
together. The 71-year-old reflected,
“The absence of the Scared
Assembly allows me to appreciate
the wonder of that which I have
taken for granted.”
Catholic schools have been a
beacon of hope for Native families.
With school closures, they’ve
had to quickly invent a unique
form of distance learning for their
school families, since most do not
have internet in their homes and
online classrooms are impossible.
Instead, individualized study
packages are prepared each week,
then distributed and returned on
a drive-thru system. Lessons are
taught by teleconferencing.
That same teleconferencing system
is used to broadcast Masses to
the faithful, who listen in on their
telephones.
Families in the area also depend
on these Catholic parishes for
clean drinking water, a service the
parish is determined to deliver
despite curfews and social distancing
regulations. They keep
their facilities open to the public
during certain hours, so that people
can access potable water and
bring it home.
Father Patrick sees his ministry
as reminiscent of apostolic times,
“when witness and word were
the means of evangelization.” He
added, “each in his or her own way
Sister Michelle
Woodruff, ASC,
who serves St.
Paul Church in
Crownpoint, New
Mexico, extends
pastoral care
and kind words
“virtually” to
her community
during the
COVID-19 crisis.
with our limited resources find
some means to facilitate the Holy
Spirit’s action.”
Some 211 miles away in Tuba
City, the Daughters of Charity continue
their life-saving work, primarily
at St. Jude Parish. Catholic
Extension has supported the sisters
during their 20-year tenure in
this area. In addition to pastoral
work, the sisters support charitable
causes through the parish, including
food distribution and funding
electric bills for the poor. The
sisters want to ensure that as the
pandemic subsides, parishioners
have a vibrant Church community
to welcome them back.
Physical closure of the parish
has not deterred these sisters, who
range in age from 77 to 79. They
“visit” by phone, which is not an
easy task when 40 percent of the
people lack electricity. Streaming
Mass has been nearly impossible,
so they simply leave missalettes
Catholic Extension
supports 15 parishes
and missions on
Navajo Nation,
including Our Lady
of Fatima in Chinle,
Arizona, which was
built in 1904.
outside the parish doors for people
to use for personal prayer.
In terms of mental health, the
sisters note an increase in depression
in their community members.
Moreover, they fear an outbreak of
post-traumatic stress among medical
staff and first responders could
occur. They are overworked at their
76-bed regional hospital, where
the National Guard has provided
reinforcements.
The sisters know their mission
is to provide hope. With other pastoral
leaders on the Navajo reservation,
who are also supported
by Catholic Extension, they are
demonstrating in powerful ways
that even in this time of shelterin-place,
the Church is still present,
especially in the poorest
communities.
The response of the Church on
Navajo Nation is a vivid example
of what “going to the peripheries”
looks like in our country, and
why it is so important to ensure
that we have vibrant and transformative
Catholic faith communities
entrenched in areas like these, to
accompany the oft-forgotten people
of our land who face immense
challenges.

20 INSPIRE
Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 21
FOLLOWING THE WOMEN
WHO ENCOUNTER THE RISEN CHRIST
Father Jack Wall shared in a recent
Easter tribute to women
“In the Gospel narratives
of Jesus’s death
and resurrection, we
are offered the paradigm experience
of women who accompany
the suffering Jesus
to the cross. These women are
the first to encounter Him as
the Risen Christ and give witness
to the transformative power of what
God is doing through His son for each of us
SISTER FATIMA
SANTIAGO, ICMM
Sister Fatima serves the
poorest neighborhoods
of South Texas and has
helped build
two churches.
Catholic
Extension
supports
her medical,
education
and
healthcare ministries
for immigrants. “We
are in this together. There
is the light of faith within
each of us which keeps us
going. It is this light that is
Christ’s resurrection gift
to us,” she said.
Lay and
women religious
demonstrate
leadership and
foster hope during
pandemic
SISTER MARIE-PAULE
WILLEM, FMM
and for the hope of all humanity.”
Catholic Extension created a video
series spotlighting contemporary
models of lay and women
religious who are selfless in
their support of marginalized
communities.
The women who accompanied
Christ continue to inspire
us. Here are three examples of
women today giving witness to
Christ’s message that we are not alone,
especially in times of suffering.
Having survived Nazi
occupation and South
American death squads, Sister
Marie-Paule
Willem continues
to
deliver a
message
of hope. At
age 87, she
leads a poor
parish in Las Cruces,
New Mexico and lovingly
ministers to women in
detention. “At this moment,
people feel lonely and fearful.
