Frater Juan Carlos Castañda Rojas, a seminarian doing his pastoral year in Brazil, shares the following reflection. He wrote it after learning of the death of Br. Gabriel Kersting, who died on April 7. 

Remembering Br. Gabe

Br. Gabe Kersting

I have to say that during my journey with the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, I have been able to meet many amazing people, people who by the example of their lives have made a huge impact on my own vocation. And one of them Br. Gabriel Kersting. I met him on many different occasions but the one that really caused a huge impact in my life was during my novitiate year 2012-2013 when, with my novice master Fr. John Czyzynski and classmate Frater James Nguyen, we visited all the ministries of the congregation in the United States. That journey took us to Pinellas Park, Fl., to visit the retirement community of the US province

We had the wonderful opportunity to interview all the members of the community house. By that time Br. Gabe, as he was called, was having memory problems and was not able to remember many things. In fact, he was not able to remember what he had said just couple minutes before. However, we had a blessed moment chatting with him and asking him about his experience in the Congregation. One of the things he mentioned was about community living and how grateful he was to the entire community. Also he was very humble and honest in admitting to us that he did not remember many things. But what he said next are words that became tattooed on my heart:

“I don’t have anything, but I have everything.”

He explained to us that it meant he did not have any money, property, or valuable material things but that at the same time he had never missed those things because he had everything he needed thanks to the congregation. If he was sick he would get medicine or be able to visit a doctor. He was able to complete his education, and if he was hungry he knew he would always have food from the community.

Those words truly stayed with me “I don’t have anything, but I have everything.” When I got the news last week that Br. Gabe had passed away, those words resounded in my heart and my mind like a burning fire. Today as my pastoral year continues in Brazil and I have been able to see the difficult life situations of many poor people here, those words have become even stronger in my life as a foundation of growth in my vocation.

Frater Juancho with youth in Brazil

“I don’t have anything, but I have everything.” As I see the difficult situations of the people by doing what our founder Fr. Leo Dehon taught us, which is to be among the poor, the most vulnerable, and marginalized,  I  appreciate how these humble, wonderful people, in their own way, also live the words of Br. Gabe. They live in very humble homes, some made with clay and with only roofs made of palms leaves, some with floors made of dirt and walls made from old boards. Many families sleep in hammocks because they don’t have money to buy beds for everyone and in many cases because their homes are so small they don’t have enough space.  But despite living situations that for many people would be unbearable, they are the most welcoming people I have ever encountered, sharing the little that they have and always with a warm smile in their faces. I have been in their homes, and shared a meal with them and even experienced sleeping in a hammock, which to be honest I found more comfortable than the bed. Some of them said that I was becoming a native like them because I slept in the hammock but that to become a true native I had to get used to the heat, which has been difficult for me to bear.

I was very moved as I visited different communities including the churches they built to have a place to celebrate mass and live their faith. Because many of these people live far from the parish or matriz, which is how it is called here, there is a need to create a place for the small neighborhoods. Brick by brick and with the collaboration and effort of the entire community and sharing the little that they have, they build their sacred place to live their faith. Amazingly a parish can have 20, 30, 50, or even 130 communities and all of them created by the effort of these people.

“I don’t have anything, but I have everything.” These people live in extreme poverty, without a proper water system, and are exposed to many illnesses caused by mosquitoes. But if you go along the streets, which also are in very bad condition, you can see many families sitting outside their homes. Some are playing cards, others just talking, and many trying to avoid the high temperatures because of the lack of fans or air conditioning.

In one of my most recent visits to one of the communities, I was very moved when I heard how they were building their church. The church was just unfinished walls, flooring, and seats made with old wood. And there were no fans despite the very hot weather. But in my eyes it was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I felt the love of these people and the price of what they had so far achieved. It is true that I have seen many amazing art woks, churches that are incredible because they are huge, stylish, comfortable, and historic. But this place, this unfinished place, had been created through more faith, love, devotion, and sacrifice than many of the most beautiful ones I have visited. As in other communities, people received me with open arms and a beautiful sincere smile on their faces. And there was also some laughter because I was sweating heavily because of the heat. But after we celebrated mass, many people came to give me a hug and welcomed me to take some selfies. That place became the most beautiful place I had ever seen not because of its walls or the roof or the seats that made up the church. The beauty was in the heart of the people who were truly building community, building a church.

While I have been among these people, I have experienced some of their needs. But I know that I am and will be privileged. In the future if I get sick I will be able to get some medicine and care and that on my return to the United States there is a school waiting for me; and that if I am hungry there is always something to eat. I know by experience that “I don’t have anything, but I have everything.”

I have come to understand the meaning of those beautiful and powerful words.   Because of the many experiences I have had during my time in the Congregation of the Priest of the Sacred Heart, I know that I have not just the material things to cover all my needs but also and more importantly the spiritual and moral support of my brothers in the community.

