Where did life after high school take you?
After graduation I was accepted into the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. I attended a year and a half before I was expelled due to low grades. I spent little time studying and more time partying and having a good time. I returned to Nebraska feeling ashamed and down. I attended UNO and eventually ended up in Bellevue University. I switched to various degrees from Computer to Electronic Engineering and eventually ended up acquiring a B.A. in Philosophy (so I can enter the seminary). I graduated in 1993 and entered the Columban Seminary in Chicago.
Did you always know you wanted to become a priest?
No. My calling did not come until I was 20 years old, before I was a “cultural Catholic.” I hardly attended mass and rarely participated in religious functions. I wasn’t that interested. I told people I was a Catholic because my family was and I was raised as a Catholic. At the age of 20 I attended a used book fair and one book caught my eye, The Song of Bernadette. What first struck me was the author, Franz Werfel, a Jewish man who escaped from the Nazis in WWII. He was offered refuge in a small town in southern France called Lourdes. There he made a pact with God- if he survived the horror of the war he would write a novel about Lourdes and the events that took place. That intrigued me and I said to myself, “it must be something to read if this man staked his life on it”. I was unaware that it was about the visions Saint Bernadette of Our Lady of Lourdes. The novel hit me like a ton of bricks. The courage and valor of the author and Saint Bernadette made me question my own convictions and way of life. What was I willing to die for? What was beyond me than just looking for a good party every weekend? This began my new journey as a practicing Catholic. A became involved in groups and functions. Shortly after I felt the Lord calling me and I was scared. I was convinced that my life was one of marriage and family. Yet, this calling pursued me and would not leave me in peace. Eventually, I said, “there is only one way to find out, join the seminary. If it is God it would remain. If not it would wither and fade away.” Much to the surprise of my family and friends, I entered the seminary and was ordained on June 24, 2000, in my home parish of Saint Mary’s of Bellevue.
How did you end up in Chile?
I first arrived into Chile in July of 1995 as part of my missionary training when I was a seminarian. I was offered three possible placements: Chile, Japan and Fiji. I decided on Chile of my Latino background and a desire to improve my Spanish (I spoke more English than Spanish at home). My superiors listened to my desires and granted them. Later when I was ordained in 2000, my superior asked where I would like to be assigned as a priest. I told him I wanted to return to Chile. I returned in 2001 until 2007. In 2007 I returned to USA for further studies in Boston College. Upon completion of the studies in 2010 I returned to Chile. I have been almost 9 years in Chile and truly feel it’s my home.
Tell me a little about the Columban Fathers?
I grew up with the Columban Fathers in Bellevue. I remembered their stories of going to far off lands and living simple lives. Although, I heard these stories as a child I was not interested in becoming a priest. However, when I received my calling I knew instantly that if I was to be a priest I wanted to be a Columban missionary priest. I like the charism of “leaving one’s own culture to discover God in another culture”. Also, I loved the simplicity of the Columban Fathers’ approach to the people. They had the calling of being priests to the poor and marginalized. This attracted me greatly. Because of the Columban Fathers, I see my priesthood as a service, not as a title or privilege.
What is your life like in Chile?
I have lived a varied life in Chile. I worked six years in the south of Chile, a rural parish along the sea called Puerto Saavedra. There I worked with the indigenous Mapuches and learned some of their language and customs. It is a slow quiet life on the surface but with strong emotions hidden underneath. Mapuches due to history do not trust outsiders very easily. They were slowly taken over by the Chileans and the evangelization process of the Church in the past was not very respectful of their traditions and way of life. So it was not easy to enter the culture. Yet, in spite of the suspicious nature, if one manages to make friends, the Mapuches are loyal friends for life. I had the great honor of one day when I moved into one of the rural areas (in the middle of no where, as some would say) where the people welcomed me and proclaimed, “Today is a great day because our priest has come to live with his people!” Eventually, I came to work in Santiago (the capital) and was appointed rector of our seminary here. I served two years from young men to be Columban priests. It was not my first option to be in formation but I saw the greater need. In the end, I am thankful for it because I realized that I discovered new qualities in myself to form others. I came to a deeper awareness of my own sense of authority guided by God’s Spirit. Now I am working in a parish in Santiago, in the county of La Pintana. La Pintana is widely known in Chile as a place of violence, gangs, drugs and poverty. Although it is an area stigmatized with a bad reputation, there are many good people here who work to improve the lives of their neighbors here. It is a challenging area, but I enjoy the challenge and since I have been some ministry in schools, many children, youth and parents now recognize me in the streets. Some children now call me “Papa Chris” instead of “Father Chris”. It’s funny but makes me feel old.
