Denver’s St. Jerome Mission helps build a parish center in Juarez

By Ben Lager

It’s been a very bad year for Ciudad de Juarez.  The drug wars that menace this border town broke out in horrifying violence last winter.  The city has suffered an astonishing 800 murders since Jan. 1.

But there was no sign of that sadness the weekend of Sept. 6, when members of the St. Jerome Mission traveled to Mexico to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new parish center at Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope).

The parish grounds were festooned with balloons and streamers as the parishioners warmly welcomed members of the Denver group who have been there several times to help build homes and to plan for the building of this biblical/catechetical/retreat center.

The St. Jerome Mission began as an outreach of the Denver Catholic Biblical School and has grown to include generous patrons from parishes throughout the Denver Archdiocese, especially those who have themselves lived and worked with those who are poor in Juarez. 

Fundraising for this project began 15 months ago and an astonishing $20,000 was raised, providing enough funds for phase one of the project to begin. Phase one will include classrooms for religious education, a kitchen, a large room for parish events like quinceañeras, baptisms and weddings, and a rectory for the pastor, Father David Guerrera. 

Juarez Bishop Renato Ascencio Leon blessed the ground and gave an inspirational talk.  He said that often the first step is the most difficult and that this new center will be a place of catechesis, where Christ will be made known.  It will also serve as a place for cultural and spiritual exchange between the Catholic Church in Juarez and in Denver. 

The prelate said that he would never be able to repay the gift but knew all who contributed had their names in the Book of Life.  Bishop Leon also said that the center serves as a sign of hope in a difficult time for the people in Juarez. 
The parishioners themselves were also very excited about the building project. 
In their own poor parish they have raised over $1,200.  Members of the St. Jerome Mission said they aim to raise the money needed to finish the building and also plan to donate building materials from the United States such as windows.

About $200,000 is needed to finish the project, which would include dormitories for retreats and for missionary work.

Ben Lager is president of the St. Jerome Mission. Watch for his story, “The Church in Juarez,” in the December publication of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith.”