But we are in this pandemic
together. We must
overflow with compassion,
not self-pity. In serving
each other, we become
more human,” she said.
SISTER MARIANA
KOONCE, RSM
Sister Mariana, a former
U.S. Navy officer, is a
medical doctor who leads
a mobile clinic
for the
uninsured
in rural
East Tennessee.
She is the
face of the
Church in a region
with few Catholics. Catholic
Extension has supported
her clinic. “We have
the power to cast out that
fear through worship and
prayer and to unite our
suffering with Christ and
to the suffering of others,”
she said.
Lumen Christi Church, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, raised funds to help St. Mary Church in northern Wisconsin maintain a Catholic
presence on a Native American reservation. BELOW Sister Phyllis is pastoral assistant at St. Mary in Odanah which serves the Bad River Band of Ojibwe.
When Father
Dan Sanders,
pastor of
Lumen
Christi Parish
in Mequon,
Wisconsin, heard that churches
would be shuttered during COVID-
19, he was concerned for more than
just his own parishioners.
His parish, just north of Milwaukee,
had just committed to a
Lenten project to raise money for
a very poor, remote Catholic faith
community in the far northern
reaches of Wisconsin. The parish
was participating in Catholic
Extension’s
Parish
FULFILLING A PROMISE
Even in dire straits, a Milwaukee parish keeps
its commitment to help a parish in need
Partnership program,
which connects
fundraising parishes
to parishes in need.
They had planned
to help the ministry
of Sister Phyllis
Wilhelm, OSF, the
pastoral associate
of St. Mary Parish in
Odanah, when the
pandemic took hold.
The partnership
between Catholic
Extension, Lumen
Christi Parish and Sister Phyllis’s
ministry has been a century
in the making. Lumen Christi
began as a small mission church
itself, and received a Catholic
Extension grant to build its original
church in 1919.
Parishioners wanted to extend
the same kindness to a Wisconsin
parish in need. Through Catholic
Extension they
learned of Sister
Phyllis’s work
with the Ojibwe
population of
the Bad River
Tribe and how
St. Mary is
maintaining a Catholic
presence on the
reservation. They also
learned that its typical
weekly collection
is just $100.
Lumen Christi had
recently built a new
church in Mequon
and they were eagerly
looking forward to a
personal visit from
Sister Phyllis in late
March. Unfortunately,
the trip had to be
canceled with the pandemic.
But Father Dan was determined
to maintain the fundraising for
Sister Phyllis despite having to
also manage the disruptions in his
own parish caused by the coronavirus.
He said the parish needed
to remember those rural, isolated
mission churches who are even
more desperate than ever. And
his parishioners came through,
meeting their fundraising goal!
In gratitude, Sister Phyllis wrote
to them, “Your extremely generous
gift will enable us to continue our
ministry and begin programs for
the elders and for the families of
our parish.”
Please view the video series at
www.catholicextension.org/stories/FollowTheWomen.
Sister Phyllis Wilhelm has served Native Americans
in northern Wisconsin for more than 40 years.

22 INSPIRE
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Extension | Summer 2020 23
As we enter the “high
season” for the
nation’s fruits and
vegetables, we turn
our attention to the
vulnerable people
harvesting these crops.
Catholic Extension’s ministry
to migrant farmworkers spans
26 dioceses across the heart of
the nation’s agriculture industry.
Despite the long hours and grueling
physical demands of planting
and harvesting crops, one would
be hard-pressed to meet a group
of people more thankful for the
gift of work and the presence of
the Church.
Though their earnings are meager,
the value of the migrant farmworker
is immense in our economy
and certainly in our Church. Our
health and well-being are completely
intertwined with theirs.
Yet, the very people who provide
us with food often go hungry
themselves. In fact, one of the
Church’s most common services
among migrant farming communities
is providing food and basic
necessities that these workers cannot
afford.
With “high season” for farmworkers
underway, this pandemic
is forcing us to see these oft-overlooked
individuals. Can we be confident
in our ability to maintain
our fields and their yields amid the
COVID-19 pandemic?
THE CHURCH ADDRESSES
MIGRANTS’ UNIQUE NEEDS
One reason for alarm is that
many migrant farmworkers live
in communal housing. They stay
in large dorm rooms, tents, overcrowded
hotels or trailer homes
NOURISHING THOSE
WHO PICK THE CROPS
Catholic Extension has long supported farmworkers
who are now being recognized as “essential”
ABOVE RIGHT
Migrants live in
tent camps during
the harvest, such
as this one in
Monitor, WA.
