Young people in their 20s who grow up in small towns don’t always have an abundance of career opportunities come their way.
Young people born into immigrant families are not always afforded the luxury of higher education.
Young people forced to quit school to financially support their family don’t often have the opportunity to go back, much less complete a master’s degree.
And, young people who start their careers as line workers in a hog-slaughtering plant certainly don’t often dream of making it to the hallowed halls of the University of Notre Dame.
Erick Chinchilla of Milan, Missouri, has experienced all of these things. Yet he has met head on the challenges life has thrown at him. He continues to strive toward a brighter future, not just for himself but for his entire community. His story is one of profound faith and perseverance.
Born in Honduras, Chinchilla has lived in the United States since the age of 3. When he was a teenager, his family moved from California to Milan. Located in the northern part of the state, far from any major cities, the town of 2,000 people has many jobs in the meat-processing industry that attract hard-working immigrant families like his.
But their American dream hit a snag when Chinchilla’s father became too sick to work. Chinchilla quit college to work in the hog plant so he could support his family. That’s when his family started attending Mass regularly at St. Mary Catholic Parish, pictured below, and they kept going after his father eventually recovered.
St. Mary’s, a vibrant rural community, has been Chinchilla’s spiritual home ever since.
Faith is an indispensable part of his life. Catholic Extension Society donors recently supported the renovation of St. Mary’s parish hall. It’s truly a place where people like Chinchilla are embraced and encouraged to dream big. He said,
I’ve been very blessed that I’ve always had people supporting me along my path. I also want to be that for others.”
Chinchilla’s family remains deeply involved in the Church. “We understand just how important faith is, and we want to share it with everyone,” Chinchilla said.
His parents, pictured below, Jeronimo and Blanca Chinchilla, now serve as St. Mary’s deacon couple.
For his part, Chinchilla became St. Mary’s youth group leader and returned to college.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, he had a burning desire to serve. Upon the recommendation of a friend, he applied to Catholic Extension Society’s Young Adult Leadership Initiative. The initiative offers master’s degree scholarships to young adult leaders in the Church. In 2022 Chinchilla was accepted to the University of Notre Dame, one of the partners in this program, to pursue a degree in theology.
He arrived at the campus that summer in complete awe. The chance to study there and meet other young adults in ministry, like classmates Theresa Meuer and David Garcia below, are great gifts he has every intention of paying forward.
Inspiring others
Chinchilla’s education at the University of Notre Dame is already paying dividends.
As part of the scholarship program, he is interning at the Diocese of Jefferson City’s faith formation department, where he helps lead retreats and trainings. Below, Chinchilla is giving a lecture to his home parish.
His presence across the diocese inspires other young people who have stories like his.
“I think that young Hispanic adults are just not being tapped to do everything that they could do,” Chinchilla said. “People want to serve. People want to help.”
See Chinchilla speak further, below:
The diocese is eager to bring Chinchilla on full time and long term when he finishes his degree program next summer. Chinchilla said,
I really value that I have this knowledge now and that I get to share it.”
People from St. Mary’s continue to believe in Chinchilla and encourage him. A longtime parishioner at St. Mary’s, Valentina, who has known him since he was a young boy, believes he has the ability and energy to help the youth.
Another parishioner, Sandra Sanchez, who has lived in Milan for 18 years, said Chinchilla is a “good person to attract young people” because of his outgoing and inviting personality.
And, of course, his parents are proud to have a son who is a role model for his generation. The families and children below always look forward to when Chinchilla visits St. Mary’s.
“The people love him, and they see that he has learned a lot,” said his father, Jeronimo.
“He’s been very intelligent and a hard worker since he was little,” said his mother, Blanca. “That’s why I believe he’s gotten to where he is.”
Chinchilla’s story is a testament to the importance of supporting young adults aspiring to serve the Church. As Pope Francis reminds us, they’re not just the future but the present as well.
Catholic Extension Society is a nonprofit organization that builds up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities in the poorest regions of America. Our support of young adult leaders in this story comes from the generosity of our donors. Please consider supporting our mission!
