The East Tennessee Catholic
The One Heart Colombia Mission on Oct. 19 celebrated 20 years of mission work to benefit the people of Marsella in the South American nation.
The celebration was hosted by St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland. St. Thérèse is the home site where the mission began in summer 2005.
More than 250 invitations were sent out for the event, which included the past 20 years of mission team members, volunteers, and donors. The celebration provided a “taste of Colombia” with an assortment of Colombian finger foods such as homemade empanadas, buñuelos, cheese bread, plantain chips, salsa, cookies, and coffee candies.
Esteban Salazar, a native of Marsella, who is director of music and liturgy for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga, provided a free concert.
Diocesan vicar general Father Peter Iorio represented Bishop Mark Beckman at the event. Father Iorio read a letter written by the bishop in support of the mission’s works in Marsella for the past 20 years.
“As you gather to celebrate the 20th anniversary of One Heart Colombia, please know that although I am unable to be with you in person, I am very much with you in spirit and in prayer,” the bishop wrote. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you on this remarkable milestone. Over the course of your 17 mission trips to Colombia, South America, you have exemplified the love and mercy of Christ in powerful and tangible ways. Your collective efforts—bringing together 115 individuals from seven different states—reflect the beautiful diversity and unity of the Body of Christ in action.
“Through your dedication, countless lives have been touched and transformed. From sponsoring children and their families, offering vacation Bible schools, repairing churches, providing food, and assisting nursing homes, your mission has brought hope, dignity, and compassion to the most vulnerable—truly serving ‘the least of these’ in the name of Christ” (cf. Matthew 25:31-45).
Bishop Beckman concluded his letter by stating that the witness of One Heart Colombia “is a testament to the Gospel lived with courage, generosity, and joy. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to building the kingdom of God through love in action. You are living examples of faith expressed through mercy.
“May this anniversary celebration be a time of gratitude, renewal, and inspiration for all that lies ahead. Be assured of my prayers for continued blessings on your mission and each of you personally.”
Father Antonio Giraldo, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Townsend, is executive director and spiritual director of One Heart Colombia. Father Giraldo was associate pastor of St. Thérèse from 2002 to 2009 after arriving in the diocese from his native Colombia.
He introduced ministry board members attending the 20th-anniversary celebration: Annette Govero, president, from St. Thérèse in Cleveland; Ilene Rainwater, president, St. Francis in Townsend; Connie Reed, treasurer, St. Mary in Athens; and Vivian Brocato, secretary, St. Mary in Athens. Mrs. Brocato is a registered nurse and a volunteer for St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic.
Father Giraldo then acknowledged the fact that the municipality of Marsella recognized One Heart Colombia in 2015 with a 10-year award for all of the mission work done in their small community. This past summer, the municipality again recognized the mission with a 20-year award.
A pastor from Marsella told Father Giraldo and the mission team, “I have watched you missionaries. You have recognized the great needs in this community. Your mission provides hope for the people of Marsella, who are in need of God’s mercy and love. You missionaries truly are the hands, feet, face, and heart of Christ in action.”