FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear Beloved St. Mary’s Parishioners,
I am deeply grateful to Fr. Soliven for granting me the privilege to share with you through his "From the Pastor's Desk" column. For those who may not yet know me, I am Br. Bryan Esquivias. My journey began in Jalisco, Mexico on November 21, 2000. A few years later, at the age of 5, my family relocated to Vacaville, California, which became my home until early 2019. It was within these cherished walls of St. Mary’s that I received my first communion, undertook catechism classes, and ultimately received the sacrament of confirmation.
Through my early years, I followed Catholic practices, yet primarily due to their place in our tradition rather than from a place of personal piety. Attending Mass on Sundays and periodic confessions were routine, largely due to my mother's insistence. However, at the age of 12, I faced a diagnosis that told me it was going to be almost impossible for me to be able to walk as an adult. It was during a "healing mass" in the Bay Area that the Lord miraculously healed my back through the personal blessing of a priest with the blessed sacrament. And thanks be to God, now as an adult, I have not suffered from any back problems since then.
Several years passed, and I was invited by then- Pastor Fr. Eric Flores to attend the Steubenville youth conference in San Diego with our parish youth group. While my initial motive was to be able to travel and visit San Diego, divine intervention redirected my path. Amidst 50,000 youth, I discovered that our Faith was so much more than what I could see or understand at our Sunday Mass. And it was at this impactful youth conference that I received a clear sign that the Lord had set me apart for his service. And it was thanks to the combination of all of these events mentioned above, along with many of you who would often ask me if I felt the call to the priesthood, that I eventually came to realize that God was calling to religious life.
Presently, I am a religious brother with Pro Ecclesia Sancta, the same religious community as the sisters that are at St. Mary’s. Following a blessing from Fr. Berg at a Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s, I embarked on my religious journey in January of 2019. After a year in St. Paul, Minnesota, I continued my formation in the novitiate in Lima, Peru. In June 2021, I was sent to Mitchell, South Dakota, where I currently reside.
Having completed my initial formation, and have taken first vows (as seen in the front cover picture), I am now pursuing Philosophy studies at Franciscan University as part of my seminary training in preparation for the priesthood. Concurrently, I am actively involved with the youth in our local parish here in Mitchell, as well as taking part in the campus ministry team of a Catholic School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
goes out to all of you. Your support, often unbeknownst to you, played a pivotal role in my journey. To those who asked me the question "Have you considered becoming a priest or religious?" – your words were the seeds that bore fruit. I implore you to continue to pray for vocations and don't be afraid to challenge any young man or woman to ponder the possibility of becoming a priest or religious. And if you yourself are a young man or woman doubting if God has called you, don't be afraid and be generous with the Lord. He won't allow himself to be outdone in generosity.
My gratitude extends to the numerous memories formed at St. Mary’s, for all of you who helped form those memories, and to the holy pastors who have guided me throughout my teenage years. Please know that you are all in my prayers, and I hope to one day return to St. Mary’s to personally express my gratitude to each of you.
With heartfelt appreciation and blessings,
Br. Bryan Esquivias P.E.S.
