In November last year, Catholic Extension Society shared the incredible story about a priest who delivered twin babies outside St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima, Washington.
As Father Jesús Mariscal was leaving the rectory, on his way to purchase donuts for a marriage preparation meeting, he saw a woman in distress in front of a statue of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception.
She cried out to him, “I need help! I’m having a baby!”
He called 911, and through the guidance of the emergency operator, he delivered not one, but, to his complete shock, two baby boys. The second child was not breathing when he was born, and Father Mariscal and resuscitated him.
Ever since this miraculous day, Father Mariscal has remained in contact with the boys’ family. Sadly, their mother is battling addiction and is not well enough to care for them.
But the father, Lucius Moran, has been raising his growing boys, Theodore and Timothy, for a year now.
We recently met up with Father Mariscal and Moran to hear their reflections on this remarkable event.
A miracle and a blessing
Moran knew that the mother of the boys was pregnant with twins, but she had gone missing, and he was unable to locate her. He did not find out about their birth until several days later. They were 10 weeks premature, and they had a long stay in the NICU. Theodore underwent two blood transfusions.
Moran is thankful that Father Mariscal was there to bring his children into the world.
“He honestly, in my opinion, saved my boys,” Moran said.
He added,
I don’t think they would be here if it wasn’t for Father Jesús.”
The twin boys aren’t the only ones who were saved. Before they were born, Moran had been fighting addiction. “These boys and this whole experience has helped me overcome that,” he said.
Moran appreciates that Father Mariscal continues to check in on the family. Below, the priest gives the babies a blessing.
The Catholic Church has not abandoned this beautiful family, which includes a toddler and little girl that Moran is also raising. He has joined the PREPARES program, offered by Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington. This free program serves parents and their young children by providing essential supplies such as clothing and diapers, organized play groups, and trained volunteers who offer support and encouragement.
The Church also connected Moran to a kind stranger who donated a van and its first six months of auto insurance.
Moran is intent on raising his twin boys to be good people.
“I hope they become very productive, good members of the community,” he said. “It’s definitely unique how and where they were born, that’s for sure. In front of the statue of Mary, at St. Paul Cathedral, and delivered by Father Jesús—like Father ‘Jesus.’ … It’s definitely a blessing.”
Catholic Extension Society supported Father Mariscal’s seminarian education, as we have with hundreds of active priests in the poorest regions of our country.
His story proves that although no amount of education can fully prepare a priest for all the realities of ministry, good priestly formation instills the pastoral values of compassion and courage.
These are precisely the values that the quick-thinking pastor put into action that day he saved Timothy and Theodore. Now, thanks to Father Mariscal, they have their whole lives ahead of them.
Watch the video below to see Lucas Moran share his story:
Catholic Extension Society supports hundreds of Catholic priests and leaders like Father Jesús Mariscal in the poorest regions of America. Please support our mission!
