Victoria, Kan. — Francisco Leon understands the virtue of patience.
Born in a communist country, the 35-year-old waited nearly two decades to
accept God’s calling. Now his dream is finally playing out.
Leon is one of 26 postulants in the prenovitiate program at St. Fidelis Friary in
Victoria. He is hoping to join the Capuchin community, with his heart set on serving
the church within the brotherhood or as an ordained priest.
The postulants arrived at the end of May and will leave the end of this month to
receive the traditional brown Capuchin habit and continue their studies.
Leon’s parents taught him about God in their family home in Pinar del Rio,
Cuba, but he never stepped into a Catholic Church until he was 17. Catholic
churches existed in Cuba, but the government suppressed the clergy so much that
priests were not available.
When a priest came to Leon’s diocese in the late 1980s, his parents decided to
receive the sacrament of marriage.
The priest came to their home just before Holy Week to witness their vows. He
saw Leon and asked him to come to Mass on Holy Thursday.
“I was 17 years old at the time and was looking for the meaning of life,” Leon
said. “I went to Mass that day. I was baptized, and the priest gave me a Bible. I went
home and began reading the Gospels. That is where I found the answer for my life.”
Leon began working for the diocese, walking and riding his bicycle to spread
the Gospel message.
In the 1990s, the Cuban government began to relax its rules somewhat, and
that’s when the priest, with Leon’s help, obtained many signatures on a petition
asking Pope John Paul II to send a crucifix to the Catholic Church in Cuba.
The pope sent a crucifix, and it traveled throughout the diocese.
Leon said it was an exciting time.
Born in a communist country, the 35-year-old waited nearly two decades to
accept God’s calling. Now his dream is finally playing out.
Leon is one of 26 postulants in the prenovitiate program at St. Fidelis Friary in
Victoria. He is hoping to join the Capuchin community, with his heart set on serving
the church within the brotherhood or as an ordained priest.
The postulants arrived at the end of May and will leave the end of this month to
receive the traditional brown Capuchin habit and continue their studies.
Leon’s parents taught him about God in their family home in Pinar del Rio,
Cuba, but he never stepped into a Catholic Church until he was 17. Catholic
churches existed in Cuba, but the government suppressed the clergy so much that
priests were not available.
When a priest came to Leon’s diocese in the late 1980s, his parents decided to
receive the sacrament of marriage.
The priest came to their home just before Holy Week to witness their vows. He
saw Leon and asked him to come to Mass on Holy Thursday.
“I was 17 years old at the time and was looking for the meaning of life,” Leon
said. “I went to Mass that day. I was baptized, and the priest gave me a Bible. I went
home and began reading the Gospels. That is where I found the answer for my life.”
Leon began working for the diocese, walking and riding his bicycle to spread
the Gospel message.
In the 1990s, the Cuban government began to relax its rules somewhat, and
that’s when the priest, with Leon’s help, obtained many signatures on a petition
asking Pope John Paul II to send a crucifix to the Catholic Church in Cuba.
The pope sent a crucifix, and it traveled throughout the diocese.
Leon said it was an exciting time.
| Long Journey to religious life Cuban Refugee finds freedom and the Capuchins By Donetta Robben - The Register (Catholic Diocese of Salina) |
“We went to the people and said, ‘Come. Look what the Pope has sent us.’ It
brought many to come back to the church,” he said.
Even though these were exciting times, Leon said he was looking for
more. Thus, when the opportunity came to obtain a visa — a rare occurrence
in Cuba — Leon applied and received one. He fled to Haiti and then to the
Dominican Republic, both on the nearby island of Hispaniola.
For the next four months, he worked as a cook waiting to come to the
United States.
That day came Aug. 27, 2001.
“As soon as I got off the plane at the Kennedy airport in New York, I went
straight to the bathroom and hid in a stall,” Leon said. “The immigration
worker came into the bathroom looking for immigrants. I prayed to St.
Therese of the Child Jesus, asking her to close his eyes and not see me. I
was so scared. I was sure they would send me back to Cuba.”
brought many to come back to the church,” he said.
Even though these were exciting times, Leon said he was looking for
more. Thus, when the opportunity came to obtain a visa — a rare occurrence
in Cuba — Leon applied and received one. He fled to Haiti and then to the
Dominican Republic, both on the nearby island of Hispaniola.
