By Cathy Tilzey

Traveling to Guatemala in January with Bishop George Leo Thomas and other diocesan priests turned out to be the perfect time for Father Tim Moriarty to meet a student he has sponsored for about 10 years.

Father Moriarty, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Three Forks, said he was in St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in the late 1990s when a representative of a Christian organization asked students to sponsor young people in Central American schools.

Victor Hugo Pichlla Galvez was 7 or 8 years old when the seminarian started contributing to his education. Now he is about 17, close to graduating from school and is interested in being a mechanic, perhaps an automotive mechanic, Father Moriarty reported.

Victor and his mother, Esperanza, traveled over two hours across central Guatemala to reach the mission at Santo Tomas; a man from the sponsoring organization drove them. They met Bishop Thomas, the other priests, visited for several hours and had lunch with Father Moriarty and Sister Ana Priester, BVM, who served as interpreter.

When they met, Bishop Thomas said that seeing them together was a highlight of the trip, Father Moriarty added. His conversation with Victor was “such a great connection …” the Montanan said, and a good experience. Each of them learned more about the other’s background.

Victor has three siblings, and his father works in highway construction. Their family is Catholic and Victor is active in a youth group.

He and his mother – whom Father Moriarty described as a gentle, kind lady – presented the Montanan with two gifts: a flat silver piece showing a design of Christ wearing a crown of thorns, and a cup bearing the name Antigua, an old Guatemalan city that the American group visited.

After much thought about a suitable gift, Father Moriarty gave Victor a Kansas City Chiefs hat (the priest’s favorite team) and his personal rosary. Victor’s mother was moved by the gift of the rosary, the Montanan said.

The two men have been corresponding for the past 10 years, exchanging letters and photographs, so each knows what path in life that the other is on.

Before they parted, Father Moriarty blessed Victor and his mother. It was a moving, emotional moment for them all.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 3, March 21, 2008.