Anyone who has ever attended Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas has probably met the Aguileras. Javier and Norma are a humble, unassuming couple who have been a staple of the All Saints community for almost 20 years. They’ve seen the construction of a new church, welcomed five pastors, and headed up various ministries during their time at All Saints. Javier’s 10 years as a coordinator of the lectors plus Norma’s 10 years as a Eucharistic minister to the sick and homebound, adds up to two decades of service for their parish and counting.
“We try to get involved as much as we can,” Javier explained. “Even though it can be overwhelming, at the end of the day, the feeling is rewarding.”
This combined 20 years of ministry work proves above all that the Aguileras have a true heart for service. This makes sense considering Javier works as a software engineer, creating resources for those in underprivileged and at-risk communities. Norma works to take care of the elderly and special needs adults as a cleaner and caregiver. They are a couple with a deep desire to serve and a passion to rally behind the causes that matter to them.
But they weren’t always so bold. As native Salvadorans who immigrated to the U.S. in 1988 and 1989, the Aguileras had to adjust to a new culture and way of life. They found a home in the All Saints community that helped them grow in new and unexpected ways.
“When I first got to the parish, I felt that I was a shy person,” Javier said. “But getting involved in the lector ministry helped me to overcome my fear of public speaking … I used to keep to myself, but this experience taught me to be more open. It has given me a sense of confidence in myself that I don’t think I would have achieved otherwise.”
Norma had a similar experience working as a Eucharistic minister.
“For me it was important,” Norma explained. “I was nervous and excited, but … to take the Eucharist to sick people was a good experience because it made me feel happy.”
Having been so positively impacted by the community and experiences available at All Saints, the Aguileras have resolved to help other Spanish speakers find a home at the parish.
“The Hispanic community has grown a lot and there’s a huge need for those who can overcome the language barrier,” Javier said. “People who are new in the area don’t know much about the culture in the U.S. but want to get involved in a Catholic parish. We help them register as parishioners and … talk to them about different activities.”
Norma explained that they have had some success in creating more opportunities and resources for the Hispanic community.
Previously there was only one Sunday Mass in Spanish, but Norma said now there are three.
The Aguileras hope these resources will continue to expand and draw more Spanish-speaking parishioners into parish life.
“My hope is that the Hispanic community gets more involved in the parish because that’s (their) home, so to speak,” Javier said. “Even though the Hispanic community is huge at All Saints, not everyone gets involved. (Most) just settle for Sunday Mass here and there. We motivate them to get more involved and help them understand that this is their home, their place.”
As the Aguileras approach retirement age, they understand that they will not be able to serve in the parish forever. But they are confident that all the work they have done at All Saints for the Hispanic community and the parish at large will help to create an infrastructure for service in the future.
“We are not essential … someone else can do what we do and (probably) do a better job,” Javier joked. “But we would like to put as much as we can into the community so that when we leave, other people can serve the community in the same way and do a better job.”
Until then, Javier and Norma will continue to donate their time and expertise to All Saints and the Hispanic community in Manassas as humble examples of what it means to be true disciples and evangelists for the church.
Dauchess is a freelancer in Reston.
