Father Guillermo Trevino wears a chasuble featuring St. Joseph and Jesus. Father Trevino received the liturgical vestment as a surprise gift from parishioners.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Earlier this month, members of St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction surprised their new pastor, Father Guillermo Trevino, with a chasuble featuring the parish’s patron saint. The surprise took a bit of subterfuge to pull off.
Earlier this year, while looking through a religious supply catalog, Father Trevino saw a burgundy and white chasuble with an icon of St. Joseph and baby Jesus. Father Trevino, who also serves as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Liberty, wondered if he should purchase the vestment. He asked Catalina Valdez, director of religious education in Columbus Junction, for her opinion. “I said, ‘Don’t buy it!’” Valdez recalled.
Father Trevino assumed Valdez thought the vestment was ugly. In reality, she had other plans in mind. Valdez said the parish had been trying to think of a way to welcome him as the new pastor. The vestment seemed like a perfect gift, so they decided secretly to purchase it for him. “That’s why I said, ‘Don’t order it!’”
In mid-August, at the end of Mass, the parish gave the vestment to Father Trevino. “He was so happy and surprised,” Valdez observed.
Father Trevino smiled from ear to ear and gave a thumb’s up as he tried on the chasuble. He told The Catholic Messenger the vestment is special to him because he serves two parishes whose patron saint is Joseph, and because he received it during the Year of St. Joseph.
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