Extension Magazine - Fall 2021

20 INSPIRE
Lumen Christi Finalist
Immediately following his
election to the papacy, Pope
Francis spoke of the saint
whose name he had chosen.
St. Francis of Assisi, he said,
“gives us this spirit of peace,
the poor man who wanted a poor
church.” He added, “How I would
love a church that is poor and for
the poor.”
As he spoke these words in
2013, some 5,000 miles away the
embodiment of his vision could
already be found.
For many years, Catholic Extension
has supported the ministry of
remarkable sisters who bring the
peace of God to the poor and forgotten
of East Tennessee. They are
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus Ad Gentes. The
ministry of Sisters María Imelda
Quechol and Eloísa Torralba
Aquino, M.A.G., spans eight different
counties, impacting the lives of
over 10,000 people.
Serving a largely immigrant
population, the sisters form new
faith communities, visit camps of
migrants who pick crops, develop
leaders among the people, support
marriages, provide counseling,
feed the hungry and even help
people find work.
With the help of the Diocese
of Knoxville, they established two
Casas de Oración, which translates
to “houses of prayer,” in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. These humble
sanctuaries are strategically located
in areas that will help them reach
more people.
The Santa Cruz house of prayer
serves around 500 people It was
formerly a recreational gym before
it was transformed into a hub of
church life and activity. The second
Sister María Imelda Quechol, M.A.G., brought food and medicine to
this grateful family while the father was battling COVID-19. He has since
recovered and is even stronger in his devotion to God.
SISTERS MARÍA IMELDA QUECHOL AND
ELOÍSA TORRALBA AQUINO, M.A.G. |
DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Channels of peace
among the poor
house, Immaculate Conception,
was originally a mechanic garage.
It regularly hosts 350 people for
various activities and services.
These include prayer
and rosary groups, Mass,
food distribution, marriage
classes and medical
assistance.
This range of spiritual
and human support
offered in these houses
of prayer is needed in a
community that faces so
many challenges.
RISING OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Immigrant communities in East
Tennessee face adversities every
day. With immigrants from Guatemala,
Mexico and Honduras, there
2021 u 2022
Lumen
Christi
AWARD
FINALIST
are language barriers, family separations,
long work hours, discrimination
and most recently a global
pandemic. But unlike in other
parts of the U.S., the Catholic
Church is one of the few
institutions present where
they can find support.
The sisters’ compassion
shined during the darkest
days of the pandemic. Sister
Imelda even helped save
the life of one man battling
COVID-19. After receiving
word that a single parent
of a 5-year-old girl had
become very ill from the virus, Sister
Imelda acted immediately. She
secured donations, then ran to the
store to buy food, water and basic
medications.