Father Júnior Vásquez suffered a very serious foot injury a few years ago, due to the bad condition of his car. Now, with a new vehicle donated by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), he can reach even the remotest areas more easily.
Father Júnior Vásquez (photo) spends over six hours per day on the road, and that is only counting the time it takes to get from one parish to another to celebrate Mass. Every morning, he gets up at around 5 a.m. He then spends an hour “at the foot of the Master, in the Blessed Sacrament,” from where he draws the strength to face another day, before setting off immediately to serve the 31 rural communities of his parish in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, in the west of central Dominican Republic.
He tells a visiting delegation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that as a priest, the effort is not only worth it, but that “it is worth giving one’s life entirely and spending it like a candle burning for God at the service of the poor, so that the message of salvation reaches everyone.”In the Caribbean Island, the term “las lomas” is frequently used to refer to the rural mountainous regions, which are often void of basic services, have a complicated geography, and offer few opportunities. Many of the communities are isolated because the dirt roads become impossible to navigate during the rainy season. “My fellow priests and I have to cross mountains, over difficult and rocky roads,” the young priest says. “We also have to cross many streams and rivers to reach these people.” Many communities are neglected, and suffer from lack of employment, healthcare, and education. People tend to abandon the “lomas” in search of better opportunities, leading to a decline in the active population and perpetuating a cycle of abandonment. The priests find themselves doing more than just preaching, as they take on the role of providing social support as well.
New vehicle: “A gift from heaven”
To get around, Fr. Júnior used to have a very old car which “was constantly being damaged, leading to considerable expenses which were unsustainable for the parish,” he explains. But the former vehicle was also a health hazard. “Over time, constant driving and the poor conditions of the roads led to the weakening of the ligaments in my foot, and ended up causing a fracture,” he tells ACN. This injury left him practically unable to work for five months, and he had to endure several painful operations. Emotionally, the process was even more difficult. He recalls going through periods of great anguish, though always supported by his faith. “God and Our Lady were always with me,” he explains.
At the same time, the experience also allowed him to reflect on the importance of caring for himself. “If I care for myself and for my wellbeing, I can better serve the community, and for a longer time. I will be healthy and strong to give myself to my people,” Father Júnior says.
Thanks to the support of ACN’s benefactors, he now has a new vehicle, which has made his work much easier. “Now I can fulfil my pastoral duties more efficiently and reach places and communities that were previously inaccessible,” the grateful priest explains.
Challenges: Evangelical-inspired sects and lack of chapels
Access is, however, not the only challenge Fr. Júnior faces in the rural areas which he serves. The presence of inspired Evangelical-inspired sects which “attract people with false promises” and the inexistence or neglect of many chapels make it difficult to practise the faith. Given this context, the priest highlights the faith of his parishioners. “Seeing the way they hunger for the Word of God, how they need it, and the joy with which they celebrate, that is my greatest reward,” Fr. Júnior explains. On Sundays, the inhabitants leave their fields and travel on foot or on horseback to the religious celebration. Children and teenagers take an active part in the Mass, turning the day into “one of encounter and of joy for the entire community,” the priest describes.
“We are very grateful to ACN for its apostolate and commitment to evangelization. We value the sacrifice and generosity, and we pray to the God of Life, and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for you, your families, and your projects,” he says. “Preaching is not the only way to evangelize; we can also do so through collaboration and by holding each other up with our prayers, and even financially: that’s what it means to become missionaries and preachers.”
