In our Catholic Tradition, the Lenten season is a time that we are called to pass through a spiritual desert. The practices of self-denial, prayer, and almsgiving are purifying, helping us to put our “interior house” in order. These practices help us improve our relationship with God and our neighbor. 

Jesus spent forty days in the desert praying, fasting, and resisting temptations of the devil before beginning his public life and ministry for the sake of our salvation. 

For many of our immigrant students at Centro, the desert is not only a spiritual place, but a very real, traumatic and painful place as well. Several risked their lives in hopes of finding a better future for themselves and their families; many may have even lost friends or loved ones along the way. 

During this Lenten season, I invite you to reflect: What desert are you crossing? What mission are you preparing for? How is your relationship with your neighbor?

 

Come and meet your neighbor at Centro. You will be amazed by the impact your Lenten practices have on your relationship with God and with our students! 

Alfonso Lara

Centro San Juan Diego is excited to partner with Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello (DCIS) to offer ESL classes to Montbello's Spanish-speaking community! 80 students are currently studying at DCIS and will finish their classes in May. Centro is grateful that DCIS has opened their doors and generously offered the use of their facilities as a service to the Montbello community.

Ivonne, an ESL student, also expressed her gratitude saying, “There is such a great need in our community to learn English as a Second Language in order to expand our outlook and be able to succeed and be more productive in this country… I am so happy with my progress! I hope that DCIS continues to open their doors to us so that I can keep learning." Because Ivonne lives much closer to DCIS than to Centro, it is much easier for her to attend English classes there. 

While ESL and a variety of other classes are still offered at Centro, the interest and demand for educational opportunities in other parts of Denver, Aurora, and northern Colorado continues to grow. By meeting constituents where they are, Centro is able to reach more and more students like Ivonne! 

Centro San Juan Diego and Vuela for Health, a local organization whose mission is to mobilize and engage families by offering education, resources, and support, are working together to offer a Familias Fuertes program. This seven-week program is designed to foster and maintain strong relationships among parents and their kids.

Each week, parents and kids will come together for a series of workshops and activities. Parents will learn more about how to set limits and boundaries, protect their kids from drug and alcohol use, and develop more effective communication. Teens attending the program will work on stress management techniques, resisting peer pressure, and learning how to develop stronger, healthier relationships with both parents and friends.   

There is a vast and growing need for these kinds of programs, especially in the Hispanic community. Centro is proud to collaborate with Vuela for Health, and will continue seeking opportunities to strengthen families and address important mental health issues in the future. 

Hello, All! My name is Noemi Vasquez and I am so excited to be working at Centro San Juan Diego as the new evening receptionist. Currently, I am also studying Anthropology and Education at the University of Colorado-Denver. One day, I hope to be on the Board of Education working for Catholic Schools.  

I was born and raised in Denver but just spent the last year and a half living in Worcester, Massachusetts. Although I loved living on my own and experiencing a new city, the Clayton/Cole area has always been home and God has called me to come back. As a Mexican-American, the story of my parents and the story of many other immigrants inspires me to use my own voice as a way to give back to my community. 

So far, my favorite part about working at Centro has been the ability to interact closely with the immigrant, low income community--all of which are embodied in my own identity. I truly cannot wait to see what great lessons Centro has to offer!