Page 25 - Catholic Extension Magazine Summer2020

Extension | Summer 2020 25

SERVING A LARGE MISSION TERRITORY

DURING THE CORONAVIRUS

n these unprec- Priest finds new ways to meet the needs which brings great
edented days of his parishioners comfort to their com-
of confronting munities, but Father
the coronavi- on Arizona reservation Ponchie recognizes
rus, nobody’s life is nor- the financial hardships that this
I mal; but for a missionary presents to the mission. “With-
pastor on one of America’s larg- out services, we have no collec-
est Native American reserva- tion,” he said. He is also worried
tions, managing the new reality about the 90 percent of their
is an enormous feat, especially income that comes from outside
as COVID-19 cases keeping pop- sources, such as Catholic Exten-
ping up. sion grants.
Franciscan Father Ponchie He knows that the faith com-
Vásquez is pastor of San Solano munities of Tohono O’odham,
Missions, serving the Tohono which means “desert people,”
O’odham Nation, west of Tucson, are strong and able to confront
Arizona. challenging situations. He has
Catholic Extension has long seen it many times.
supported the salary of Father But he worries that they will
Ponchie to carry out his mission- face even greater hardships
ary vocation. ahead with this pandemic, given
The mission comprises more their extreme poverty, unem-
than 11,000 Catholics, who ployment levels and rates of sui-
represent about 85 percent of cide. Since their lives are already
the reservation’s population. so challenged, it’s difficult to
The reservation has 70 villages, imagine adding more stress.
and only half have a chapel or “We’ve had to cancel all reli-
church. Father Ponchie typi- gious services. One of the hard-
cally travels great distances daily est parts of this pandemic is not
to reach its isolated Catholics: being able to do funerals and
saying Mass, bringing Commu- memorials for the deceased,” he
nion to the elderly and offering said. “These traditions are a very
pastoral care. sacred part of our local culture.”
But today, with COVID-19, he As Father Ponchie finds new
and his fellow friars are reimag- ways to serve his hurting people,
ining how to serve their parish- he is reminded of his mission-
ioners. They have created and ary calling, which often requires
distributed home worship aids great imagination to fulfill.
and are extending their ministry “Mission work, service and
by phone. ministry flow from the reality of
They are featuring daily Father Ponchie Vásquez, pastor of San Solano how much God loves us,” he said.
Missions since 2009, has modified his ministries
Masses on their Facebook page, during the pandemic to serve the pressing needs “When we are loved, we love.”
of his people.