RIGHT In
Stockton,
migrant
farmworkers need
humanitarian
and spiritual care
to survive the
grueling demands
of their jobs.
with multiple families. Workers
are often bussed from camps to
the fields which makes social distancing
a challenge.
Normally, this time of year, the
Church ramps up her activities
in these encampments. The Diocese
of Yakima, Washington, for
example, estimates that its Catholic
population doubles in size each
spring with the arrival of 100,000
migrant workers who come to
pick cherries, pears, and apples.
They are treated to weekly fiestas
and Masses in the sprawling
camps, often presided by Bishop
Joseph Tyson. Catholic Extension
funds the diocese’s innovative
summer reading program for
the throngs of migrant kids whose
parents work the fields. These
programs may be in jeopardy this
summer, depending on the state’s
pandemic restrictions.
In California, Catholic Extension
works with four dioceses that
collectively cover the fertile Salinas,
Coachella, San Joaquin and
Central Valleys, which contribute
significantly to the state’s annual
$50 billion agricultural industry.
But frontline Church leaders
are being cautious and suspending
their pastoral visits to migrant
camps to prevent sickness.
In the Diocese of Stockton, pastoral
activity typically increases
ABOVE In the
Diocese of
Yakima, Catholic
Extension
supports
ministries to
uplift the dignity
of each migrant
farmworker.
LEFT The migrant
population
swells in Yakima,
Washington,
during the cherrypicking
season.
this time of year as migrants flock
to the area. But with COVID-19,
Church leaders are keeping their
distance, opting to send encouraging
notes on their Facebook
page to their “essential worker
heroes.” They also call workers
to provide counsel and hope. Sister
Lourdes González, MGSpS,
who leads migrant pastoral ministry
near Stockton, brings calm to
workers and family members who
are worried about their health
and livelihoods. Some agricultural
communities report COVID-19
infections as high as 25 percent.
In Southern California’s Coachella
Valley, where COVID-19 cases
continue to increase, migrants
with jobs are grateful to work.
Among those who unfortunately
have lost their jobs, food insecurity
grows. One parish, Our
Lady of Guadalupe in Mecca,
recently gathered 500 food baskets
for impacted migrant farmworkers.
Moreover, they put out
a notice to the larger community
that they will help anyone in need.
Although California has recently
announced an initiative to financially
assist poor families, many
migrants there and nationwide are
still struggling, especially if they
cannot work.
CHURCH LEADERS RALLY
AROUND MIGRANTS
In an April 28 statement of support
to migrants, U.S. Catholic
bishops called for greater testing
and access to healthcare for
farmworkers, as well as provisions
allowing workers to follow CDC
preventative measures at their
employment and living quarters.
The bishops thanked the businesses
and institutions already providing
these protections.
For years, Pope Francis has
been decrying the “throwaway
culture” in which we too easily
dispose of the earth and its
resources, our food, and most
seriously, our people, especially
the poor and vulnerable. Perhaps
the silver lining of this pandemic is
a renewed sense of how much we
depend upon one another. People
we once regarded as disposable
workers in our economy are,
in fact, indispensable.
We depend on people like
migrant farm workers for our own
well-being and nourishment, and
without them we too will suffer.

24
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Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 25
In El Paso, during this pandemic, Dr. Verónica Rayas has expanded her ministries to include serving
isolated residents and the elderly to make sure they have access to food.
GUIDED BY
THE LAW
OF LOVE
El Paso
faith community
mobilizes to serve
vulnerable and
home-bound
residents
As the leader for all
religious education
in the Diocese
of El Paso, Verónica
Rayas, Ph.D., is usually
found working
with children and young adults in
her community. The diocese has
among the youngest median age
in the nation. But at the start of
the pandemic, Dr. Rayas discovered
it is the elderly who need her
the most now, especially as they
experience food insecurity.
A Catholic Extension-funded
leader, Dr. Rayas was part of an
effort to assist this vulnerable and
poor population by reaching out,
providing for basic necessities
and working to ensure they can
safely shelter-in-place.
“It’s a terrible struggle for
them right now,” she explained.
“They are already on such fixed
incomes and even if they could
get to the grocery stores, the
shelves are bare. We are calling
them via phone, finding out what
they need and providing and
delivering groceries.”
