DYKER HEIGHTS — A former college chaplain and a candidate for sainthood inspired a Haitian-born priest from Brooklyn to visit sweltering northwest Arkansas last summer to observe local missionary work fueling the faith. 

Father Juan Luxama is parochial vicar at the Shrine Church of St. Bernadette in Dyker Heights. Catholic Extension arranged his four-day immersion trip to the Blessed Stanley Rother Mission Church in Decatur, about 32 miles northwest of Fayetteville.

“The work that they do impressed me so much,” Father Luxama said.  

Chicago-based Catholic Extension has supported the mission church since its inception in 2017. The tiny church serves a growing community of immigrants from Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador; many of them work in construction or at a nearby chicken-processing plant.

“When I saw the people down there,” Father Luxama said, “I had to help them. I had to.” 

And he did, eight months later, through his own parish in Dyker Heights. 

With support from Father Jeremy Canna, the pastor, he urged the congregation to financially support the mission church as part of this year’s Lenten almsgiving. 

The parish’s $10,000 goal was met two weeks before Easter, prompting Father Luxama to joyfully beam with pride. 

“And we can go over it,” he said of the goal. “We have two more weeks left.” 

Father Luxama came to the U.S. as a child from Haiti. He graduated from public schools. He became — and continues to be — enthralled with science. He considered becoming a medical doctor, so he completed graduate work in biology. 

And thus began his first steps toward becoming a priest, and supporting Catholic Extension. 

“Through my graduate studies at Long Island University, I met the legendary Father Charles Keeney, the campus chaplain,” Father Luxama said. 

He described how Father Keeney mentored him during his priestly formation. The older priest is now retired, but one of his last assignments was director for the propagation of the faith in the Diocese of Brooklyn. 

Through that role, Father Keeney became involved with Catholic Extension. His first immersion trip was to observe the extension’s work supporting the migrant fruit pickers near Yakima, Washington. 

Father Keeney still supports the organization, and urges other priests to do likewise. 

Father Luxama said his mentor’s promoting Catholic Extension appealed to his desire to perform acts of mercy, which was underway before he switched from biologist to priest. 

He recalled how he and his brother, Porez, founded a nonprofit organization, Life of Hope, nearly 20 years ago in Brooklyn. It still serves immigrants, helping them find vital services to sustain their families. 

Father Luxama was drawn to the Blessed Stanley Rother Mission Church as he reviewed Catholic Extension’s various immersion opportunities throughout the U.S. 

He is a longtime admirer of Father Rother, who was murdered while performing mission work in Guatemala. Many of the people at the Arkansas church, being Guatemalans, have a particular devotion to the slain missionary. 

Part of the money raised by the St. Bernadette parishioners will help a trio of religious sisters improve faith formation programs for young people at the mission. 

According to Catholic Extension, Mass participation has nearly doubled at the mission in part because of Sister Ana Luisa, Sister Maria del Refugio, and Sister Ana Lilia. 

They are particularly credited for their work with children and teens — hence the need for stronger faith formation services. 

“They are the strength, the life, and the solution,” Sister Ana Luisa said of the youth. “Either we serve them or we will lose them.” 

Father Luxama said he is eager to pay a return visit to the mission church. He also attended a similar extension immersion trip in Puerto Rico. 

“I realize that my vocation does not end at the border of Brooklyn,” he said. “My mission is to be a witness of hope to whomever I meet, wherever I am — rich in hope for everyone.”