Brother Diego Joseph, CFR serves in Honduras. He shared a bit about his missionary work with Missions Today.

Can you tell us about yourself and the community that you serve?

I’m Brother Diego Joseph, CFR.  I am a religious brother with the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal living in Comayagua, Honduras.  I am the director of an apostolic center and retreat house called Casa Guadalupe.  At this facility, we hold retreats, evangelization missions, action service to the poor, discipleship formation and training, among others.

What are some ways that you share the Gospel?

We hold several retreats and missions throughout the year where we preach the Gospel.  I give talks which are predominantly kerygmatic in nature.  I lead small group faith studies and prayer meetings, where we proclaim the gospel message.  We hold Eucharistic Adoration events to facilitate encounters with the Most Blessed Sacrament.  We have one-on-one conversations where we propose a life centered on the person of Jesus Christ. Last but not least, we try to set an example and be good witnesses by living out Gospel values and evangelical counsels.

Can you share one meaningful experience of something that you lived during your mission?

A young woman who had been away from the faith attended one of our retreats.  Bad experiences with some people in the Church combined with some deeply painful family experiences led her to run away from God.  She was invited and reluctantly came to the retreat.  On the retreat, we presented the Gospel message simply and clearly.  In other words, we presented the person of Jesus Christ in an explicit and tangible way.  She encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, went to confession and received Communion all in one weekend.  She is now a full-time lay missionary working with us.    

Are there any challenges that you encounter in the work that you do? Cultural, social, etc.?

The extreme poverty and other socio-political problems sometimes make for a harsh environment for the seeds of the Gospel.  For example, because of desperate need of money or work, people often find themselves in moral dilemmas and precarious living conditions, sometimes stunting the growth and development of faith in people.  The Church must strive and persevere in developing infrastructure in order to facilitate the proclamation of the Gospel and the spiritual nourishment of the people by mitigating and alleviating the harsh socio-political conditions in the country.

What part of missionary work do you enjoy most or find the most rewarding?

I love seeing young people, especially those who are most underprivileged, encounter Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  I love it even more when I see them desire and act on making Jesus known by becoming missionaries themselves.  It is most rewarding for me when I see them overcome obstacles to become leaders and protagonists in the society in their own right.