Giving voice to our experiences of faith: Rosaneli Barragan

NAME: Rosaneli Barragan
PARISH: St. Leonard, Pelican Rapids
OCCUPATION: Data recording for product procedures in West Central Turkey Plant, Pelican Rapids
HOBBIES/INTERESTS: I like learning to cook a variety of foods. In the summer I like to plant my own vegetables and spend time in my garden. I enjoy listening to Radio Maria, a Catholic station, to read and learn everything related to my faith.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU AND/OR YOUR FAMILY.

From left to right: Victoria, Deysi, David, Sofía, Felix, Florencio and Rosaneli Barragan. Not pictured is Benjamin Barragan. (Photo by Dianne Towalski/ The Central Minnesota Catholic)

I am a Mexican immigrant who came to the United States without knowing the English language. I started English classes the day after I arrived. There I met my husband, Florencio Barragan. We have been married for 29 years and have three great children: David, 28; Felix and Benjamin, 25 (they are twins). David is married to Deysi and they have beautiful daughters, Victoria and Sofia. My husband and I instilled in them moral and spiritual values because this is essential for a Christian family. We wanted them to be well-trained to one day form their own path in life.

We are glad our children value and practice what they learned at home — being generous with others, helping those most in need, and never doing to someone what you do not want them to do to you. My husband and I are also servants in our parish and are extraordinary ministers of the holy Eucharist. There is no better job than serving the Lord.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR PARISH COMMUNITY?

I like that our community shares religious customs and that everyone is welcome to participate in any activity. Throughout the year we have the Holy Hour, the holy rosary, Bible studies and events with preachers and singers from other Catholic communities. Another aspect I like is that we celebrate Mass completely in Spanish, thanks to priests who are bilingual. On special occasions, we share a bilingual Mass with the Anglo community.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PRAYER?

My favorite prayer is “My Lord and my God.” I say the prayer of St. Monica to go to sleep.

 

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SAINT? WHY?

Rosaneli Barragan (photo by Dianne Towalski/The Central Minnesota Catholic)

St. Teresa of Calcutta. She did many works of charity for the poorest and most marginalized and dedicated herself without limits. I like the phrase “Love until it hurts. If it hurts is a good sign.” St. Teresa gave testimony to how humanity should live God’s love among ourselves. She defended the rights of unborn children. Though she was a small person, she had a big heart and was a saint during my lifetime.

NAME ONE WAY YOU ARE LIVING YOUR FAITH IN YOUR DAILY LIFE.

I try daily to live the will of God, doing the best I can in my work routine and in my housework — always with love. All this is accompanied by prayer because it is a form of the relationship I have with God — I trust him and know that everything that lives comes from him. I practice obedience, humility and charity. My purpose is to fulfill God’s mandate — give to the neediest, visit the sick, clothe the naked and feed the hungry.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO VOICE AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES OF FAITH WITH OTHERS?

I hope that through my life testimony, I can help other families to live a full life in Christ, that he is the daily motivation to live happily. For by him, in him and for him, we live. As St. Peter said, “Lord, who would we go to? You have words of eternal life.”

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Author: The Central Minnesota Catholic

The Central Minnesota Catholic is the magazine for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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