Page 24 - Catholic Extension Magazine Summer2020

24 INSPIRE

Cover Story

“They are already on such fixed
incomes and even if they could
get to the grocery stores, the
shelves are bare. We are calling
them via phone, finding out what
they need and providing and
delivering groceries.”
And the diocese is taking other
steps to support the needs of faith
communities. Dr. Rayas and the
young people she serves are pro-
In El Paso, during this pandemic, Dr. Verónica Rayas has expanded her ministries to include serving ducing protective masks for those
isolated residents and the elderly to make sure they have access to food. in need.
The Catholic community in
GUIDED BY s the leader for all El Paso is strong. In 2018, Cen-
tro San Juan Diego, a youth cen-
religious educa-
THE LAW tion in the Diocese ter Rayas leads, quickly converted
of El Paso, Verónica
its facility to ensure an influx of
OF LOVE A ally found working asylum seekers had a safe shelter.
Rayas, Ph.D., is usu-
Last year, El Paso’s perseverance
with children and young adults in following a mass shooting that
El Paso her community. The diocese has killed 23 people was a witness for
among the youngest median age
the entire world.
faith community in the nation. But at the start of Bishop Mark Seitz, a stead-
mobilizes to serve the pandemic, Dr. Rayas discov- fast presence in the community,

vulnerable and ered it is the elderly who need her believes in their ability to endure
home-bound the most now, especially as they this pandemic. In explaining the
Catholic response to COVID-19,
experience food insecurity.
residents A Catholic Extension-funded he wrote in a pastoral letter, “The
leader, Dr. Rayas was part of an Church responds resolutely and
effort to assist this vulnerable and in a way that sets an example for
poor population by reaching out, others. The law of love guides
providing for basic necessities everything we do. Every other
and working to ensure they can good gift and every other law
safely shelter-in-place. finds its fulfillment in our love
“It’s a terrible struggle for for God and for all His daughters
them right now,” she explained. and sons.”