Page 35 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

Extension | Winter 2019 35

2,000 miles. After this vital nour- ABOVE Father
ishment, they continued on their Fabian Marquez, is a
journey, awaiting their hearing for dynamic pastor of El
legal status in the United States. Buen Pastor Mission Since 1999, Catholic Exten- ABOVE Father
in El Paso and
El Buen Pastor Mission Church is director of youth and sion has funded El Buen Pastor for Marquez, at a talk
in the poor Sparks neighborhood. young adult ministries parish and salary subsidies and show in El Paso,
The mission, completed in 1998, for the diocese. church building. gets his parishioners
involved with the
has 180 registered families. With Father Marquez’s arrival larger community.
in 2015, parishioners have become
deeply engaged in the mission’s BOTTOM LEFT After
the mass shooting
17 outreach ministries, and also serv- in El Paso in August,
Funerals and services ing the wider community. Father Marquez
provided comfort and
“Father Fabian welcomes the
pastor attended for neighbor, the poor and marginal- hope at the scene of
shooting victims ized and teaches his congregation the massacre.
to do the same,” said parishioner
Rocio Valenzuela.
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso 2019 u 2020
said, “The parishioners are com-
mitted to serving their brothers
and sisters in Christ and provid-
ing a safe refuge. They are leaders
in our community.” Bishop Seitz Lumen
wrote a pastoral letter that is a spe- Christi
cial insert in this magazine issue. AWARD
Father Marquez, who is also the
director of youth and young adult FINALIST
ministries for the diocese, brings
a ministry of presence and a mes-
sage of hope to El Paso.
Parishioner Liliana Esparza said,
“To know Father Fabian is to know
compassion, kindness and love. So
great is Father’s love for others that
one can’t help but want to live by
his example.”