And the diocese is taking other
steps to support the needs of faith
communities. Dr. Rayas and the
young people she serves are producing
protective masks for those
in need.
The Catholic community in
El Paso is strong. In 2018, Centro
San Juan Diego, a youth center
Rayas leads, quickly converted
its facility to ensure an influx of
asylum seekers had a safe shelter.
Last year, El Paso’s perseverance
following a mass shooting that
killed 23 people was a witness for
the entire world.
Bishop Mark Seitz, a steadfast
presence in the community,
believes in their ability to endure
this pandemic. In explaining the
Catholic response to COVID-19,
he wrote in a pastoral letter, “The
Church responds resolutely and
in a way that sets an example for
others. The law of love guides
everything we do. Every other
good gift and every other law
finds its fulfillment in our love
for God and for all His daughters
and sons.”
SERVING A LARGE MISSION TERRITORY
DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
In these unprecedented
days
of confronting
the coronavirus,
nobody’s life is normal;
but for a missionary
pastor on one of America’s largest
Native American reservations,
managing the new reality
is an enormous feat, especially
as COVID-19 cases keeping popping
up.
Franciscan Father Ponchie
Vásquez is pastor of San Solano
Missions, serving the Tohono
O’odham Nation, west of Tucson,
Arizona.
Catholic Extension has long
supported the salary of Father
Ponchie to carry out his missionary
vocation.
The mission comprises more
than 11,000 Catholics, who
represent about 85 percent of
the reservation’s population.
The reservation has 70 villages,
and only half have a chapel or
church. Father Ponchie typically
travels great distances daily
to reach its isolated Catholics:
saying Mass, bringing Communion
to the elderly and offering
pastoral care.
But today, with COVID-19, he
and his fellow friars are reimagining
how to serve their parishioners.
They have created and
distributed home worship aids
and are extending their ministry
by phone.
They are featuring daily
Masses on their Facebook page,
Priest finds new ways to meet the needs
of his parishioners
on Arizona reservation
Father Ponchie Vásquez, pastor of San Solano
Missions since 2009, has modified his ministries
during the pandemic to serve the pressing needs
of his people.
which brings great
comfort to their communities,
but Father
Ponchie recognizes
the financial hardships that this
presents to the mission. “Without
services, we have no collection,”
he said. He is also worried
about the 90 percent of their
income that comes from outside
sources, such as Catholic Extension
grants.
He knows that the faith communities
of Tohono O’odham,
which means “desert people,”
are strong and able to confront
challenging situations. He has
seen it many times.
But he worries that they will
face even greater hardships
ahead with this pandemic, given
their extreme poverty, unemployment
levels and rates of suicide.
Since their lives are already
so challenged, it’s difficult to
imagine adding more stress.
“We’ve had to cancel all religious
services. One of the hardest
parts of this pandemic is not
being able to do funerals and
memorials for the deceased,” he
said. “These traditions are a very
sacred part of our local culture.”
As Father Ponchie finds new
ways to serve his hurting people,
he is reminded of his missionary
calling, which often requires
great imagination to fulfill.
“Mission work, service and
ministry flow from the reality of
how much God loves us,” he said.
“When we are loved, we love.”

26
INSPIRE
Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 27
WITH NO SALARY, PRIEST
WORKS TIRELESSLY
Pastor in San Juan
dismisses his own
needs to extend
care to those
who are hurting
Father Carlos
Verdía Nay of Our
Lady of Miraculous
Medal in San Juan,
Puerto Rico, puts
the concerns of his
parishioners above
his own.
The pandemic is
requiring sacrifices
from everyone,
including priests in
Extension Dioceses
who are already
stretched thin.
Even in good times, Father Carlos
Verdía Nay, does not collect a
full salary for his duties as pastor
of a poor parish outside of San
Juan, Puerto Rico.
But now, his meager weekly
salary of $300 is a sum that his
parishioners simply cannot
afford due to their unemployment
as a result of the pandemic.
Regardless of whether he
receives compensation or not,
this joyful and humble pastor
lovingly cares for his parishioners
daily. He is not worried about
himself, but about the well-being
of those he serves. The Archdiocese
of San Juan has turned to
Catholic Extension to support his
salary.
His parish, Our Lady of the
Miraculous Medal, in San Juan,
Puerto Rico, is no stranger to
suffering. In 2017, it was hit hard
by Hurricane Maria. Parishioners
went for months without electricity
and running water. Catholic
Extension has supported their
hurricane recovery.
