Immediately following his election to the papacy, Pope Francis spoke of the saint whose name he had chosen. St. Francis of Assisi, he said, “gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man who wanted a poor church.” He added, “How I would love a church that is poor and for the poor.”
As he spoke these words in 2013, some 5,000 miles away the embodiment of his vision could already be found.
For many years, Catholic Extension Society has supported the ministry of remarkable sisters who bring the peace of God to the poor and forgotten of East Tennessee. They are Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ad Gentes.
The ministry of Sisters María Imelda Quechol and Eloísa Torralba Aquino, M.A.G., spans eight different counties, impacting the lives of over 10,000 people.
Serving a largely immigrant population, the sisters form new faith communities, visit camps of migrants who pick crops, develop leaders among the people, support marriages, provide counseling, feed the hungry and even help people find work.
With the help of the Diocese of Knoxville, they established two Casas de Oración, which translates to “houses of prayer,” in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These humble sanctuaries are strategically located in areas that will help them reach more people.
The Santa Cruz house of prayer serves around 500 people. It was formerly a recreational gym before it was transformed into a hub of church life and activity. The second house, Immaculate Conception, was originally a mechanic garage. It regularly hosts 350 people for various activities and services. These include prayer and rosary groups, Mass, food distribution, marriage classes and medical assistance.
This range of spiritual and human support offered in these houses of prayer is needed in a community that faces so many challenges.
Rising out of the darkness
Immigrant communities in East Tennessee face adversities every day. With immigrants from Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras, there are language barriers, family separations, long work hours, discrimination and most recently a global pandemic.
But unlike in other parts of the U.S., the Catholic Church is one of the few institutions present where they can find support.
The sisters’ compassion shined during the darkest days of the pandemic. Sister Imelda even helped save the life of one man battling COVID-19.
After receiving word that a single parent of a 5-year-old girl had become very ill from the virus, Sister Imelda acted immediately. She secured donations, then ran to the store to buy food, water and basic medications.
While he was incapacitated and immobilized, his poor daughter was starving and had not eaten for days.
When Sister Imelda arrived, the daughter could not get the door open. Her father, summoning all his strength, flung himself from the bed and crawled to open the door. Sister still weeps when she thinks about what could have happened had she not been able to help.
Sister Imelda recalled, “The girl said ‘Papi, Papi, we have food!’”
Thanks to the grace of God and Sister Imelda’s efforts, the man has made a full recovery and returned to his landscaping job. Throughout this hardship, his faith has grown stronger than ever.
“My daughter said she saw an angel at the edge of the bed when I was sick,” he said. “This angel was taking care of us.”
Filling hearts with joy
The man’s reinforced relationship with God serves as a testament to what the sisters are trying to accomplish through their ministry: help immigrants tackle hardships and bring them closer to God, who will be their ultimate strength to overcome any challenge.
“When they arrive here, there is a need to get closer to the faith,” Sister Imelda said. “We tell them, ‘We are here for you.’” The sisters are constantly on the lookout for those falling through the cracks in the eight counties they cover.
Sister Eloísa exclaims,
If they can’t come to our churches to be before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, then we will bring Jesus to them!”
Diocese of Knoxville Bishop Richard F. Stika refers to the sisters’ works of mercy, especially throughout the pandemic, as a “herculean effort.” The Hispanic community is thankful for the sisters’ profound dedication.
One community member said,
Mother Imelda has taught us not to give up in the face of adversity. She sees our capabilities that we ourselves cannot see and invites us to grow more in our community.
Another inspired person said,
The energy that Mother Eloísa puts into all of her work is contagious and encourages others to continue working hard on everything we set out to do.”
On a Wednesday night in June, the faithful pack into Chattanooga’s most recently established house of prayer as they do each week. From the outside, one could mistake it as a warehouse or workshop if it were not for the pulsating music and the rhythmic clapping pouring out of the doorway.
This is what a “poor church for the poor” looks like. What it lacks in exterior flash it makes up for in the faith burning powerfully in the hearts of its people.
The sisters take to the stage to lead the community in song, with the catchy Spanish lyrics: “I have a telephone to call up God. That telephone doesn’t require a number to dial, just my prayer.” The message is clear: God is in this place and with each of you.
Catholic Extension Society is honored to share the accomplishments of Sisters María Imelda Quechol and Eloísa Torralba Aquino, M.A.G., , finalists for the 2021-2022 Lumen Christi Award. Visit this page to read the other inspiring stories from this year’s finalists.
