Mission in the La Pica Neighborhood of Jayuya, Puerto Rico

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, as part of the VIII World Day of the Poor, Yolanda Núñez, rmi, along with two young people in vocational discernment, Daniela Bonet Carmona and Lyann Soto Escobar, from the Life and Mission program, carried out a meaningful mission in the La Pica neighborhood, in the municipality of Jayuya, Puerto Rico.

In the morning, they prepared a delicious asopao with ingredients donated by the members of the San Patricio Chapel. After the Eucharistic Celebration, they went out to distribute the food, accompanied by some parishioners. Visiting several families in vulnerable situations (elderly, sick, bedridden, and others living in solitude) was a symbol of Christ’s presence, showing that the prayer of the poor truly “rises up to God” (cf. Sirach 21:5) and that the preferential option for the marginalized translates into serving them with urgency and priority (Pope Francis, 2024, point 5).

The World Day of the Poor is an invitation to solidarity, to leave our comfort zones, and to see the face of Christ in the most vulnerable. This day in Jayuya was a reminder that true Christian mission begins with a personal encounter and commitment to the other, especially those who live on the margins of our society. The missionaries, Sister Yolanda, along with Daniela and Lyann, became a living testimony of the “prayer that becomes encounter and proximity” (Pope Francis, 2024, point 7), bringing hope to those who need it most.

Pope Francis. (2024, June 13). Message for the VIII World Day of the Poor, 2024: The prayer of the poor rises up to God (cf. Sirach 21:5). https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/20240613-messaggio-viii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2024.html