Hundreds of students from the Montejo College, in Itzimná, lived with the Archbishop of Xalapa, Monsignor Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong, and had the opportunity to ask him several questions.
The prelate blessed the minors and the teaching and administrative staff of the College where he completed his basic studies.
As we reported, Monsignor Patrón Wong is visiting his native Mérida on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his priestly ordination and the night before last he celebrated a mass in the parish of San Francisco de Asís in Conkal.
Yesterday morning, in the opening prayer, Nancy Durán Solís, director of the College, asked for the intercession of Saint Marcellin Champagnat so that Marist and priestly vocations multiply and that parents reflect God’s love.
In his message, he thanked the prelate for his visit to the facilities. “Thank you very much for being here, you are not only welcome, it is your home and we appreciate and value every time you are with us.”
“Once again it is a luxury, it is a gift, you are a beautiful gift.”
This was followed by a question and answer session between the children and the Archbishop of Xalapa. The first to ask was Rashid Youssef Gamboa, who wanted to know which teachers from the Montejo College helped him decide to become a priest.
“In all the classrooms I learned something. One was Don Bruno Cortés, who was the director. I remember that he told me ‘you have to be a good son, a good citizen and a good Marist’; I remember this a lot because he woke up beautiful things in me ”.
“Another Marist brother who was my teacher in secondary and high school was Don Alejandro Urzaiz, who is still alive and took me with him and we are friends”.
“A third teacher was Don Enrique, a brother who accompanied me in fifth and sixth grade. He would say, ‘Ask yourselves what does God want for you,’” he said.
Later, Giovanni Castaldi Abraham asked him how old he was when he decided to be a priest and why.
“At the age of 19, in my first year of my medical studies, I made the decision to enter the Seminary. God wanted him to be a priest because many priests were needed; There are many doctors, there are many engineers, there are many architects, but there are few priests and Marist Brothers, so there are many people who are trying to find a priest”, replied the prelate.
“When I was studying at the Faculty of Medicine, I had to see people who were going to die, the doctor would go and try to heal him, but when he had to leave because he could not cure him, they always called a priest and a priest prayed, he it gave peace and tranquility to that person and his family; I discovered there that being a priest is wonderful because he gives a lot of joy, a lot of peace and makes Jesus and Mary present”.
daily miracles
Next, Isabella Humprhies Gutiérrez wanted to know if the archbishop had had an inexplicable encounter or witnessed a miracle.
Monsignor Patrón Wong said that he sees miracles every day. “The miracle when I celebrate mass, turning a little piece of bread into Jesus; I also see other miracles, for example, when I see your parents who work for you, when I see that you have good teachers, when I see that you do very good things, I see the good things that you do for the poorest, the things that they do to have a cleaner world; I see all the things they do for the peace of Mexico, I see those miracles every day”.
“You are a miracle from God, that’s why God is always present,” he added.
For his part, Santiago Sánchez Quintal asked him if he were the Pope, how would he help combat violence in Mexico?
“Do you know where peace begins? Peace begins in the family and at school,” replied Patrón Wong. “Why at home? There we are all different, dad, mom and siblings are different; to agree we always have to think of others and respect each other; then peace begins in the family and in the College. I know that you are many boys and girls and you respect each other, love each other, do not insult each other, do not fight with blows, are not violent.
Rodrigo Ricalde Leal asked him what he liked best about being a bishop.
“What I like the most is being able to be with a lot of people; When I come to the College I feel at home; The same thing happens in any parish and church. This year I turned 35 as a priest, imagine how many people I have met, ”he told her.
“I was very moved because some of you told me: ‘you married my parents’, ‘you married them, I have a photo there.’ Others said: ‘you baptized me’. I am happy when I see that a couple that I married now already has two or three children”.
Finally, Nicolás Ancona Bolaños asked him how he felt about representing the Yucatecan culture.
“Do you know what it feels like when you are outside of Yucatan? First, one feels grateful for everything received in Yucatan. What I received here at Colegio Montejo, what I received with the Marists, at the CUM and at the Seminary. Second, I keep in mind that one represents the school, the seminary, the state, Yucatan. After giving everything you learned here, you learn many things there”.
After the questions, the prelate asked the children to tell their parents when they get home that Father Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong sends his regards.
“Many times I have seen their parents worried, I have seen their mothers with a lot of work; Today I ask you to try to help your parents, your mothers; may this day be a happy day for your parents, for your mothers, your little brothers, just as it has been a happy day for me to be with you; I promise to pray for you, you pray for me”.
The prelate gave a blessing to all and exhorted them to be good Christians and good citizens.
After the greetings and photographs of the memory, Monsignor Patrón Wong visited the sixth grade students and had breakfast with the board of directors and the society of parents.
Today the prelate will travel back to his archdiocese.— CLAUDIA IVONNE SIERRA MEDINA
Children of the Montejo School receive Monsignor Patrón Wong