“It is really beautiful because after getting here, I see the archbishop’s vision and hope that we have so many saints here from the archdiocese that there aren’t enough days in the calendar,” Barron told Detroit Catholic. “When I heard him say that, I thought, ‘OK, Lord, you definitely wanted us here because that’s our charism, to live and promote the vocation of holiness through the Sacred Heart.’ So it was just a confirmation of ‘yes, this is where you guys are supposed to be.’”
A relationship between the archdiocese and Pro Ecclesia Sancta began five years ago when Father Humberto Palomino, PES, the provincial in the United States, attended a wedding in Michigan and became acquainted with a prominent attorney, community figure, and founder of the Cornerstone Charter Schools, Clark Durant. Through this friendship, Palomino became familiar with Detroit. Eventually, he met with Vigneron to discuss the possibility of the community serving in the archdiocese.
Why Detroit? Palomino said it is the same reason why he is a priest: It was God’s will.
“In my vocation, it is not my decision, even though I consented to the will of God,” Palomino said. “God chose me; God called me, which is why it is called vocation. God called me to be a priest and religious. It’s pretty much the same reason why we are in Detroit — God was calling us [here].”
In the same way, Palomino feels that God chose Barron to be the first community representative in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Barron hopes he can be an instrument to help encourage vocations in the archdiocese.
“I think the main way I aspire to help is by being a faithful religious of Pro Ecclesia Sancta and bringing that family into the parish and school and Family of Parishes, especially building relationships with the parishioners, the school families, and the youth of the area and inviting them to pursue their vocation of holiness,” Barron said. “Hopefully [we can] spark a sign of hope in this area and in Detroit as well where people can see things are happening, and it is because of Jesus Christ and the Sacred Heart.”