Spanish-speaking seminarians plan to serve in diocese

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
January 6, 2004

As the number of Spanish-speaking parishioners grows the Diocese of Sioux City, the need for priests to minister to them increases.

Joaquin Guerrero and Mauro Sanchez, two seminarians from Mexico, have committed to the Sioux City Diocese and spent part of their Christmas break in Sioux City talking with various people and spending time with other seminarians.

The two also visited Sioux City this past summer. Guerrero and Sanchez said they made their decision after Father Brian Hughes talked with them in Mexico.

"Father Hughes came to Mexico and he talked about the need of Spanish speaking priests in this diocese," Sanchez said. "When I first came here I saw the need to minister to people in their own language."

Sanchez has gone on several missions where he has witnessed the great need of Hispanic priests. He said there are many differences in the cultures and he hopes to help all of God's people.

"When we went on missions talking with people, I saw people really needed to have a priest to hear about God," Sanchez said. "God is speaking through us."

Guerrero also said he acknowledged the need for Spanish-speaking priests in the diocese and hopes he can help with this problem.

"Sometimes people don't know how to express their thoughts and feelings because of culture," Guerrero said. "As a bilingual priest, I want to help both Anglos and Hispanics. I want to help unite both to the church."

Both Guerrero and Sanchez have been studying in the United States at the Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. They have been studying LCC (Language, Culture, Church). After this part of their studies, they will move to courses in theology. They came to America after they finished high school in Mexico.

"Sometimes it is very difficult to study English," Sanchez said. "I have to study a lot to better serve in the diocese."

Guerrero first went to the seminary at fifteen. He said he is very close with his family and expressed his gratitude for his family supporting his decision to become a priest.

"I am very interested in the life of seminary," Guerrero said. "I am a normal person with a big desire to help people. Hispanic people are far from their country and still have a lot of faith."

Both Guerrero and Sanchez said they were happy with their decision and look forward to serving the needs of the Sioux City Diocese.

"I am very happy to be in this diocese," Sanchez said. "I have seen a lot of support from the seminarians and the priests in the diocese. I want to thank everyone in the diocese for their support."