Now, as the COVID-19 pandemic
has spread, things are even
more difficult, with many people
losing their jobs, confronting
huge economic instability and
facing food shortages. His whole
community is feeling a sense of
despair.
In these times of social
distancing, Father Carlos has
adjusted his ministry. His new
tool for evangelization and pastoral
care is “WhatsApp,” a platform
that connects him directly
with parishioners through a daily
group chat.
Every morning, he reads them
the Gospel, shares a reflection to
offer encouragement and hope,
and tells them how much he
loves and misses them.
Recently, while his church
was empty, he told them, “In
this time of social distancing,
we hold strongly to our faith in
Jesus. These special moments
are given to us by Him. May this
be an opportunity for all of us to
feel closer to love, peace, and to
having hope that we will be better
people in the future, who will
value and respect each other.”
With his own financial uncertainty,
Father Carlos is deeply
empathetic to the plight of his
parishioners. He works tirelessly
to lift their spirits and keep them
close to the Church as he shepherds
them through this pandemic.
They are grateful for his
reassurance.
PHOTO COURTESY PEARL MORENO
Native American parish
determined to maintain
its inspiring presence
FIRST A
CHURCH FIRE,
THEN
COVID-19
St. Mary’s Parish, on Montana’s
Rocky Boy Reservation,
was already hurting.
Their beloved log church
burned to the ground just
before Christmas last year.
When the pandemic took hold, this
Native American faith community
fell further into crisis.
For the Chippewa Cree Tribe, the
parish is an integral part of their
sacred homeland, bringing hope
and stability to families on the reservation,
where many
struggle with poverty
and addiction. Since
1979, Catholic Extension has supported
St. Mary’s, including drug
and alcohol counseling services
offered through the parish.
Following the church fire, the
faithful flocked to Sunday Mass, and
attendance increased despite having
to gather in a rented-out space.
Their pastor, Father Joseph Tran,
said, “The church means a lot to
them. They really want to rebuild.”
Then came the coronavirus. Even
when times were “good,” the average
Sunday collection at St. Mary’s
was little more than $165. Now,
there’s not enough money to lease
even a temporary space when
social distancing restrictions end.
St. Mary’s parishioners face a
tough road ahead. But Father Tran
said, “Their faith is strong. That’s a
good sign.” As they emerge from
the trauma of both the fire and
the pandemic, they will be reconstructing
a space for their faith
community to heal together.
TOP In December 2019, St. Mary Church in Box Elder, MT, burned to the ground.
Parishioners were heartbroken but have united as a community to rebuild.
LEFT Sister Margaret Mary O’Doherty, pastoral assistant at St. Mary’s Church, provides
spiritual and humanitarian care to residents of the Rocky Boy Reservation.

28
INSPIRE
Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 29
IMPACT
THE
CHURCH
OF
TOMORROW.
Naming Catholic
Extension as a
BENEFICIARY OF YOUR
RETIREMENT PLAN
is an easy way to make
a gift that costs you
nothing now.
For more about long-term giving, visit
legacy.catholicextension.org.
or contact the Planned Giving Team:
800-842-7804
plannedgiving@
catholicextension.org
IN BATTLING COVID-19, PRIE STS INSPIRE PARISHIONERS
RIGHT Father Odel
Medina, pastor of
St. Anne Church
in Carthage, MS,
recovered from
COVID-19 with
the support of his
community, who
he has served
throughout all their
hardships.
On the frontlines
of this crisis,
priests heroically put
their communities’
needs above their own
In the poorest faith
communities across our
country, Catholic priests
tirelessly minister to
those in extreme poverty,
personal crises or poor
health. With the COVID-19
pandemic raging in severely
under-resourced parishes like
those supported by Catholic
Extension, the poor incur another
blow when the priests they rely
on fall victim themselves to the
disease.
“The saints next door,” is
how Pope Francis recently
referred to priests ministering
to those sickened
by coronavirus. Catholic
Extension proudly funds
ministries of two of these
“saintly” priests who, after
contracting the illness,
are slowly recovering in
the loving care of the faith
communities they selflessly
support.
MIGRANT FARMING
COMMUNITY IN YAKIMA
BOLSTERS PASTOR WHILE
HE IS SICK
In the Diocese of
Yakima, Washington,
where the rate of COVID-
19 infection is the highest
Father Alex Trejo,
pastor of Our
Lady of the Desert
Parish in Mattawa,
Washington,
received loving
care from his
compassionate
parishioners as he
was healing from
COVID-19.
the young priest returned from a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land and
fell ill. He immediately self-quarantined,
but by that evening, the
usually vibrant priest’s health had
declined so severely, he required
hospitalization and admission to
the ICU.
Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima
absorbed the news and worked
closely with health officials to
gauge and mitigate the risk. Our
Lady of the Desert parishioners
reacted with calm and loving
support.
A rotation of caregivers,
including the bishop himself,
ensured Father Alex had someone
at his “virtual” bedside
throughout the ordeal. “We stood
on the other side of his hospital
room door, in full protective gear,
speaking words of comfort and
prayer into a phone held to his
ear,” said Bishop Tyson.
On March 23, Father Alex was
discharged from the hospital to a
facility for physical therapy, as he
was weak and unable to care for
himself. He continues to slowly
recover. Bishop Tyson said, “The
love of his flock keeps him pushing
forward. There’s medicinal
power in the homemade
chilaquiles.”
on the west coast, migrant farm
communities do not have the luxury
of sheltering in place. Poor
and needing income for their
families, migrants work in close
contact harvesting the apples for
which the state is so well known.
Many reside in tight quarters at
migrant camps, where little but
a shower curtain separates bunk
from bunk. More than half the IN MISSISSIPPI, A FAITH
workers at one local grower have COMMUNITY RETURNS
tested COVID-19 positive.
COMPASSION TO THEIR PASTOR
In the migrant community
It took coronavirus to slow
of Mattawa, Father Alejandro down Father Odel Medina, pastor
of St. Anne Church in rural
“Alex” Trejo leads the close-knit
Our Lady of the Desert Parish, Carthage in the Diocese of Jackson
and a tireless servant. Since
which Catholic Extension supports.
Under his leadership, it has August, he has been working
grown in 10 years from 500 to non-stop with Catholic Extension
5,000 parishioners. In February, Continues on page 30

30
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Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2020 31
From page 29
and others to support the needs
of families whose lives were shattered
when immigration officials
arrested 700 migrants working in
a local chicken processing plant.
The raid was the largest in a single
state in U.S. history.
The resilient priest recently
emerged from two weeks of serious
COVID-19 illness. When Catholic
Extension checked in with
him, the only thing more persistent
than his cough was his
determination to share his story
so others, especially migrants, will
come out of the shadows and not
be afraid to seek help should they
take ill.
It was late in April when Father
Odel was feeling sick and tested
positive for COVID-19. He shared
the news with his community on
WhatsApp, a messaging app.
Soon he learned that an outpouring
of love and acts of care
are often the best medicine. He
received messages of support
from the people of St. Anne, but
also encountered some surprise at
his willingness to divulge his diagnosis.
“I felt a responsibility to inform
the community to help avoid
spreading the illness,” he said.
His sharing spurred others to
open up about their own experiences
and offer ideas for cures.
Soon, soups and other homemade
remedies began to arrive on his
doorstep.
Father Odel continues to
share recovery updates which
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he believes is helping others
to set aside their fears of being
judged or “tagged” and to come
forward to seek help. In some
instances, entire families have
been infected.
The mutual support continues.
A drive-thru distribution of essentials,
led by Church lay leaders,
remains in place while he recuperates.
“No me he dejado,” he
assures them, “I have not left.”
Just like his determination to
forge a path forward for families
healing from last summer’s raids,
Father Odel is fighting COVID-19
by keeping the faith and imparting
positive advice to those he serves.
“You have to believe that you can
overcome this,” he said.
For a personalized proposal, contact Betty Assell at 800-842-7804
or Bassell@catholicextension.org or visit
catholicextension.org/annuities
Latin American sisters
tailor their approach
to be responsive
to new needs
Time and again
throughout history,
Catholic sisters have
been the faces of
hope and mercy
wherever there is
massive uncertainty and suffering.
And so it is in this
pandemic, Catholic
sisters are heroically
reinventing
their ministries
to help poor faith
communities.
Sister Gabriela
(Gaby) Luna Díaz,
who is part of Catholic
Extension’s U.S.-
Latin American Sisters Exchange
Program, is working with poor
populations in northwestern Wisconsin
to help them confront the
hardships of this crisis—including
job loss, illness, fear and isolation—and
stay connected to the
Church.
With all the social distancing
measures, she is using FaceTime
and social media to provide counseling
and minister to the poor
that she serves. “Every day we
are finding new ways to let people
know that they are not alone,”
she said.
