For Miguel Briseño, entering the Conventual Franciscan Friars was as natural a slipping on a pair of favorite shoes. The fit was just right. He grew up in Artesia, N.M. in a family bigger than many religious community households. He and his five brothers, one sister and parents lived two blocks away from the parish that played a dominant role in their lives. The Conventual Franciscans staffed the parish, so even before he became an altar server, Miguel got to know the friars.

He graduated from high school in Artesia and vocational school at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell campus and returned to Artesia to work as a tractor mechanic. Upon graduating from the vocational school, Miguel got involved in directing a youth choir for the parish. One friar in particular, Fr. Antonio Moreno, impressed him and got him thinking about his own calling in life. “He was very excited about what he was doing. The way he preached, the way he interacted with people affected me.” Miguel realized that he was drawn to church activities.

“I decided religious life was maybe something to look at,” he says. “So I talked to a vocation director, Bro. Timothy Unser, and went on a vocation retreat.” Brother Timothy encouraged Miguel to try Franciscan life. “I knew I needed to look at this life more in depth and the only way I was going to be able to do that was to join.”

Although he had fleeting doubts and questions, Miguel says his becoming a member of the Conventual Franciscans was a natural progression from joining to “see what would happen” until he made his final vows on August 2, 1987.

Also joining the staff at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is Rev. John Curran, OFM, Conv. Vicar.

Thank you for all the wonderful memories!

The Parish is planning a “DESPEDIDA” on Friday, August 6, at 7:00 pm in the corner patio behind the Mission. Join us at this gathering to bid farewell to our beloved Fr. Charles.

Despedida al Padre Charles

Muchos de ustedes saben, el Padre Charles se lo llevan a la Iglesia de la Asunción en Richfield Minnesota. Fr. Charles ha estado con nosotros pocito mas de siete años, lo vamos extrañar mucho, pero nos deja su espíritu, su cariño, y muchos recuerdos. Le pedimos a nuestro Señor que lo bendiga y que lo lleve a su nueva Parroquia con salud y paz.

La Parroquia los invita a la Despedida del Padre, se lleva a cabo el viernes, 6 de agosto a las 7:00 pm en el patio atrás de la Misión.

For all we know
We may never meet again
Before you go
Make this moment sweet again

We won’t say goodbye
Until the last minute
I’ll hold out my hand
And my heart will be in it

For all we know
This may only be a dream
We come and we go
Like the ripples of a stream

So love me, love me tonight
tomorrow was made for some
tomorrow may never come
for all we know

Those words are from a Jazz song written in 1934 and sung and recorded by countless artists since. The song, for me reflects the sense of hope as people separate.

The words of this song that struck a few weeks ago as I heard it on the Marian McPartland NPR Piano Jazz program were: “We come and we go / Like the ripples of a stream.”

How many men have served as pastors here and have been called to animate this community? How many people have heard our voices and have been moved by the vision of the Gospel to move forward in the living of life? We are all in the same stream, on the same pilgrimage. We affect the lives of so many and then we move on and so does the stream.

I pray that my time here has had more a positive affect than a negative one. I thank you for your love and trust in choosing to walk with me and inviting me into your lives. Forgive me, and pray forgiveness for me for that by which I have offended you. Bless me and bless yourselves for that which gives us life.

Two departing words in English, “Farewell” and “So long” are apropos here.
–Farewell: Offers the one who is leaving a wish to live well as he/she goes. The response then is ‚Äúgood bye,‚Äù itself a contraction of God be with ye, expressing the wish that God continue to be the guide, shelter, sustainer and healer.
–So Long: Expresses longing and the call ‚Äúto long for a hoped return‚Äù as the heart recalls what has been held in common. So many things we have longed for together, as well as the many things that have been expressed in hope in the lives of our parishioners: longings of our hearts for peace, return, balance, reconciling with estranged loved ones‚Ķ.and so much more.