I know that there is and always will be someone to walk with me, to care about me, and to be a companion in this amazing journey of our vocation. I don’t have anything but I have everything and I am privileged because I am part not just of a congregation, but a great family which takes care of each member of this family. My novice master once told me that our vow of poverty invited us to live simply but that it is also a reminder that we may have more privileges than most people. Thank you Fr. John (muchacho), I truly understand those words and our invitation to recognize the needs of others and to be among them and experience their needs by putting ourselves in their place. By putting our privileges aside and humbling ourselves, we can truly experience their needs and also their joy.

One of the members of our family went before us on this journey. But Br. Gabriel Kersting, by his legacy and example, stays with us even after his death. Thank you Br. Gabe for the gift of your life within our congregation. Thank you for the beautiful gift of the example of your life. Thank you for the amazing words that came from your heart and impacted my life. Thank you for teaching me that I don’t have anything, but that I have everything because I already have all that I need as a member of this Congregation, as a member of this family. Rest in peace dearly beloved Brother and watch over us as we continue with the legacy of Fr. Dehon

“Dehonitation”

We continue preparing ourselves during this season of Lent to live the pascal mystery of the life, Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. And I am also continuing with my pastoral experience in Brazil where I have the opportunity to really understand the meaning of going out of the sacristy and being among those who are in need and more vulnerable than most people. My getting to know more about the different ministries and the impact the Priests of the Sacred Heart have in the various regions of Brazil has been a meaningful growing experience for me as a Dehonian. And it has made me able to understand the needs of others and to be present to help them.

There is no more perfect time than this season of Lent for me to reflect on my vocation and my response to God’s call to strengthen my relationship with other people. And the Second Sunday of Lent in which we celebrated the transfiguration of the Lord provides suitable readings to reflect on what I am thinking about. One beautiful message for reflection comes from the reading of the Book of Genesis (12: 1-4a) the calling of Abraham and the promises of God’s blessings. I reflect on my own vocation and of hearing God’s call, which took me to a foreign land: the United States where I have been blessed by many experiences and all the amazing people I have met during my time in formation there. And today after following my heart and missionary call, I am again in another new land ––  Brazil  –– and I am experiencing more amazing experiences and countless blessings during my pastoral year here.

As we read of the transfiguration of the Lord in the Gospel according to Matthew (17:1-9), where the Divinity of the Lord is revealed to some of His disciples, an important message made its way into my heart. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” “listen to him…” in moments of sadness and sorrow, “listen to him…” in times of joy and happiness, “listen to him…” in moments when we do not know which way or path in our lives we should follow, “listen to him…”  when the political situation affects everyone specially the poor and marginalized, “listen to him…”  “listen to him…”  And so I must remember, always, to “listen to him” myself.

When I was looking for a spiritual reading to enrich my personal prayer during this season of Lent, I found the perfect book in the library of the community house in the city of Parauapebas State of Para where I spent two weeks. John Leo Dehon, a Prophet of the Verb Go, is a book written by Fr. Jose Fernades de Oliveria, an SCJ well known not just in Brazil but in many countries as Fr. Zezinho, SCJ, famous because of his singing career. As I was taking a look at this book, I was struck by the description of it by Fr. João Carlos Almeida, SCJ, who said this book is more than a biography because it captures the soul of the life, work, mission, and spirituality of Fr. Dehon.

In his description, Fr. João Carlos says that after you start reading this book you will not be able to stop … And that after finishing reading it your life will be “Dehonizada.” What a beautiful way to describe that feeling, that your life will be, allow me please to do interpret it by using the word “Dehonitation.” Is that a real term? I am not really sure, I just know that I am learning the meaning of that term. This Dehonitation is something that even if someone tells you what it is about, the best way to understand it is by living it through the experience of your life.

I have come to understand that Dehonitation can be understood by taking the message of the Gospel “listen to him.” Fr. Dehon listened to the cry of the poor and the needs of those in his time who were in need and whose lives were marginalized. Fr. Dehon listened to God’s call and as result, the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart was born. Today we are called “Dehonians,” but we are not only religious men who listened God’s call because in our response we chose to live the charism and teachings of Fr. Dehon. Today the Dehonian family is integrated by the work and love of both religious and lay Dehonians, who walk hand in hand with us in our mission and ministry. Lay Dehonians have also experienced Dehonitation and live our charism in helping us reach out to and serve those who need us the most.

