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Horacio Perez being ordained Deacon by Bishop Gorman, at St. Therese Mission, Chicago
 

What a Journey it's been - Deacon Horacio Perez - Focus on Mission 16::  What a Journey it has been ::

 

by Horacio Perez

 

Deacon Horacio Perez, originally from Mexico, is one of our Theology students in Chicago. He will be ordained priest on August 23, 2003. Here he shares a bit about his journey to the priesthood.  In this photo, deacon Horacio Perez being ordained Deacon by Bishop Gorman – St. Therese Chinese Mission, Chicago.

t has been almost 18 years since the day I began my missionary adventure. It all started when a “Xaverian missionary” (Fr. Jorge Alvarado) came to our classroom, showed us some videos on some of the activities that missionaries do in so many countries around the world. He also shared with us the way in which missionaries live their lives and how they proclaim the good news of Jesus.

That day I knew I wanted to be a missionary. I was just 12 years of age when I left my family and my friends to go to the seminary in Arandas, a small town located just 50 miles far from my home town (Tepa, Jalisco) in Mexico.  Thinking back on all those joyful years of formation, studies, ministry and uncountable experiences, I realized that it was not only a warming up for the journey but the journey of mission itself.

“I’m extremely happy and I can’t wait to get to my new assignment – Mozambique – to continue my missionary journey with faith, joy and hope.”
Deacon Horacio Perez

During all these years there have been some very significant moments that have shaped and energized me to continue walking in my vocation such as, the day I arrived at the seminary and I was welcomed by the Xaverian missionaries in 1984; the celebration of my first religious vows in 1991 in which I began a more serious commitment to my vocation; the coming to the US to study theology and the encounter with this culture which opened my mind to the wider world; my two year-experience of mission in the Amazons in the north of Brazil that gave me a very real taste of mission; and finally, my experience here in Chinatown, especially this year as deacon in St. Therese Catholic Mission in Chicago.

I have to be honest and recognize that during this period of my formation and ministry has been both, a real and difficult challenge and a wonderful and joyful experience.

It wasn't easy. 

Living in two different places (in the theology house in Hyde Park in the south side of Chicago four days a week and in the parish during the weekends); Studying theology at Catholic Theological Union and at the same time helping out in the parish in some of the pastoral activities and daily tasks; getting to know the interesting and rich Chinese culture; working and dealing with completely new and different people; preaching in a language that was not my native tongue; these and many other reasons, made of my deaconate to be a beautiful challenging experience and a more exiting adventure.

It was wonderful.

It was an immense blessing and a “triple happiness” to have the opportunity of being among the priests and parishioners of this community, as a deacon, as friend and as a servant. I, not only learned a lot from the wisdom and the long missionary experience of my Xaverian brothers Fr. Michael and Fr. Aniello, but also I learned so much from the warm welcoming, surprising generosity, immeasurable patience, amazing commitment, and from the unconditional friendship of the parishioners of this community and from the children of our catholic school with whom I shared some of my time as well.

Unfortunately, in the journey of life one cannot stop for too long, even if what we see, touch, and experience is beautiful and pleasant, one needs to continue walking. My next stop will be in August 23 in my hometown where (God’s willing) I will be ordained a priest. I give thanks to God, to my parents, relatives, formators, friends, benefactors and all those people who accompanied me and prayed for me and for vocations to the priesthood, religious and missionary life.

Just couple of weeks ago I received the news of my next destination after my ordination. I was asked to go to Mozambique in the western part of Africa, to work with other Xaverian missionaries and to witness our faith in Jesus in that part of the world. I’m extremely happy and I can’t wait to be there and continue my missionary adventure with faith joy and hope that this journey may end only in paradise.  God bless you all.

– Deacon Horacio Perez –

 

Perspectives on Peace

 

NEGATIVE PEACE 

Is the absence of direct violence (physical, verbal, and psychological) between individuals, groups, and governments. (Galtung, Reader in Peace Studies)

Efforts to achieve negative peace emphasize:
Managing interpersonal and organizational conflict in order to control, contain, and reduce actual and potential violence.

Reducing the incidence of war by eliminating the extreme dangers of the war system and limiting war through international crisis management. (Nye, Hawks, Owls, and Doves)

Preventing war through strategic deterrence and arms control. (Morgan, Deterrence)

The concept of NEGATIVE PEACE addresses immediate symptoms, the conditions of war, and the use and effects of force and weapons. Writers, artists, and citizen groups often use words and images that reveal the horror of war and its aftermath in their efforts to stop it.

 

POSITIVE PEACE

Is more than the absence of violence; it is the presence of social justice through equal opportunity, a fair distribution of power and resources, equal protection and impartial enforcement of law. (Galtung, Reader in Peace Studies)

Efforts to achieve positive peace emphasize: Establishing peace through world order by supporting international law, compliance with multilateral treaties, use of international courts, and nonviolent resolution of disputes, participation in international organizations, trade, and communication. (Mendlovitz, On the Creation of a Just World Order)

Establishing social equality and justice, economic equity, ecological balance; protecting citizens from attack, and meeting basic human needs. (Reardon, Reader in Peace Studies)

Establishing a civil peace, which provides the constitutional and legal means necessary to settle differences nonviolently (Adler, Haves Without Have-Nots)

Eliminating indirect violence which shortens the life span of people, sustains unequal life chances, or reduces quality of life for any citizen (Brock-Utne, Reader in Peace Studies)

Practicing conflict resolution as a foundation for building peaceful interpersonal and institutional relationships.

The concept of POSITIVE PEACE involves the elimination of the root causes of war, violence, and injustice and the conscious effort to build a society that reflects these commitments. Positive peace assumes an interconnectedness of all life.

  

Group Discussion

 

 

Purpose: 

1. To know how writers, artists, political leaders, & citizens define and image peace.

2. To share and discuss your idea of peace.

3. To plan some peace-oriented action.

 

In Small Groups:

Ask participants to read the quotations on the left panel, selecting two or three that they like the best.

Have them engage in "round robins," each taking a minute or two to discuss a quotation that most closely reflects their idea of peace.

Ask the groups to come up with their image of and action for peace.

 

 

Prayer for Peace

At a time of wars and rumors of wars
We come to you, God Creator.
You are the source of life and beauty and power. 

Your son Jesus is the way of faith and hope and love.
Your Spirit is the fire of love, 
the fount of wisdom, the bond of unity.

You call us at all times to be people of the beatitudes,
witnesses to the Gospel of peace and love and forgiveness.

You call us at this time, when wars and rumors of wars 
weigh heavily on the peoples of the world.
Their lives are already broken by suffering and violence.

We renew our acceptance of your call. 

We promise to work:
to bring the light of the Gospel to those living in darkness,
to bring the hope of the Gospel to those living in despair,
to bring the healing of the Gospel to the lonely,
the disadvantaged, the marginalized, 
and to bring the peace of the Gospel to a divided world.  
Amen.

Published - August 2003