Extension Magazine - Fall 2021

Extension | Fall 2021 21
While he was incapacitated
and immobilized, his poor daughter
was starving and had not eaten
for days.
When Sister Imelda arrived, the
daughter could not get the door
open. Her father, summoning all
his strength, flung himself from the
bed and crawled to open the door.
Sister still weeps when she thinks
about what could have happened
had she not been able to help.
Sister Imelda recalled, “The girl
said ‘Papi, Papi, we have food!’”
Thanks to the grace of God and
Sister Imelda’s efforts, the man has
made a full recovery and returned
to his landscaping job. Throughout
this hardship, his faith has grown
stronger than ever.
ABOVE Sisters María Imelda Quechol and
Eloísa Torralba Aquino, M.A.G., serve over
800 Hispanic immigrants between Casa
de Oración Santa Cruz (pictured here) and
Immaculate Conception in Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
LEFT Sister Eloísa joyfully sings a song of
praise along with a band at Casa de Oración
Immaculate Conception.
“My daughter said she saw an
angel at the edge of the bed when I
was sick,” he said. “This angel was
taking care of us.”
FILLING HEARTS WITH JOY
The man’s reinforced relationship
with God serves as a
testament to what the sisters are
trying to accomplish through their
ministry: help immigrants tackle
hardships and bring them closer
to God, who will be their ultimate
strength to overcome any challenge.
“When they arrive here, there
is a need to get closer to the faith,”
Sister Imelda said. “We tell them,
‘We are here for you.’” The sisters
are constantly on the lookout for
those falling through the cracks in
the eight counties they cover.
“If they can’t come to our
churches to be before Christ in the
Blessed Sacrament, then we will
bring Jesus to them!” exclaimed
Sister Eloísa.
Diocese of Knoxville Bishop
Richard F. Stika refers to the sisters’
works of mercy, especially
throughout the pandemic, as a
“herculean effort.” The Hispanic
community is thankful for the sisters’
profound dedication.
“The energy that Mother Eloísa
puts into all of her work is contagious
and encourages others to
continue working hard on everything
we set out to do,” said one
community member.
“Mother Imelda has taught us
not to give up in the face of adversity,”
said another inspired person.
“She sees our capabilities that we
ourselves cannot see and invites us
to grow more in our community.”
On a Wednesday night in June,
the faithful pack into Chattanooga’s
most recently established
house of prayer as they do each
week. From the outside, one could
mistake it as a warehouse or workshop
if it were not for the pulsating
music and the rhythmic clapping
pouring out of the doorway. This is
what a “poor church for the poor”
looks like. What it lacks in exterior
flash it makes up for in the faith
burning powerfully in the hearts
of its people.
The sisters take to the stage to
lead the community in song, with
the catchy Spanish lyrics: “I have
a telephone to call up God. That
telephone doesn’t require a number
to dial, just my prayer.” The
message is clear: God is in this
place and with each of you.