Pastor Juan Aguayo and Father Tom Merrill

25th Anniversary

Mi Voz
Zulma Malpica
Pablo Lopez
Rocío Ronquillo
Pastor Juan Aguayo and
Father Tom
Merrill
Marlon Ferrey

Crisis Line: 651.772.1611

Mi Voz

Pastor Juan Aguayo

When Pastor Juan Aguayo first heard Casa de Esperanza's Advocate and Trainer speak about domestic violence, he thought, "Wonderful!" He could immediately envision the impact that Iniciativa Movimiento Esperanza can have in congregations and communities.

Pastor Aguayo's congregation, Amor Viviente, is located in South Minneapolis. He must have communicated his enthusiasm to the membership of approximately sixty people--eighteen volunteers attended the congregational response team training last summer!

Results are already evident. Trained team members are supporting individuals from the church and the community who are experiencing domestic violence. Others at Amor Viviente have referred their friends or family to the pastor to talk about domestic violence.

Pastor Aguayo stresses how important it is for the church to receive this training. He says, "The church has two ways of addressing domestic violence: spiritually and with these tools." He points out that change is not fast but that the process is important. Addressing domestic violence in the church has opened people's minds-they come to understand the various kinds of abuse. And abusers are facing their behavior.

President of a local pastors' association, Pastor Aguayo actively tells his colleagues that the church needs this initiative. He says, "It's very important that the church open its doors to this program."

Father Tom Merrill

Father Tom Merrill, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in St. Paul, believes in Iniciativa Movimiento Esperanza. "The church is a good place for this work," he says. "People open up here and feel safe."

Located on St. Paul's West Side, the parish of more than 700 families is 98% Latino. It comprises both a longstanding, loyal group of Mexican-American parishioners and a newer population from Mexico and Latin America.

In April 2003 Father Tom and the church's administrative staff participated in the Iniciativa Movimiento Esperanza trainings. The staff learned how to respond when victims or abusers contact the office. Father Tom found the sessions especially helpful for him, providing him with deeper knowledge and better skills.

Having met with a number of battered Latinas, Father Tom recognizes that he is much better prepared to be of help and support. He has referred women to Casa de Esperanza's crisis line and values the advocacy available to them. "Now I have a place to send women. In other parishes, I didn't know where to refer them."

After Father Tom addressed the topic of domestic violence in a sermon, several parishioners expressed an interest in response team training. The new team was trained in September 2003.

Father Tom appreciates the partnership between his church and Casa de Esperanza. "This is an excellent example of two organizations working together."