Catholic senior is an example of service

Intermountain Catholic

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TREMONTON — In June of this year, Ana Maria Delfinia Barela will become 82 years old. For 68 of those years, she has served the church; at the age of 14 she became an auxiliary, even though she had her eye on another role.

"My dad was a deacon and I wanted to be one, too, but they always were telling me that I was too young so I couldn’t," said Barela, whose ancestry is a mix of Indian, Mexican and Spaniard.

Her father came from Spain; at a rodeo in Salt Lake City he saw her mother, who was riding a horse and dressed as an Indian. "They immediately fell in love," Barela said.

The family lived on a Shoshone Indian reservation south of Portage in Box Elder County; they commuted to Garland to attend church.

"We used to go to Mass in a garage," said Barela. "My grandma didn’t speak a word of English and the Mass was in English. I kept on wondering why she went until I asked her and she told me, ‘Do you see God in the Cross? I talk to him and he listens. I ask him to help me and he does. I talk about my problems to him and he solves them.’"

Those words have stayed fresh in Barela’s head to this day.

Her love for serving the Church kept growing deeper in her, but she was still young, so her grandfather suggested that her parents let her serve as an auxiliary. They agreed.

"Every day I woke up and went to the church, but I couldn’t stay very late because I was still very young, so I used to go home and when the sun rose again, I was back in the church," said Barela.

As an auxiliary she learned a lot from the church and, more importantly, the church became her home.

"I have always said the church is my home; it’s where I feel more comfortable and I can talk to my father and to Mary," said Barela, adding that she is very proud of being named Maria after the Virgin.

Every day when she wakes up at 4 a.m. she prays. Early in the morning is the perfect time for prayer, she said, because of the lack of noise and "because the mind is clear and you can concentrate on the mysteries."

Barela is also a catechism instructor at the Santa Ana Mission near Tremonton. In January she went to Dallas, Texas, to attend the Southwest Liturgical Conference’s annual study week to continue learning and preparing.

"It’s very important to keep studying and learning about our Church so I can serve my God better," said Barela, who with her husband is in charge of opening and closing Santa Ana Mission in Tremonton every day.

Jesuit Father Patrick Reuse, pastor of Santa Ana Mission and Saint Henry Parish in Brigham City, said that Barela is a great example of the diversity of the Church and of a faithful servant.

"Her husband and she are always working for the church," said Fr. Reuse.

With 61 years of marriage and 10 children, four girls and six boys, Barela considers it very important that parents teach religion to their children.

"Sharing and teaching our Catholicism to our kids is very important. Since they are very young we should teach them the sign of the cross and to pray," said Barela. "I always invite people to meet my God, talking about my own experiences and sharing the joy of our God."