October 20, 2010

Father Peter Urban-81 and still ministering

By John Gleason

“If I was forced to just sit and do nothing, I think I’d just start to cry!”

Father Peter Urban might make this statement with a deep laugh, but the idea is clear. He’s not one to sit around and let the grass grow under his feet.  Retirement may be a word to some, a state of being to others.  But to Father Urban, it’s just a transition: you minister, you retire—then you minister at something else.

“I retired about 20 years ago,” he said, “and then kept on going. I can trace this back to my mother who was fond of saying, ‘Don’t say you can’t; say you will.’ It’s kind of hard to forget.”

A native of Wallace, Kan., Father Urban was ordained in 1958 and served at several parishes on the Eastern Plains.  In addition to his pastoral duties, he became involved in Hispanic ministry.

Granted a medical disability in 1994 didn’t slow Father Urban down one bit.  Always one to jump into new projects, the following year, he got involved with the San Alfonso Mission, a nonprofit organization established to bring hope to the poor in the city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Juarez is often referred to as the most dangerous city in the world (outside a war zone), the population in constant peril by an ever intensifying drug war.  Despair, hopelessness and death are a daily occurrence.

“This is a place where the children live with violence everyday,” he said, “Our goal is to bring peace and social justice to the people of Juarez one person at a time.” 

In order to do that, the San Alfonso Mission begins with education. To help achieve social justice, the children of Juarez must be educated to raise themselves out of the poverty and dire conditions that exist. Through the help of San Alfonso Mission donations and volunteers, today there are 100 students in class from primary grades through college.  Counseling services to families and day-care centers have been opened so that parents who often work 12-hour shifts know their children are safe.

“It’s a blessing that cannot be measured,” Father Urban said.

Dan Schell is president of the San Alfonso Mission board of directors and a longtime friend of Father Urban.  Asked what drives the priest to do what he does, Schell pointed to Father Urban’s love of people.

“Truthfully, he’s a people person,” he said. “He loves being with them and working with the. He’s a caring individual who doesn’t judge and he finds the best in everyone.”

Schell noted one example of how the people of Juarez responded to Father Urban.

“He made them a deal,” Schell said. “He said he’d put up the money for a piece of property if the people would maintain it until it was ready to be developed. 

They agreed and today there is a community center where once there was a vacant lot.  He cares and he brings out the best in people.”

These days, the 81-year-old priest doesn’t get to Juarez as much as he’d like, although he’s still active in the ministry and fundraising.  Today, you’ll find him helping out at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Denver, saying Masses and working on a program designed to help more Hispanic males complete their high school education.

“You know the graduation rate for Hispanic males (in Denver) is just 20 percent,” Father Urban said. “When I heard this I was devastated and knew I had to do something.”

Father Urban said many of those caught in this trap are youths who came here from Mexico and Central America.  Most have little or no grasp of English and have trouble keeping up in school.  Also, parents need these youngsters to get jobs when they turn 17 to help out with the family.  Those who do rarely return to school.

“I need to go into the homes of these families and encourage these men to return to school, graduate and hopefully go on to college,” he said.  “Also I talk to the parents about the importance of their involvement in the school, too.  I want them to know that there’s more out there for their children than dead-end jobs.”

As far as Father Urban is concerned, young people deserve a chance.  And if he has anything to say about it, every one of them in his path will get it.