once a month at best, and regularlyhands out food and directions todesperate migrants who find themselves on the land of the TohonoO’odham.
He does what he can; he lets hispeople teach him about God; andhe relishes the human connectionsof life in his religious community.
Those are a few ways Vásquez haskept his chin up over 11 years serving the San Solano Mission Parish,headquartered in the tiny town ofTopowa, Arizona.
The friars’ focus
He names the three activities that
determine his days: sacraments,
The focus on advocacy and edu-
cation means that he and his com-
munity host many visitors who want
to learn about immigration, their
ministry, and the lives of the Tohono
O’odham. Catholic high-school stu-
dents, seminarians, and other church
Friar: What’s
in a name?
The word friar refers to a man who belongs toa Franciscan religious community. Many Franciscansprefer friar instead of father orbrother in their formal names.By having one title for all members, they hope to promoteunity and break down divisionbetween Franciscan priestsand brothers.
FRIARS DAVID Paz, O.F.M.(left), Vásquez (center),and Peter Boegel, O.F.M.(right) take an eveningwalk with the sacredmountain Baboquivari inthe distance.
