FORT SMITH — José Galván has seen many changes at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fort Smith since he moved from Monterrey in northeastern Mexico with his parents and five siblings in 1992.
“When we first moved here, there were only 24 Mexican families in the parish,” Galván said. “After a few years, the parish began holding a Hispanic Mass once a month. My older sister Alma started the choir, and I joined her about seven years ago. Growing up in Mexico, church music became part of who we were. We heard the songs and learned them. Alma typed out the lyrics to hymns that were part of our oral tradition. We arranged them with guitar chords and three-part harmonies.”
In the 14 years since the Galván family moved to Fort Smith, the Hispanic community at Immaculate Conception Parish has grown rapidly.
“Last Ash Wednesday we held four services at St. Anne’s Chapel (an annex of Immaculate Conception),” the 22-year-old said. “Fifteen hundred people attended. We have 750 people attend the 2 o’clock Mass each week, sometimes spilling out to the outer steps of the church. Father Hector Villareal-Sanchez, our last associate pastor, started a second Mass for children in St. Anne’s Chapel at noon.”
Music is an important part of the family’s life. Alma Delia Benavides, who is now married and expecting her first child, is currently the Hispanic choir director and is preparing to hand the reins over to Galván soon.
“Now we have two choirs, a children’s choir for ages 7 through 12, and a youth choir for everyone else,” he said.
When Father Villareal-Sanchez went back to Monterrey, Mexico, last year, the Hispanic congregation was left without a Spanish-speaking pastor. Sometimes there was only a Communion service in Spanish instead of Mass on Sundays, but the devotion of the large congregation and its music ministry never faltered, Galván said.
On March 5, they welcomed a new associate pastor, Father Blas Alberto Hernandez-Torres.
Galván’s entire family is involved with parish ministries. His parents, Candelario and Gregoria Galván, are extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, and his youngest brother is an altar server. His sisters, older brother and brother-in-law sing in the choir.
Galván’s work in music ministry led him to become an instrumental music education major at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He participates in four ensembles: two brass, symphonic band and jazz band.
Galván taught himself guitar, keyboard and string bass.
“I learn a little from everyone I meet,” he said. “Hispanic ministries throughout the diocese get together for a Hispanic encounter every fall. This year our parish has been selected to choose and direct the music. We formed an informal online network to help one another throughout the year. Right now I’m helping Pablo Ortega, a 15-year-old music minister from Holy Redeemer Parish, El Dorado, with his new Hispanic choir.”
The many young Hispanic families moving to Fort Smith have given the parish a vibrant youth group, also led by Galván.
“We have so many youth attending we had to start to make name tags,” he said. “We have more than 150 name tags, but usually we will have 70 or 80 at our meetings.”
In recognition of Galván’s work with youth, Msgr. John O’Donnell, Immaculate Conception’s pastor, asked him to represent the Fort Smith area at a regional meeting in Texas March 31 to April 2 before the National Encounter for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry in June.
Galván, also serving as a University Ambassador, can be seen on billboards, television ads and the university Web site.
