Born in Mexico in 1869, Cristobal Jara’s parents were pious farmers and he grew up working as a shepherd. At 19 he entered the seminary, was ordained a priest at age 30, and was then assigned a parish in his hometown. In addition to running the parish, Fr. Cristobal started new catechism centers for people of all ages and helped start schools. He also launched a newspaper, opened a carpentry shop, and was involved in planning a dam and an electric power plant to power mills. When the anti-religious government began its persecution of Catholics, Fr. Christobal preached against armed rebellion, but in 1927 he was arrested for promoting it, and martyred without trial.
CHALLENGE
The anti-Church Mexican government closed all seminaries, so St. Cristobal Magallanes Jara rounded up all the displaced seminarians and started a new seminary. The government found it and closed it down, so he started another, run out of people’s homes. Without seminaries and seminarians, the Church loses her most vital resource: priests. Today, find a Catholic seminary close to you. Call them. Ask how you can help them.
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