This past March 14, we celebrated the birthday of Fr. Dehon. We also celebrated our vocation as Dehonians, we celebrated our mission and ministry among the poor and marginalized, we celebrated our response to God’s call to the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, and we celebrated the experience of Dehonitation in our lives.  Father Dehon listened to the cries and needs of the people in his time and gave us a legacy that we keep alive today. This legacy gives a deep meaning to the verb “go” because “to go” is an important part of our charism. It means going out of the sacristy and being among those who are marginalized or poor. As Fr. Zezinho mentioned in his book, Fr. Dehon was a real prophet of the verb go.

A missionary chapel in Brazil which Frater Juancho visits

As my pastoral year continues and I experience this Dehonitation, my spirituality and missionary vocation grows stronger and also grows is my firm desire to give my life to this Congregation and the service of those who need us the most. Of course, an essential pillar of our charism is our perpetual adoration and our intimate relationship with God, but my experience visiting rural communities has taught me that this Dehonitation occurs out of the sacristy among these people because it is in them that I can see the face of God.

During this season of Lent we are called to deepen our prayer life, to reflect, and to fast. It usually implies giving up something we are used to having and that will deprive us of a particular pleasure. Some people will give up soda, chocolates, TV shows, Facebook, or many other things. All of those things are good. But today as I experience Dehonitation in my life, I am not sure about what I should give up during this season. Instead, I am thinking about what I can give the most, how can I be present for others, and how I can bring the presence of God and comfort to those who are in need. During this season of Lent I want to continue this process of Dehonitation and listen to the will of God in my life.

Many times, I have said to people here in Brazil when I introduce myself that I decided to come to Brazil to do my pastoral year. I am proud to say that it was my decision, that I chose to come to Brazil and that all the amazing experiences that I am having are the result of my own decision.

But during Lent I have come to understand that it was not me who made the decision to come to Brazil, it was not my decision to go to the United States. Instead I realize that I was listening to God’s voice in my heart.  Today I say that I am in Brazil because it was the will of God.

Today I say that I am just listening to God and His will for me.  Today my invitation during this season of Lent is not of giving up something. instead, I invite you to think about what you can give,  how you can give more of yourself. My invitation then is to open your heart and to listen to the voice of God and to experience Dehonitation in your life and become a prophet of the verb Go.

The concert in Aparecida

Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas, a seminarian with the US Province, is currently doing his ministerial year in Brazil. Recently he wrote about the devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida, Queen and Patron of Brazil. Juancho writes:

Growing up in Colombia I learned from my parents about the devotion to Maria Auxiliadora ( Mary our Helper), praying the rosary and attending every Tuesday the Mass celebrated specially for the intercession of the Virgin Mary. So I can say that in my life the Devotion to the Virgin Mary is very strong and important in my vocation.

After I moved to the United States I came to develop another important devotion to the Virgin Mary and this time in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As I had the opportunity to appreciate this devotion that is mostly strong among Mexican people, that devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe grew stronger in my heart. When I witnessed the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in our parish in Houston and at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plains, Il., I had to opportunity to see how this devotion is manifested in many different expressions of reverence.

On October 12 people in Brazil celebrated the feast of “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” (Our Lady of Aparecida). During the entire month of October many people make their way to visit the Basilica of Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the city of Aparecida, many of them walking miles to go there. People from all over Brazil come to visit the shrine, or as many are referred to: “na casa de mae” (the house of our mother). I was amazed by the number of people whom I saw walking the highways in direction to Aparecida.

Our Lady of Aparecida

What is different about this devotion compared to others to the Virgin Mary is that it did not begin with an apparition of the Blessed Mother as with Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego or Our Lady of Fatima who appeared to the three little shepherds.

The image of Our Lady of Conception that would be later best known as “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” was found by three fishermen in the waters of the river Paraíba. After trowing their nets in the water without any success,  feeling hopeless they prayed to the Virgin Mary and threw their nets one more time. Instead of catching a fish they caught a statue of Our Lady of Conception without her head. Amazed at their finding they tossed their nets one more time. They caught something once again but instead of fish it was the head of the statue that they pulled up in the previous casting. They saw it as a miracle and prayed before throwing their nets one more time.  This time they caught so many fish that their nets were about to break and they were afraid that their boats were going to sink because of the weight of the fish.

Frater Juancho in Aparecida

As they returned to their town they told the story of what had happened. This is how the devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida started to become one of the most important devotions in Brazil and today she is recognized as the Queen and Patron of Brazil.

I have witnessed this amazing devotion of the Catholic community in Brazil. I had the opportunity to be at the Basilica for the closing ceremony with thousands of people who came to pray and celebrate the Feast Day of Mae (mother). For me it was just an amazing experience because this year marks 300 years since the encounter of Our Lady of Aparecida.

And if that wasn’t enough, I had the opportunity while here to assist at the concert of Andre Bocelli, one of my favortites singers!

It has been good to experience this new devotion and learn more about Brazilian spirituality. Every time that I visit the Basilica I also experience a deep emotion and joy to visit the house of Mae.