Last Saturday, Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, led a Spanish-language morning of reflection for liturgical ministers.
Fr. Jhobany after his Mass of Thanksgiving at Maternity BVM last year.
Vicariate I of the Archdiocese of Chicago, covering the north and northwest areas of the archdiocese, organized the event at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Wheeling, IL. This parish offers Mass in English, Polish, and Spanish, and this morning of reflection was the first faith formation offering from the vicariate entirely in Spanish.
Over 100 people gathered to reflect with Fr. Jhobany – Eucharistic Ministers, sacristans, lectors, ministers of hospitality, altar servers, catechists, music ministers, and cantors. “I invited them to be servants in challenging times, salt and light in the Church and in a wounded world,” Fr. Jhobany said. “First, with the parable of the Good Samaritan, we reflected on wounded people who come to us and our response to the wounded left on the ‘side of the road.’ Second, we focused on our ministry that gives flavor to the Church and illuminates the darkness of sin and indifference. Finally, we recalled how we are not perfect but fragile, and even broken, and that the treasure of the Gospel is what truly matters in our ministries.”
The Spanish-language flyer for the event.
While Viatorians in the Bourbonnais-Kankakee and Henderson-Las Vegas regions continue in parish leadership, we do not administer any parishes in Arlington Heights-Chicago.
In addition to administering Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL, and endorsing Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan, IL, Viatorian priests help with Sacraments in several area parishes, such as St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich, IL; St. Raymond de Peñafort in Mount Prospect, IL; St. James, St. Edna, and Our Lady of the Wayside in Arlington Heights, IL; St. Giles in Oak Park, IL; St. Teresa of Avila in Chicago, IL; and more. Fr. Jhobany helps with Spanish Masses at Misión San Juan Diego in Arlington Heights; St. Ansgar in Hanover Park, IL; and St. Padre Pio in Chicago. Our men also assist at Dominican University and Saint Xavier University, where ministry takes place in both English and Spanish.
Jeannette Rodríguez, a participant from Misión Juan Diego, loved her experience. “P. Orduz nos invitó a tener actividades en mesa lo cual fue realmente muy interesante ya que cada quien dábamos nuestro punto de vista a una problemática que en muchas ocasiones tenemos nosotros como servidores que no se acerca tanto a ser luz y sal. Gracias de todo corazón P. Orduz por su tiempo y su cariño para presentar este tema,” Jeannette said. (Through interpretation, she said, “Fr. Orduz invited us to activities around our tables that were really very interesting. Each of us gave our points of view on a problem that on many occasions can keep us from being light and salt. Thank you with all my heart to Fr. Orduz for his time and dearness to present this theme.”)
Viatorians celebrate the first Misa en Español at St. Patrick last June, now offered every Sunday afternoon.
Now, Fr. Jhobany is helping extend our Hispanic ministry and collaborative presence in the Archdiocese of Chicago, where we have also become more involved with the ministry of Iskali – which forms, empowers, and equips young Latinos to become transformative leaders – including Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, now serving on its board. Additionally, Viatorians celebrate Masses in Spanish in the Diocese of Joliet at St. Patrick in Kankakee, IL, and Sacred Heart Church in Pembroke Township, IL.