{"id":47137,"date":"2026-05-18T15:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/?p=47137"},"modified":"2026-05-18T15:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:35:59","slug":"voices-of-el-cano-beyond-words-father-cedeno-as-a-church-leader-in-times-of-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/voices-of-el-cano-beyond-words-father-cedeno-as-a-church-leader-in-times-of-uncertainty\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices of el Ca\u00f1o | Beyond Words: Father Cede\u00f1o as a Church Leader in Times of Uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The priest has witnessed firsthand the changes within the Barrio Obrero community.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Alanis Cartagena Burgos<\/strong>
Journalism Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are fathers because we feel the pain of others and we feel their frustration,\u201d said the priest, who, through empathy, is facing one of his greatest challenges: serving as parish priest in Barrio Obrero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five years ago, he began working in the community, which is largely populated by migrants living in fear of operations and raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Sunday after Mass, parishioners approach Father Cede\u00f1o asking for help, sometimes with tears in their eyes as a final cry for hope. The priest welcomes them with an embrace within the sacred walls of Nuestra Se\u00f1ora del Carmen Parish, listening to their situations. \u201cIt\u2019s not only that they fear deportation; they come because they have an immigration issue or because they\u2019ve been fitted with an ankle monitor,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest said the greatest challenge has been witnessing the effects of ICE operations on the community: \u201cseeing broken families, seeing children separated from their parents. There are people who have died in their homes out of fear of going to a hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening to the stories of Barrio Obrero residents makes him share in their suffering and experience firsthand the pain felt by his brothers and sisters, who, according to him, \u201care being treated unjustly by this system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this period of uncertainty, he has focused on strengthening the faith of parishioners, who have expressed to him that \u201calthough they may logically feel or experience fear in this situation, it will not weaken their faith,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Father Cede\u00f1o has dedicated his life to helping the community through the church. However, his future once looked very different during his youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He began studying pre-med at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayag\u00fcez, but along the way discovered new interests that led him to change course. He graduated with a degree in Humanities in Art History. It was then that he made what he described as a \u201cradical\u201d decision in his life and began following a calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, he entered the Regina Cleri Major Seminary and later pursued studies in canon law at the University of Salamanca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone trained in law, the immigration situation has deeply impacted him, and as a priest, it leaves him with a sense of helplessness because he cannot help people as much as he wishes. The priest spoke with frustration and desperation when thinking about those who have spent decades building their lives in Barrio Obrero. \u201cPeople who have been here for thirty years, whose only act, their only crime, their only offense, has been wanting to come here to work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When the final hymn of the liturgy ends and the priest gives the blessing, some parishioners head out to buy fritters, receive assistance, or shop for clothing at the bazaar located on church grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the bazaar is Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez, who organizes the sale and collection of donated items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ram\u00edrez is the son of migrants and understands the pain of residents who left their homes in search of a better quality of life. \u201cI am the son of immigrants\u2026 I know families who came here with nothing, and now they have built lives for themselves because they got to work and did what they had to do,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ram\u00edrez considers the parish his extended family because it is where he grew up and received support during the most difficult moments of his life. Throughout his 46 years, he has participated in various church initiatives, eventually becoming manager of the bazaar and soon-to-be deacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current parish priest said to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t you study to become a deacon?\u2019 And I said yes. I realized this was my time. Sometimes I think maybe I\u2019m already too old for this, but God\u2019s timing is perfect,\u201d the future deacon said about the encouragement Father Cede\u00f1o gave him to follow God\u2019s calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transformation of the Church<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Since ICE operations and raids began, Father Cede\u00f1o has noticed a decrease in parishioners attending Mass, although he acknowledged that \u201cattendance has declined, but I must admit many brothers and sisters with irregular immigration status have come closer to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ram\u00edrez, \u201cit\u2019s not easy\u201d to witness the changes the parish has gone through over the years. \u201cMany people here have been affected by the raids\u2026 when there are raids, you notice it. When you drive down the streets and they\u2019re empty, you know they\u2019re around, because of the fear,\u201d Ram\u00edrez added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both men have worked together on different initiatives to help the community, and Ram\u00edrez recognizes the priest\u2019s efforts. \u201cThe priest, with the support of the archbishop, has been very proactive with the immigrant community\u2026 Father Cede\u00f1o has raised his voice and speaks up for anyone who needs it,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Father Cede\u00f1o, the immigration situation \u201cis part of the reality we must face here in Barrio Obrero; perhaps it is not the same reality another priest has to experience in a different parish community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Services for the Community<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The church operates the C\u00e1ritas project, a worldwide initiative that the parish priest described as \u201cthe arm of the Church extended to every person in need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the project, they provide weekly food assistance, connections to healthcare professionals, and immigration support personnel for parishioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those working at the church found themselves needing to adapt the services offered to the community in order to provide assistance during times of uncertainty and serve as a point of connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImmigration attorneys have approached us; they coordinate support when specific situations arise and provide completely free assistance,\u201d Cede\u00f1o added regarding the adjustments the church has implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, beyond representing a challenge for the parish priest, the situation has also caused him outrage and deeply affected him. \u201cTo me, it\u2019s shocking\u2026 Who would have told me I would have to serve as a liaison between a pregnant woman and a doctor? We have women who are afraid to go to a hospital because they fear their information will somehow be taken. How can a woman not have access to such essential healthcare?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the church has worked to educate the community about their rights, Cede\u00f1o believes that amid uncertainty, many people surrender to fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even so, despite the anxiety facing the community, some have expressed to the parish priest that they will continue holding tightly to their faith and that the neighborhood’s heart will continue beating strongly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Father Cede\u00f1o\u2019s greatest hope is to see Barrio Obrero shine. \u201cBarrio Obrero has beautiful people, hardworking people, resilient people, people with strong values who strive every day to give the best to their families and contribute to society,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This journalistic profile is the result of in-service learning experiences carried out as part of the course <\/em>PER 223: Narrative Journalism<\/em><\/strong>, taught by Professor Mariliana Torres Pag\u00e1n in collaboration with Sagrado\u2019s <\/em>Community Engagement Program<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, the <\/em>Barrio Obrero Oeste se Reinventa<\/em><\/strong> Foundation, and the <\/em>Ca\u00f1o Mart\u00edn Pe\u00f1a Enlace Project<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The priest has witnessed firsthand the changes within the Barrio Obrero community. By Alanis Cartagena BurgosJournalism Student \u201cWe are fathers because we feel the pain of others and we feel their frustration,\u201d said the priest, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":47119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3672,5435,3696,3695],"tags":[5366,5005,5434,3731,5018,5462,5110],"class_list":["post-47137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communications","category-community-outreach","category-english-en","category-featured","tag-barrio-obrero","tag-cano-martin-pena-2","tag-community-journalism","tag-sagrado-en","tag-sagrado-corazon-university","tag-service-led-learning","tag-universidad-del-sagrado-corazon-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47137"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47140,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47137\/revisions\/47140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insagrado.sagrado.edu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}