Have you ever been in a life threatening situation in Santiago?
I never had a situation in which I felt threatened. However, I did live some stressful moments. In the rural parish of Puerto Saavedra, there was a time when some Mapuche groups who expressed autonomy and expulsion of Chileans and the Church from their lands became quiet vocal and many demonstrations where held. Some groups expressed their anger by throwing rocks at city trucks or police vans; put up road blocks; or occupied or seized chapels and Church schools as a way of protests. All of these groups worked and lived in my area. Yet, they never did anything to me. When they held road blocks and I approached with my truck, they recognized my truck and I would stop to talk to them. I knew some by name and asked about the harvest and crops. After which, they said, “let Father through”. It was tense at times but we Columbans handled it with patience and acceptance. We never tried to silence the groups or take action against. We allowed them to speak their minds and hearts. I believe because of that action, the people knew we were not a threatening presence to them and we allowed them to be. They accepted us as we them. In Santiago, the La Pintana parish does offer difficulties as I described before. In early March of this year, gangs with crowbars forced open the main doors of our parish church. They stole our sound system, microphones, speakers, two chalices and the cup that holds the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle. They left the consecrated hosts on the altar. Furthermore, within two weeks of this incident, the parish building was broken into, a car radio was stolen during Sunday mass, the child day care was broken into across the street and the small store next to the church was broken into three times. The police said it was more likely gangs looking for stuff to sale for money to buy drugs. Since it was March, end of the summer vacation here, they were short of money. I live around such social problems but as of yet, did not have any life-threatening situation against my person.
What has been your most rewarding experience?
I have had several but my most rewarding experience was also my biggest challenge…when I first arrived into Chile as a seminarian, I was so excited to begin the mission and had great plans of what I was going to do. However, after the honeymoon period faded away, I realized that it was more difficult than I realized. Being in another culture with different customs, traditions and codes was frustrating. It was like walking into a movie theater half-way during the movie and all understood the plot but you. You try asking what it is about but no one could explain it to you. I became frustrated and depressed. I felt inadequate, misunderstood and unprepared. I came close to giving up, returning to the USA and leaving the seminary. One day, I was sitting in the church after mass, sulking. Two young adolescent girls from my confirmation group (I was one of the catechists) approached me and asked what was going on. At that moment I poured out my feelings and told them everything. They quietly listened than told me, “brother that is why we like you, you are like us”. I asked, “How am I like you?” They replied, “Because you struggle like us. Here we feel misunderstood and inadequate because the adults and older people tell us so. That is why we didn’t come to church. But when you arrived we saw someone who struggled like us and we saw the church we wanted.” It hit me like a bucket of cold water. I realized I focused so much about what I was going to accomplish. I realized that mission was not about success or failures but the love of God. These youth (and the other people in the town as well) loved me for who I was, not what I was doing. It was God’s mission, not mine. The true question was…what was God going to do with me in the mission?
Did any particular teacher/s at Gross Catholic influence your decision to work with the poor and disadvantaged?
Two teachers stand out, Sister Mary John Cleary (I believed she has since passed away due to cancer) and Mrs. Teresa Dorwart both English/Literature teachers. They had a passion to teach, and it was their vocation not a career. They made the literature come alive and took time to explain the points clearly. English was my worst subject but both teachers made it interesting for me. It encouraged me to do better and to make more of an effort. Therefore, now when I encounter situations I don’t like or find difficult, I don’t give up but try to find a reasonable solution. It taught me patience and when I teach religion, bible and church I try to use clear and simple concepts so all can understand. It was the model that Sister Mary John and Mrs. Dorwart taught.
Did Gross Catholic prepare you for the life that you now lead?
It has taken my some years to appreciate what I learned from Gross Catholic but I believe the above explanation of the Sister Mary John and Mrs. Dorwart describes what I learned the most- do not be afraid of what challenges us, face it with courage and patience. Today, I like challenges regardless if I win or loss, as long as I give my best. That is what made it possible for me to mission in our cultures and under sometimes difficult situations. In that I believe is our motto- Deux Esto, be a leader.