From Mexico, Sister Gaby is
here with two other sisters of
the Eucharistic Missionaries of
St. Teresa. When they arrived in
December 2019 to minister to
marginalized poor communities,
IN TIMES OF CRISIS,
YOU CAN COUNT
ON SISTERS
they met several challenges, but
they never envisioned a global
health crisis just as they were
getting acclimated.
Their missionary vocation is
especially helpful during this time
of isolation. “As missionaries, we
often deal with great
distances separating
people and have to
imagine ways to help
them feel solidarity.”
She knows families
who are now suffering
through sickness and
unemployment. They
rely deeply on their
faith and feel the loss
of sacraments during this time.
On Sundays, when parishioners
would normally attend Mass,
the sisters hold Skype sessions
to pray the readings,
sing and have reflections.
During the week, they also
meet with groups online
to say the rosary and have
meditations.
Sister Gaby, and sisters
everywhere, uniquely
ABOVE With social distancing, Sister
Gaby has expanded her connections
with parishioners “virtually” to help them
during this stressful time.
RIGHT Latin American Sister Gaby Luna
Díaz arrived in northern Wisconsin to
work with Hispanic communities a few
weeks before the pandemic struck.
understand that there is a great
need for connectedness in times
like these. “One positive piece of
this pandemic is that people are
craving closeness,” she said. “They
realize how much we need each
other.”

32
INSPIRE
Cover Story | Reflection
Extension | Summer 2020 33
IGNITE
DONOR PROFILE 34
Making a difference
Father Melvin
Díaz Aponte
surveys the
damage to
his church,
Immaculate
Conception in
Guayanilla, after
the January
earthquakes.
BRINGING HOPE AFTER EARTHQUAKES
In his own words, Puerto Rican pastor inspires
amidst a natural disaster and the coronavirus
I
am Father Melvin Díaz
Aponte, a Puerto Rican
priest from the Diocese of
Ponce.
I am pastor of Immaculate
Conception Parish, a
faith community that experienced
large earthquakes this past January
in this region.
For a quarter century, Catholic
Extension has funded historic
Immaculate Conception Church
in Guayanilla—built in 1841—
with church repairs and parish
subsidies, and recently provided
support after the January
2020 earthquakes.
We witnessed our beloved
church collapse.
Soon after, among the many
people who approached me, was a
boy who is a student from our parish
school. He was bewildered by
the devastation.
He asked a question that I didn’t
expect: “Father, why is the church
on the ground?”
I was startled by his question,
which had a deeper meaning, and
responded, “So that you and I can
lift it up.”
Now, shortly after returning to
the normal rhythms of life, once
again our daily life is interrupted
by this coronavirus.
And during these days, that boy’s
question comes again to my mind.
I ask, “Why is everything, or
almost everything, paralyzed due
to the coronavirus? Why is our
daily activity interrupted?”
I believe everything happens for
the good of those who love God.
Nothing escapes the loving providence
of God.
“Why is everything paralyzed as
a result of the coronavirus emergency?”
My answer is this: So that
you and I can be awakened. So
that you and I can once and for all
awaken from our dormant faith.
And encouraged by our faith,
we can rekindle charity. We can
rekindle the love of God and for
God so that we may love others—
our brothers and sisters.
Under the protection of the
Immaculate Conception, may God
continue to bless us.
Donors are
generously
supporting
faith
communities,
such as this
one in Tulsa,
OK, who are
suffering in this
pandemic. See
story page 34.
PHOTO COURTESY EASTERN
OKLAHOMA CATHOLIC |
DAVE CRENSHAW

34
IGNITE
Donor Profile
Extension | Summer 2020 35
Generous Catholic
Extension donors
are a blessing to others
Three years ago, John
Shettle Jr. happened
to pick up an issue
of Extension magazine
in the back of
his church in St. Petersburg,
Florida. The timing was
perfect. He’d been volunteering
with people experiencing homelessness,
helping them get back on
their feet, and Catholic Extension’s
mission to reach out to those who
are marginalized spoke to him.
He wanted to give of himself in a
bigger way and was intrigued by its
many initiatives.
“Catholic Extension is an extension
of what I’d like to do, but
just can’t accomplish by myself,”
he said. “I can’t build a church or
educate seminarians or bring Latin
American sisters to the U.S. to
work in poor parishes—but I can
help Catholic Extension do it,” he
said. “My support can really make
an impact.” He’s had an interesting
journey to this discovery.
