Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
February 28, 2001
Mexican mission gets new coordinator
Lenetta Johnson to lead Mision Sin Fronteras in Hermosillo
By Roxanne King
A special love for the Hispanic culture and an enriching experience teaching English as a second language led Lenetta Johnson, 24, to the job of mission coordinator for the tri-diocesan sponsored Mision Sin Fronteras in Mexico.
Using her business degree, Johnson was working as a marketing research analyst in Nebraska, her homestate, when a friend told her about the job overseeing the mission located in Hermosillo, a town of 30,000 that serves as the capital of Sonora.
"It seemed to be a step in the right direction," Johnson said, adding that her experience teaching ESL had "tugged at my heartstrings."
She got the job and moved to Colorado Springs to begin working out of the diocesan office there Nov. 15. Formerly headquartered in Denver, the three Colorado bishops decided to move the mission office to Colorado Springs because it is more centrally located, said Denise Madden, social concerns director for the Archdiocese of Denver.
"This will mean Lenetta can more easily provide mission awareness and education opportunities for the Sin Fronteras mission to the southern side of our state," Madden said. "We're delighted to have Lenetta on staff. She brings administrative and leadership skills, as well as bilingual skills that will be very beneficial to us in our mission work."
Within weeks of Johnson's move to Colorado, she traveled to Hermosillo to meet the missioners and to learn about Santa Zita, the parish they serve.
"It was a wonderful experience in that I could see first hand what the mission team does and how they relate with the people of Hermosillo," Johnson said.
Lay missioners Sue Gomez of Brighton, Mary Lederhos of Denver and Beverly Jahn of Colorado Springs, work with Father Tom McCormick of Denver, to empower the people of the parish to assume leadership roles, Johnson said.
"The real purpose of the mission isn't to improve the life of the people of the mission, but to learn about their way of life and share that with the people of Colorado," she said. "It helps us understand the poverty in which the majority of the world lives in. Additionally, it helps us understand the needs and background of Hispanics in Colorado.
"It's called 'reverse mission.'"
The mission also attempts to fulfill Pope John Paul II's call to unify the Church in the Americas, Johnson said.
"The Pope has called for us to have one America," Johnson said. "This is a step to help us do that."
Mision Sin Fronteras, which means "mission without borders," encompasses several small centros, similar to mission chapels, where the faithful celebrate Mass. Johnson's visits to two of the worship sites were among the most moving encounters she experienced.
"One is just a white cross in the middle of a lot — that's their church," Johnson said. "It's so powerful. "Another is a shack with an overhang. The people store the pews, chairs and altar in the shack and bring them out for Mass. After Mass you put it all back."
The homes of the faithful are equally simple.
"Some homes might be made of brick, others out of whatever materials they can find," she said. "I saw one house made out of tires."
Although economically poor, the people of Hermosillo are rich in faith and spirit, Johnson said. While taking part in an all-day pilgrimage through the desert to a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day, Dec. 12, Johnson was moved by the numbers of people who would join the pilgrims to pray along the route, then return to work.
"We carried an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe up a hill," she recalled. "As I looked up the hill, there were people all up and down it gathered to celebrate Mass. The music was amazing — it was performed by a group of youth. It was all so beautiful." The poverty of the people has infused them with a profound sense of gratitude and the meaningfulness of each day and its gifts, Johnson said. "They can teach us to be happy with what we have — if we're not happy with what we have, how can we be happy with more?" Johnson said. "They can teach us to appreciate the gifts and opportunities we've been given." The people also are rich in hospitality, the mission coordinator said. "They are so warm and welcoming, there's a real love between the mission team and the community," Johnson said. The mission team is involved in a variety of pastoral duties, including helping with religious education and serving breakfast to children at school. Father McCormick administers the sacraments. Johnson's job is to raise awareness of and funds for the mission and to recruit missioners. Long term missioners serve for two years. Shorter three- to five-day "immersion" experiences also are available. "People go to the mission, do volunteer work and get a taste of what mission work is like," Johnson said, explaining how the immersion program works. College and parish groups have traveled to Hermosillo and have helped with short-term projects such as painting, constructing an orphanage and cleaning debris. Two immersion teams will be traveling to Hermosillo next month, Johnson said. "Poverty is the biggest challenge for the people of Hermosillo," Johnson said, explaining that people move to the border town seeking work in maquilladoras, factories usually owned by Americans who exploit the cheap labor in unsafe work environments. Sadly, the people move there, "looking for a better life," Johnson said. Dealing with the unjust nature of the maquilladoras, and the inequalities of life next door to U.S. affluence, as well as living in a foreign land are among the challenges the missioners face, she added. "I don't think I could do it," Johnson said. But she can put her business skills to use to coordinate mission activities. "Bev Jahn said, `You do your job, and we'll do ours,'" Johnson said. Johnson's goals include creating a web page about the mission and visiting as many parishes as possible to recruit missioners and to build awareness. She also wants to increase donations to the mission. "I love the work," Johnson said. "I feel like I'm really working at making a difference in the world." To donate to the mission, send check payable to Mision Sin Fronteras, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210. For information about the mission, call Lenetta Johnson at 719-636-2345 Ext. 131.