For the next four months, he worked as a cook waiting to come to the
United States.
That day came Aug. 27, 2001.
“As soon as I got off the plane at the Kennedy airport in New York, I went
straight to the bathroom and hid in a stall,” Leon said. “The immigration
worker came into the bathroom looking for immigrants. I prayed to St.
Therese of the Child Jesus, asking her to close his eyes and not see me. I
was so scared. I was sure they would send me back to Cuba.”
But when Leon finally emerged from his hiding place, the immigration
officer said that because he was from Cuba, a Communist country, he could
stay. He was told to take a seat with other immigrants at the airport.
“That’s when they brought us some food. I looked at it and was told it was
a hamburger. I ate my first hamburger at Kennedy airport.”
Finally, around midnight, Leon was told he was free to go. He went
outside and looked around. Freedom, he recalled, was sweet.
Leon’s sister was living an hour away and came to pick him up. He settled
in New Jersey, where he worked for a school uniform company and at Wal-
Mart, all the while hoping to someday be accepted into the Capuchin order.
“I looked it up on the Internet, and I knew this is where I wanted to be,”
Leon said. “But I had to wait. I didn’t know English very well, not well enough
to take the psychology test required by the Capuchins. I also had pain in my
heart from my life in Cuba. I had to learn to be happy again so I could be a
good friar.”
In the meantime, Leon sought spiritual direction, worked on his English and
applied to become a U.S. citizen.
He became a citizen and asked to join to the Capuchin order in October.
Leon said he feels blessed and is anxious to serve the people of God.
“It’s good to have freedom, but life over here is too materialistic, not
spiritual enough,” he said.
Leon said he has a deep devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and his
mother.
“The diary of St. Faustina opened my heart,” he said. “But the big love for
my life is the Blessed Mother. She is my anchor, and my boat rests in her
immaculate heart. No matter what my vocation is, she is with me. I know.”
officer said that because he was from Cuba, a Communist country, he could
stay. He was told to take a seat with other immigrants at the airport.
“That’s when they brought us some food. I looked at it and was told it was
a hamburger. I ate my first hamburger at Kennedy airport.”
Finally, around midnight, Leon was told he was free to go. He went
outside and looked around. Freedom, he recalled, was sweet.
Leon’s sister was living an hour away and came to pick him up. He settled
in New Jersey, where he worked for a school uniform company and at Wal-
Mart, all the while hoping to someday be accepted into the Capuchin order.
“I looked it up on the Internet, and I knew this is where I wanted to be,”
Leon said. “But I had to wait. I didn’t know English very well, not well enough
to take the psychology test required by the Capuchins. I also had pain in my
heart from my life in Cuba. I had to learn to be happy again so I could be a
good friar.”
In the meantime, Leon sought spiritual direction, worked on his English and
applied to become a U.S. citizen.
He became a citizen and asked to join to the Capuchin order in October.
Leon said he feels blessed and is anxious to serve the people of God.
“It’s good to have freedom, but life over here is too materialistic, not
spiritual enough,” he said.
Leon said he has a deep devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and his
mother.
“The diary of St. Faustina opened my heart,” he said. “But the big love for
my life is the Blessed Mother. She is my anchor, and my boat rests in her
immaculate heart. No matter what my vocation is, she is with me. I know.”
Leo sits with Rita Bieker of Hays after
their visit July 10. Leon ministers to the
homebound of Immaculate Heart of
Mary Parish three afternoons a week.
their visit July 10. Leon ministers to the
homebound of Immaculate Heart of
Mary Parish three afternoons a week.
Francisco Leon helps Bill Bolling of Hays
walk in his home. Leon is one of 26
postulants staying at St. Fidelis Rectory in
Victoria for two months to learn more about
the Franciscan Life while working in various
ministries in the area. There afternoons a
week, Leon visits the homebound of
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish of Hays.
walk in his home. Leon is one of 26
postulants staying at St. Fidelis Rectory in
Victoria for two months to learn more about
the Franciscan Life while working in various
ministries in the area. There afternoons a
week, Leon visits the homebound of
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish of Hays.
Donetta Robben - The Register
Donetta Robben - The Register
Francisco Leon prays to Mary while
visiting the grotto at Thomas More
Prep-Marian High School in Hays.
visiting the grotto at Thomas More
Prep-Marian High School in Hays.
Donetta Robben - The Register