Reflecting on the occasion of his silver jubilee of priesthood, Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, Rockford Diocese Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, recently talked about the challenges and achievements in his office and the role of Our Lady of Guadalupe in his life.
His first challenge as a priest was to hear the confession of his own boss, Bishop Alvaro Ortiz, an initiation rite practiced by that particular bishop.
But, as if that wasn’t enough to fray the nerves of the then-novice priest, Father Vallejo’s next challenge was to hear confessions of his family, starting with his parents, siblings, nephews and cousins.
Now, 25 years later, the challenges are different. His concerns go beyond his own duties as a priest to encompass the needs of the diocese and of its Hispanic Ministry, which includes 30 parishes celebrating Mass in Spanish in 19 cities and towns of Illinois, from the Fox River to the Mississippi River.
Q What are the biggest challenges of the Hispanic Ministry?
A Bishop David Malloy, from his first public speech, has asked us to pray for Hispanic priestly vocations. There are families with three or four children. From there, may come the priests. Bishop has asked us to project the (needs of the) diocese in five years, and how we see it in five years, what are our expectations.
Need for catechesis
We have a very large religious ignorance. We called ourselves Catholics and if a Protestant comes with two questions, he leaves us doubting. That is a sign of religious ignorance and this is corrected precisely with a good catechesis — the Bible studies, catechesis for adults, with parents — there are many means by which we can give proof of our faith. Today the church needs people willing to give witness of our faith.
We (also) need more (physical) space.
Q What are your achievements with the Hispanic Community?
A I try to bring to our communities the will of God, manifested in the bishop and the wish of the bishop is that all grow in the spiritual aspect, that our lives and our works are consistent with the Gospel.
One of the things that has been very beautiful ... has been the faith of our community in the service of the Bishop ... (The office of) bishop has its divine origin that is God, His work is perfect. As a human being can have weaknesses and, I have seen how our people see him as a bishop. (They) do not see him as a human being and they pray to our Lord for his needs, those that any human being has. The same happens with priests, the community sees us as priests ... they only see in us our professional office.
That has been one of the things that has most impacted me in the community.
Secondly, another aspect that I value a lot is the faith with which people arrive and participate in the liturgy. The youth and the children, when they arrive ... , participate in liturgies in Spanish. Although young people and children speak more English, they prefer the liturgy in their native language. That is something very beautiful that I admire a lot.
Another aspect that I admire is the integration in parishes and diocesan level. Every time we have a meeting in the Hispanic Ministry, we have a high participation and also in some events we have had at the diocesan level.
For instance, last year with the closing of the Year of the Faith, the participation was big, despite it was a Saturday, many people were working, it was raining. But our people were there. That is worth admiration and praise.
Q What explains these accomplishments?
A I just have been an instrument of (God), and it is one of the aspects which I emphasize.
Q Having just celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, what is the role of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your life?
A It has been a total influence since my childhood. Now as a priest, working with a Marian community that loves the Virgin Mary, has been a great action of God in my ministry and the maternal presence of the Virgin Mary in the invocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Our Lady has maintained a faith so strong in our Mexican brothers, a firm faith, that has kept the unity that leads one to say, ‘There is the action of God and the beautiful Virgin.’ It is something very big.
I still pray the rosary every day with love. Not only do I pray it, but since I have to travel a lot, my rosary is my company, and that gives me big support.