Today's Marists V.6 Issue 1 FALL 2020

Compassion and Mercy
for a Pastoral Conversion!
by Ricardo Navarrete Gutiérrez, SM (Newly Ordained on September 26, 2020)
On September 7, 2020 I was preparing to
celebrate the Liturgy of the Word in one of
our Marist parishes in Mexico City. I read
a reflection on the Gospel for that day
where Jesus, healing a man’s paralyzed
hand on the Sabbath, is criticized and
opposed by the scribes and pharisees.
How is it possible, Jesus wondered, that
the Sabbath, a day made for the benefit
and consecration of people, had turned
into a rigid ritual and a burdensome
observance? The whole Jewish religious
system, apparently, had forgotten
compassion and mercy!
The global pandemic, similarly, has
been forcing us to avoid human contact
and closeness to others. Certainly, to
stay away from our neighbor is the
safest solution, but in a country like
Mexico where not everybody has the
basic resources to survive, even when
there is no pandemic, and many people
need to go into the street to seek some
money, contact is inevitable. So, for us,
compassion and mercy have been part of
our pastoral discernment as we strive to
attend to the needs of those who are poor.
Times of crisis, like the one we are facing
these days, are not moments of paralysis
for us, especially when there are people
out there dying of hunger and disease.
At the beginning of this year the pastor
of Immaculate Conception Church
proposed the renovation of an old
building in order to create the “Dining
Hall of Mercy” for feeding those who are
poor. The renovation was completed just
before the pandemic hit. News about the
“Dining Hall of Mercy” spread quickly,
and many people in need started coming
forward to receive food. Then, the virus
struck. This wonderful parish ministry
was at risk of being shut down. Was it safe
for hungry people to come and expose
themselves to COVID-19? No. From
the outset, it was not safe, but to have
abandoned them to their uncertain fate
could have cost more lives. The dining
room has continued to operate during the
pandemic but with strict precautions in
place. We are still serving about 130 meals
to those who have lost their jobs or are
experiencing difficulties.
Aside from this enriching and challenging
experience, all the Marists in Mexico, as
in other places of the Marist world, have
been trying to implement creative ways
to reach those to whom we minister.
Unfortunately, in our Marist schools we
have seen a 20% drop-out rate of new,
incoming students. This decrease in
enrollment reflects the struggle families
Top: Man collecting a one-month supply of food donations
for his family
Bottom: Dining Hall of Mercy - due to the pandemic
food cannot be served inside the facilities
8 Today’s Marists Magazine