How many people, afraid of their tears at loss have I attempted to console with the words, “Your tears honor the one you mourn.” My moving to Minnesota is no different. My tears honor you. Those among you who cry for my departure honor me. We both, though, are called to challenge ourselves to know for what it is we mourn most, and dedicate ourselves to make that aspect of our life present and active. Each of us has the same call and commitment to grow the community of faith. My prayer for you is that what we have moved a little further along, will be the underpinnings for continued growth here at Ysleta.

“May the road rise up to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

fr. Charles

A Lo Mejor Adiós

A lo mejor
Tal vez no nos encontremos de nuevo.
Antes de que te vayas
Haz este momento dulce otra vez

No nos diremos adiós
Hasta el √∫ltimo momento.
Extenderé me mano
Y allí en mi mano estará mi corazón

A lo mejor
Esto tal vez sea sólo un sueño.
Llegamos y nos vamos
Como las ondas pequeñas de un arroyo

De modo que √°mame, √°mame esta noche.
Mañana fue hecha para algunos.
Mañana tal vez nunca llegue
A lo mejor

Estas palabras son de una canción de Jazz escrita en 1934, que desde entonces ha sido cantada y grabada por innumerables artistas. La canción, para mí refleja el sentido de esperanza cuando se separan las personas.

Las palabras de esta canción que se me quedaron cuando la escuche hace unas cuantas semanas en el programa de NPR Piano Jazz de Marian McPartland fueron: “Llegamos y nos vamos/Como las ondas pequeñas de un arroyo.”

¿Cuántos hombres han servido como párroco aquí y han sido llamados a animar esta comunidad? ¿Cuántas personas han escuchado nuestras voces y han sido conmovidos por la visión del Evangelio para seguir adelante en vivir la vida? Todos vamos en el mismo arroyo, en la misma peregrinación. Afectamos las vidas de tantos y luego seguimos adelante así como el arroyo.

Ruego que mi tiempo aquí haya tenido un efecto más bien positivo que negativo. Les doy las gracias por su amor y su confianza al escoger caminar conmigo e invitarme a estar en sus vidas. Perdónenme, y recen por el perdón para mí por lo que les haya ofendido. Denme sus bendiciones y bendíganse ustedes por eso que nos da vida.
Dos palabras de despedida en Inglés, “Adiós” y “Hasta luego” son apropiadas aquí.

Adiós: Ofrece al que se esta despidiendo un deseo de vivir bien al partir. La respuesta entonces es “good bye,” precisamente una contracción de God be with ye, expresando el deseo que Dios siga siendo su guía, refugio, sostén y sanador.

Hasta luego: Expresa anhelo y el llamado a “anhelar por un esperado regreso” mientras el corazón recuerda lo que se ha compartido en común. Tantas cosas que juntos hemos anhelado, así como las muchas cosas que se han expresado en esperanza en las vidas de nuestros feligreses: anhelos en nuestros corazones por paz, regreso, equilibrio, reconciliación con seres queridos separados…y tanto más.

Tanta gente que, con miedo a llorar por sus pérdidas he tratado de consolar con las palabras, “Tus lágrimas honran al que lloras.” Mi traslado a Minnesota es igual. Mis lágrimas los honran a ustedes. Ustedes que lloran por mi despedida me honran. Ambos, sin embargo, somos llamados a retarnos para saber que es lo que más lloramos, y dedicarnos a hacer ese aspecto de nuestra vida presente y activa. Cada uno de nosotros tenemos el mismo llamado y compromiso para desarrollar la comunidad de fe. Mi oración por ustedes es que lo que hemos avanzado un poco sean los apuntalamientos para el crecimiento continuo aquí en Ysleta.

“Que el camino venga a encontrarte,
Que el viento siempre esté a tus espaldas.
Que el sol brille c√°lido sobre tu rostro
Y la lluvia caiga suavemente en tus campos.
Y hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo,
Que Dios te guarde en el hueco de Su mano.”

padre Charles