By André Escaleira, Jr. and Neil McDonough
2024 marks the 50th Jubilee of the Permanent Diaconate here in the Archdiocese of Denver. Through preaching, service, worship and prayer, deacons serve the people of God in uniquely special ways through their various ministries and lives. This article is one of a series of articles the Denver Catholic will publish in 2024 which will feature local deacons and/or a diaconal ministry. There are many Deacon Saints who were martyred for their faith. In this year of Jubilee, the deacons of the Archdiocese of Denver are asking for prayers through the intercession of Saint Deacon Martyr Euplius of Cantania. Learn more of this Deacon Saint here.
In a world filled with darkness and suffering, one local deacon is speaking hope amid despair. Through his ministry, he is inviting survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking to RISE to new life through healing, justice and accompaniment.
Before Deacon Mark Leonard moved to Denver from Santa Fe, he had never heard of the evil of human trafficking. In fact, when he received his assignment to the RISE ministry upon his arrival in Denver, his first question was, “What’s human trafficking?”
“I was so ignorant of the whole subject that I really didn’t know where to go from there,” Deacon Leonard shared.
Though initially unfamiliar with the subject, Deacon Leonard stepped into the new assignment with a heart for service.
He was quickly connected to Deacon Ernie Martinez, one of the founders of RISE, and Jenelle Goodrich, the executive director and founder of From Silenced to Saved. Goodrich’s non-profit organization serves law enforcement and victim-survivors of human trafficking. From Silenced to Saved works with victim-survivors in moving towards justice, healing and recovery in a trauma-informed way.
With the help of experts like Goodrich and Deacon Martinez, Deacon Leonard learned a profound amount about walking with people through intense suffering and difficulty and bringing the loving, hope-filled presence of Jesus to them amid the darkness.
“Our role through the RISE ministry is to expand this notion of comfort and bringing the presence of Jesus to those who are suffering in this way,” Deacon Leonard said. “We stand in the background and provide many of the material goods, the things needed to provide support to the victims during this long process – things as simple as shelter, food, clothing or access to counseling if that’s necessary.”
These “Friends of Maggie,” as they’re called, provide whatever goods the individuals going through the justice and healing process might need. The volunteers and benefactors aim to support human trafficking victim-survivors, bringing them encouragement in an intensely difficult time.
Far from fleeting, that encouragement is carried through the entire legal process, which can last for years. Beyond the legal is the emotional healing process, which often extends long past the judicial.
“We try to support them for what can be not only months but years of recovery as they begin to go through the judicial process. These are girls and boys in our neighborhoods. I may not see them face-to-face, but I can still adopt them through the work of another,” Deacon Leonard shared, emphasizing the community needed to support the individuals he serves.
Indeed, having a community walking with victim-survivors is transformative and healing for them, more than anything because that community makes tangible the powerful, healing love of God for each victim-survivor of human trafficking.
“Christ is constantly healing people who are wounded,” Deacon Leonard said. “They may not even know that he’s at work. We may think that the world has gone to pot and things are falling apart, and it means that somehow God has left us at the back door.”
“But I think he’s still here,” Deacon Leonard concluded. “I think he’s simply relying more strongly on us, asking us the question, ‘What are you looking for?’ Some of the first words out of Jesus’ mouth to his disciples were, ‘What are you looking for?’ What I’m looking for is an inspiration to be him, to be him among the people who have not yet met him, who have lost touch with him, that at this point may even be angry with him, to be his presence in a world that appears to be lost and hidden from view.”
To learn more about the RISE ministry and their work in northern Colorado, visit https://www.riseaod.org/.