St. Turibio Romo pt2

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
        I want to follow-up from last week’s bulletin article regarding St. Toribio Romo whose relic we have received for veneration here in our parish. As I mentioned in last Sunday’s bulletin, I have received the first-class relic of St. Toribio from Bishop Jose Leopoldo Gonzalez of the diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco Mexico. The letter of authenticity with the photo of St. Toribio will hang in the Narthex of our Church.
St. Toribio Romo was born on April 16, 1900 to parents of Spanish descent, in the small village of Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalisco Mexico (about a 2 hour drive from Guadalajara) near San Juan de los Lagos. Toribio was the fifth of seven children by his parents Patricio and Juana who survived by farming their small piece of land. St. Toribio grew up in a humble family with a very devout faith. Toribio became fascinated by the priesthood and the Church at an early age. By divine providence, he was ordained a Catholic priest on December 22, 1922 with a special dispensation from Rome for being below the age required by Canon Law. Shortly after his ordination, President Calle began to make aggressive moves against the Catholic Church.
        Father Toribio Romo’s brother Roman was also ordained a Catholic Priest, and they both refused to leave Mexico during the time of severe persecution of the Catholic Church. Their sister Quica joined them outside of the town of Tequila to take care of her brothers as they continued to secretly celebrate the Holy Mass and Sacraments for the Catholic families in the area. Sensing imminent danger, Fr. Toribio sent Fr. Roman on an errand to Guadalajara as Fr. Toribio finished up all the paper work from recent baptisms and First Communions. The Federal Officers stormed the small shack in which he was resting around 4:00 AM on February 25, 1928 and killed him with multiple rounds of bullets. He died in his sister Quica’s arms. 
        Fr. Rafael Becerra will be returning to our parish on Saturday evening, October 18 to give a presentation on the life of St. Toribio in both English and in Spanish. We will have the relic of St. Toribio on display for public veneration. We will also be celebrating a special Mass for the safety of all immigrants on Monday evening, October 20 with the relics of St. Toribio present. During the month of October, we recognize and pray for all immigrants who have sought a better life here in our wonderful nation. Through the intercession of St. Toribio, may all of our immigrant brothers and sisters find protection and peace.

Fr. Christopher Shackelford, pastor