PROVIDENCE — Deacon Jaime Garcia understands how important it is to reach out and welcome a stranger.
In 1986, at the age of 26, he immigrated to Rhode Island alone to seek a better life and escape the civil strife that plagued his native Guatemala.
While he had finished two and a half years of college and planned to become a lawyer, his father told him to leave his homeland and start a new life in America, where there were more opportunities and he wouldn’t have to live in fear.
For many years, Deacon Garcia worked as a machine operator, eventually becoming a supervisor in the factory where he struggled to earn a meager living.
“I understand the plight of the immigrants because I experienced it myself,” he acknowledged. “It was tough for me. I am aware of the sufferings, the trials and the challenges that they have.”
The 47-year-old deacon said hePhoto: Presentation of Mary Congregation
Presentation of Mary Sister Adrienne Gendron, a native of Pawtucket, celebrated 50 years of religious life at a Mass of Thanksgiving on April 20 celebrated at Presentation of Mary Academy, Hudson, NH. Sister Gendron taught at the former St. Louis and St. Anne schools, and at Our Lady of Victories School, all in Woonsocket, and the former St. John the Baptist School, West Warwick. Pictured are Sister Adrienne, seated. Standing left to right, Paul Pichette, Jeanne Gendron, Lucien Gendron, Gerald Gendron, Germaine and Ron Antaya. was encouraged to pursue his late vocation by Bishop Robert J. McManus, former auxiliary bishop of the diocese and now Bishop of Worcester, MA, and Fathers John Randall, Marcel Taillon and David Gaffney, along with many other diocesan priests, who served as excellent role models and always offered prayerful support.
He emphasized that while he is the first Hispanic priest to be ordained for the Diocese of Providence, his calling is to serve all Catholics and bring them closer to God.
The deacon said one of the many challenges he will face as a new priest will be the evangelization of youth who have grown up in a secular society and have little knowledge of their Catholic faith.
“We need to teach them how to pray and create an active place for youth to go.”
Deacon Garcia disclosed that one of the serious challenges facing priests who minister to Hispanic Catholics is blending people from different countries and cultures who have different traditions and practices into a faith community.
The seeds of his priestly vocation were planted many years ago while he served at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Providence as lector, religious education teacher, eucharistic minister and choir assistant.
“I denied it for many years out of fear, but I then I decided to answer the call,” he revealed. He added that the parish communities of St. Thomas More Church, Narragansett, and St. Charles Borromeo, where he enjoyed summer assignments while studying for the priesthood, were very supportive.
“They offered me love and support in a big way,” he recalled. “They helped me a lot.
Deacon Garcia noted that it was a rewarding experience to join other late vocations at Blessed John XXIII Seminary, Weston, MA, who had enjoyed successful careers in law enforcement, education, commerce and medicine before answering God’s new call.
The deacon said that his mother, Ofelia, knew that her son would someday be a priest.
“I liked to help people,” he said, smiling.
