Rocio Montes came to America from Mexico as a teenager to reunite her family but found a home where she could contribute to making the lives of others better.
She joined the Diocese of Little Rock as the associate director for Hispanic youth and young adult ministry at the end of October.
Montes’ ministry in the Church began around 2003 when she served as a Missionary Carmelite of St. Teresa in Houston, Texas, where she worked with Hispanic youth. She also worked briefly with adults at St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
“I learn so many things from the youth, because they have a joyful spirit and an enthusiastic life. They really want to serve,” Montes said. “What I most like is the spirit they have to serve God. When we are young, we want to give everything to God. They want to serve with sincere hearts. They give me energy to serve as well as them.”
She was at the convent for seven and a half years before she decided that it was not where she was supposed to be. The community has a process of nine years to help women discern whether it is the right vocation for them.
Even though she found that the religious life was not her vocation, she said trying was the right thing to do.
“I discovered to be in the convent was not my vocation,” she said. “It’s worth it to try. The religious life is one of the most beautiful vocations. The person who really feels the call of God, must follow the Spirit and try. If the person is joyful, that is your vocation. They are persons of God and it is worth it to give our lives to him.”
While trying to discern what to do with her life next, God led her to Arkansas for Hispanic youth ministry.
“I wanted to serve God as a lay missionary, and I was thinking that was my vocation. I was asking God ’Where do you want me to go? I really want to serve you. I really want to do something with my life and help others. Show me the way I can do it.’ Then I got the telephone call about this job,” she said.
Her new job is a perfect fit, as she enjoys helping youth find the paths to take in life.
“They are the present of this world. The children are the future, but they are the present. They will be the next parents, the next leaders of their families. We need to give them spiritual formation, so we can have good Christians in the Church. They are in transition. They are trying to see what is the best for them — if they want to be married, if they want to be priests or religious,” Montes said.
She immigrated to Oklahoma in 1997 when she was 15 with her mother and sister. Her father worked in the U.S. for most of his life. Because the family was separated for such a long time, her father decided to bring them to live with him.
“I crossed the river. I came illegal, but later on I went through the process of papers. I know how it feels to be somebody, but at the same time nobody. You don’t have a voice without papers,” she said.
She is the oldest of three children. Her brother was born after the family was reunited.
Her background helps her understand what many Hispanic youth deal with in their own families and community where they or someone they know might be dealing with immigration issues, or even discrimination by others who think they might be here illegally.
“If we don’t understand the reality, we cannot help them as they need it. Sometimes they feel like nobody. They are a person, but they can’t live with security,” she said. “We live in the shadows. It is very important to understand that. If they are suffering, we can help them, especially to feel like they have dignity and that they are persons. They don’t have to be scared of anything, because nothing is going to happen with God.”
Montes is looking forward to getting to know the youth and youth leaders in the communities around the state.
“I want to give the youth spiritual formation in all aspects and try to help them to be in love with God all the time. This is my priority right now — to love God as he loves us. I want to know the community and see how I can serve them. If I know their needs, I can serve them better,” she said.
In December, she will lead a retreat for Hispanic young adults, Encuentros de Promoción Juvenil (Encounters of Youth Promotion), which helps evangelize by teaching them how to live the fundamentals of their faith. Her office also will coordinate Busqueda retreats, which are similar to Search for high school students.
Her new office at St. John Center is dotted with portraits of St. Therese of Lisieux “The Little Flower,” and a statue to remind her of her favorite saint.
“She is a saint of the little things and the ordinary things. She followed God in the little things, not the extraordinary things,” she said. “Sometimes it is hard to see God in the ordinary things. She made me aware of the little details and see the presence of God in everything.”
