SAN DIEGO — Baptized Catholic, Luis Enrique Pérez began a spiritual journey about a year ago.
That journey took him on Aug. 3 to the diocesan Hispanic conference “Profetas en Misión,” which he attended with members of his young adult group, Luz de Cristo.
“I’m searching for paths that will bring me closer to God and will help me better understand the Word,” said Pérez, whose group is based at St. Jude Shrine of the West Parish in San Diego.
Auxiliary Bishops Ramón Bejarano and Felipe Pulido, the main speakers, explored the Gospels and offered concrete ways to be “United in Christ to Love and Serve,” the conference theme.
Father Bernardo Lara, who leads the Catholic Communities of Brawley and Westmorland, served as emcee.
Around 600 faithful from San Diego and Imperial counties attended the conference in Spanish held at Good Shepherd Catholic School, said Luis Barajas, president of the diocese’s Hispanic Commission. The commission collaborated with the diocesan Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry to host the third annual event.
Conference-goers included catechists and members of parish groups, movimientos and apostolates, who joyously crowded into the school’s gym for the presentations.
The conference included a Holy Hour, a Eucharistic procession and an opportunity for reconciliation, and it concluded with Mass.
New this year, the diocesan Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry hosted an evening event on Aug. 2, Ven y Verás (Come and See), which drew about 150 youth ages 13 to 17.
Also that evening, the organizers hosted more than 100 servers at a special dinner to recognize their support.
The event featured an exhibitors’ zone, where the faithful could meet representatives of a variety of organizations, as well as an area where they could buy traditional fare.
The conference is one of the events that the diocese is presenting to support the Eucharistic Revival, a three-year national initiative to deepen love for the Eucharist.
‘Love is a decision’
The auxiliary bishops shared personal anecdotes and even sang a little during their talks, held in the school’s gym.
Bishop Bejarano spoke first, sharing the Biblical and theological foundation that calls for a life of love and service.
“Christ has the power to make what we do be transformational, like the multiplication of the loaves and fishes,” he explained. “Jesus can help us to do more than we can imagine.”
He explained that Jesus had a concrete message for His disciples.
“I’m giving you a new commandment: ‘Love one another like I have loved you,’” the bishop said, citing the Gospel of St. John (13:34). “That is His command.”
“It’s through the practice of this love that Christ remains in us and we in Him,” he added.
The bishop asked, “Why does Jesus repeat this message so many times, ‘Love one another’? Because He knows we don’t do it, right?”
He said the faithful are called to obey this command in all situations.
“I have to do everything with love. I have to treat my children with love. I have to treat my wife with love. Even when I post things on Facebook, I have to do it with love.”
He said it feels differently when things are done with love.
“It’s very different to correct your kids with love than with anger,” the bishop said.
He added, “Love is more than a feeling; it’s a decision. I have to decide to love.”
Jesus wants us to love one another unconditionally, perfectly, he continued.
“Are we there? No, it’s a daily struggle. Every day, we have to make that decision. At times, we’re going to fail. Jesus knows that. Our love won’t be perfect until we’re with Him for eternity.”
He said that, when Jesus was on the cross, He did not judge, reject or abandon anyone.
“That’s why, when we celebrate the Eucharist, we have a crucifix present, because it reminds us,
‘This is how Jesus loves me.’”
“The Eucharist is an encounter with the One we love, and it’s a renewal of the love Christ has for me.”
‘We need to learn from Jesus’
In his talk, Auxiliary Bishop Pulido used popular Mexican expressions to share how love can be lived day to day, in service of others.
“Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho,” he began, meaning, “It’s easier said than done.”
“We can talk a lot about love, but at the end of the day, what do I do concretely?” he continued.
“Some say that the scandal in the Church is not that convents and seminaries are half empty, nor that fewer people are going to Mass, nor that some priests and religious failed.
“The great scandal in the Church is that we have not followed Jesus’ principal command: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’”
Bishop Pulido said that it may seem impossible for family members to love one another, especially in dysfunctional families.
“We don’t practice love; we only seek our own self-interest. There’s such a vacuum of love in our lives.”
What can we do concretely to obey Jesus’ command?
He said it begins with the practice of prayer.
“The more we love our neighbor, the more we love God. To demonstrate that love, we need to pray because, if we don’t have a relationship with God, it will be more difficult to have one with others.”
He said that listening is another way to practice love.
“Listening to one another makes us feel loved, appreciated. We all want to be listened to.”
He said people lead distracted lives, peering at their cellular phone, rarely paying attention, even to family members.
“Listening to one another makes us more sensitive, more human. When we listen to others, we’re also helping ourselves.”
He continued with another expression, which means that it’s best to keep one’s mouth shut.
“The words we use to talk about ourselves and others have a lot of power. With just one word, I can lift someone and, with another, I can sink him.
“We’re always talking about other people. This divides our communities. Love is expressed in concrete actions. If I say that I love my brothers and sisters, then I have to be very prudent in what I say day to day.”
Bishop Pulido encouraged those on hand to pick one concrete action to demonstrate love and to do it. And to be willing to feel vulnerable and humble doing it, as Jesus had been.
“At the Last Supper, where Jesus gave up everything He had, he became poor. All He had left was His life, and He gave that up completely, keeping nothing. And from there, He evangelized.
“At the end of the day, we all want to be missionaries, delivering this message of love and service to others. We need to learn from Jesus, who did this from a state of poverty. That’s how Our Lord approached us, and that is how we should approach those who don’t know Our Lord.”
The bishop concluded where he began.
“Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho. To say ‘I love you’ means to love one’s entire life, daily and totally.”
Maria Hisel traveled from the Imperial Valley community of Calipatria with around 30 faithful to attend the conference.
What message was she taking home?
“Christ is there, waiting for us to open the door,” he said. “We have to understand each other to be able to love one another like God loves us.”
The young adult Luis Enrique Pérez also reflected on what he would be taking with him.
“I’m taking love with me. The Scriptures teach us to love unconditionally those who treat us well and those who don’t. They teach us that we have to work on ourselves.”
For a photo gallery from the conference, visit thesoutherncross.org/profetas2024.
