I first learned of Padre Juan in mid-November on the drive from Taos  in my '69 RV, "Rosita."  Reading his interview in El Calendario gave  me a sense of Juan Gomez Esqueda as an intelligent, broad-minded visionary. Other back issues also gave me an impression of the English-speaking community here as a conscious group of expats. I was getting an encroaching feeling of rightness about this journey.

Padre Juan was surprisingly accessible, casual, sparkly. We began meeting first once then twice a week, discussing everything from international politics and Bush's role ("una verguenza") to pedophiles in the clergy ("They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.") to how he might reach out to the growing North American community here. 

Though he speaks little English, Padre Juan feels a deep desire to be welcoming to us. He's generously offered the meeting rooms behind the church for 12-step meetings and has consistently granted requests to others who have approached him.

When I asked him about his work, he told me about driving to La Paz twice a week to teach a Communications course at the University, where he "doesn't mention God even once." He also told me about driving out into the "campo" each week to minister to people there.

His eyes became very sad as he described encampments of migrant workers  living with their families in unbelievable conditions, without sufficient food or clothing to keep warm during the cold nights. There are four encampments Todos Santos, Pescadero, La Matanza and Meliton Albanez with a total of about 4,000 people, including children and "ancianos."

I felt pretty sure that if our affluent community knew of their plight, they would want to help, so I put up some flyers around town. On December 23rd Jane Jarrett, a tourist from Montana, called me. She was leaving the next day and wanted to make a cash donation. We met at Los Adobes, talked for a while, and then she went to the ATM and returned with $5,000 pesos!

Padre Juan's face lit up with amazement; he was deeply moved.  Nearly 200 families would receive help from one woman's generosity! Other people have brought warm clothing blankets, sweaters, socks, shawls, jackets and nonperishable food to the back of the church and given it to the nuns or priests. Truly, this is a great community.

And yes, more help is needed. I'm willing to translate or to help facilitate any donation of clothes, food or money:  14  50713 or 044 612 108 1040. 

As in many small Mexican towns, the church here is more than where people go to pray. It's the center of the local community, and much community service emanates from it. It's also a venue to connect with the local people. Padre Juan publishes a newspaper called Enlace, meaning "Connection." It's a theme that runs throughout his life. And he walks his talk.

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This article originally appeared in the February 2004 issue of "El Calendario" in Todos Santos, BCS, MX. An updated version appeared in Spanish in the Taos News, October 2005.