A demanding, global career
John was raised in Baltimore
and educated by the School Sisters
of Notre Dame and the Jesuits.
He then attended Washington
and Lee University and received
an MBA at Loyola College. After
joining his father’s business, which
insured small aircraft, he spent decades
as an insurance executive
including as CEO of several insurance-related
entities.
Recognizing the dignity of the poor
“I had a fascinating career that
took me all over the world,” he
said.
But in 2013, he wanted to cut
back and be home more, so he and
his spouse, Abbey, who have three
adult children, moved to St. Petersburg,
Florida. They became parishioners
at St. Raphael. John’s
faith had been somewhat dormant
during his rigorous career and he
wanted to reengage. He joined the
parish men’s group and a Bible
study.
But he was looking for something
more. He started noticing
the migration of homeless people
in his area, particularly during
winter months, and decided to get
to know them.
Helping on a small scale
John and Abbey began by
bringing sandwiches to the
homeless in a nearby park.
“They were really raggedy people
who seemed pretty scary on the
surface,” he said. But in chatting
with them, the Shettles realized
most were just down on their luck.
“They were normal people with
real lives who had had careers, but
unfortunate circumstances had
led to their being homeless. And
getting reestablished in life was
nearly impossible. They had no ad-
John and Abbey Shettle, pictured here in
Jerusalem, appreciate Catholic Extension’s
ability to reach out to diverse faith communities
nationwide and improve lives on a
broad scale.
dress, phone or internet,” he said.
To change this trajectory, John
realized that a holistic approach
was needed. With a Franciscan
priest, he assembled a team of
people to assist, including resume
writers, psychologists and dentists.
“We wanted to break their barriers
to getting job interviews,” he said.
John found apartments for the
men and women he met and paid
rent for the first few months. He
got them cell phones, laptops and
whatever they needed to become
self-sufficient.
“We’ve helped 23 people,” he
said. “Fifteen have made a successful
transition, three did not
and five are still trying.”
What has been most meaningful
for John is helping to restore
people’s dignity and self-worth.
“The homeless don’t just feel bad
about themselves, but they think
they’ve let God down,” he said. “I
tell them that God still loves them.
They are yearning to hear this.”
This experience has been transformative
for John. Not only has
he seen firsthand the depths of
poverty, but he has come to understand
the power of compassion
and serving others.
Supporting Catholic Extension
John and Abbey have extended
that same spirit of generosity to
Catholic Extension. They recently
contributed to Catholic Extension’s
COVID-19 fund. “The humanitarian
need is so great now and the
poor are disproportionately impacted
by the hardships and insecurities
of this pandemic,” he said.
This is a particularly poignant
time for John, as he is facing his
own personal battle. He was diagnosed
with cancer in 2016 and just
finished his 25th round of chemotherapy.
He is fighting hard.
“Facing mortality makes us
aware that now is the time to act.
Even amidst uncertainty, now is
the time,” he said. With many
people at home during COVID-19,
he believes it’s a perfect time to reflect.
“As we realize that so many
things in life are not in our control,
we have to ponder our purpose.
Why are we here? If people think
about this deeply, a lot of good will
“
As we realize that so many
things in life are not in our
control, we have to ponder
our purpose. Why are
we here? If people think
about this deeply, a lot of
good will come from this
pandemic.”
—JOHN SHETTLE JR.
Donor who contributed to
COVID-19 relief fund
come from this pandemic,” he said.
By finding such a significant
purpose in his own community,
John has come to appreciate
Catholic Extension’s purpose. We
share the values of serving the vulnerable,
taking a holistic approach
to removing barriers in their lives
and above all, seeing that people
are more than their circumstances.
We share a perspective of hope.
John appreciates the scope of
Catholic Extension’s support. He
especially likes church building.
“Throughout history, churches
have played a key role in communities.
They are the center of activity—spiritually,
socially and economically—particularly
for immigrant
communities. Many people
who Catholic Extension serves
don’t have a church or their church
is too small or falling apart. With
no church, it’s hard to keep a community
together. Building a church
makes all the difference,” he said.
And he knows the impact of a
church is far-reaching.
“A strong faith community is
such a unifying force for good in
society,” he said.

150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606
Please help those most impacted by the pandemic.
GIVE.
Parishioner at Our
Lady of Blessed
Sacrament Church in
Shreveport, Louisiana.
PRAY.
INSPIRE.
To help, please visit
catholicextension.org/COVID19