Heavenly Saints Walk Among Us

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:19-20

“Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?
Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.'
- Isaiah 6:8 

God the Father: 

My son, I am happy with your messages from Me allowing my Creation to listen to My Heart. You are receiving calls and correspondence from the four corners of the earth. I am very happy that many without hope are reaching out and you have the courage and love to speak and pray for everyone that calls and contacts you. I know it has not been easy, and you have saved and given My Love and Faith to many. I rejoice when they are surprised and happy that you care for them as much as I want them to know that they are not forgotten or forsaken, I desire their hearts to know that I love each one. I desire My children to know that they are not alone. I hear and will answer their prayers. Your love is My love and concerns. Minister to those walking in hopelessness and darkness for they have no peace and seek my Grace. 

I am delivering My Outpouring of the Holy Spirit as My divine military action to combat the demon to bring simultaneously Divine power and blessing all My Saints for these times of Tribulation. I will grant my army of Saints what I gave to My Church at Pentecost. MY Holy Spirit will be given to believers and non-believers. This will be one of My final acts of Mercy. I will open the eyes and ears of their hearts.  It will be a new era in which the Holy Spirit will permanently indwell believers.  This outpouring of the Holy Spirit's presence will be evident among groups of believers and saints. Mankind will either accept or reject My gift. 

My Chosen are under My protection and love. I am their refugee and strength.  I forgive all their sins. I desire their sincere repentance from their evil ways and return to me. I rejoice in the blessing that I am giving My children through their obedience to my calling. I am raising an army of Saints and Believers that I have chosen for these times.  

Beware cautious and discern some who I have anointed; they have allowed the Spirit of the demon to enter their mind and soul. Pride was the downfall of Lucifer. To many, I have anointed and have given authority, but they have allowed the spirit of Saul to enter their spirit. What I give only I can remove My anointed. Many will try to fake and talk their way of explaining themselves. Ridicule and criticism is not good fruit. I will not allow this type of division. No servant is greater than his teacher. 

I am Almighty God and to me is all the Glory and authority. Discern all things in love and honesty. I will give everyone the grace and power to remove and separate disobedience to My calling. Saul was a good example as he choose pride rather than My will for my people. My prophet Sammuel was given authority to anoint Saul.  I choose Saul to be the first king of Israel. His arrogance and disobedience were his downfall. I only seek the humble and pure of heart as my servant David. Some will try to bring disarray in your communities and mission. The demon will try to bring division as he will attempt to infiltrate and stop my Chosen anointed and My mission. What I give freely I can easily remove freely.  

I desire that everyone be led by My Son’s example of faithfulness and Our Love for all my Creation. I seek sacrifice and prayer to help and give from the heart to My children in these times of great need. There is much evil created by the demon and his followers. My children are starving for food, housing and love. Wars are created by evil men and women. I will bless in abundance to those that share their blessing with the less fortunate. The greed, hatred and power will be replaced with eternal damnation to those that Mock Me and My Creation.  There will be Divine Justice for those that have caused the affliction to My children. If they do not repent and change their evil ways, I will send a divine punishment that will not be explained.  The punishment will be greater than the deluge.  The world has never experienced what is coming. 

The Holy Spirit and the Blessed Holy Mother of My Son Jesus will protect and bless all my children who do My Will. The Refugees have already been completed. Enough is enough.  My Angels are waiting for my command.  

Our Lady of Guadalupe:

My Juanito, I am very happy with the love you have given my children. You have suffered the same pain and dissolution as my little ones are undergoing. As your Mother I pray and cry for all the helpless around the world who are enduring and living without hope. This was never the plan of the Creator. There are many saints among my children. Pray for each other. I am pleading with the world; reach out and help. Please continue to pray for my people and pray the Holy Rosary. Receive the Holy Sacraments and prepare your souls. Place God first in all events in your life. Pray for all those that hate you. Be at peace, I am with you. The Holy Trinity is not happy with its Creation. 

I have been sent by God the Father and My Son to warn the world. All Nation and the Elect refuse to listen. Divine Just punishment is in the horizon.  The world has turned a deaf ear to my pleas. What awaits humanity is so horrific that “The Father” is shorting the days. Please continue to reach out as you have these past years. The prophecies given to Saint John in the book of Revelations will begin very soon. Mankind is destroying itself. Many of individuals have discounted My messages from Heaven. God is not happy. 

My earthly Saints are beginning to rise. The Angels in Heaven await the braking of the seven Seals. My devoted followers will be protected and safe. The Refugees are ready, the cleansing of earthly sin is at hand, Inferno will destroy all unrepentant sinners and followers of the demon.

Continue your ministry my son. Many souls are being saved.  Many earthly Saints are rising.

I love all my children with my Motherly love. 

Personal Reflections:

Almighty God is calling all Believers to become Saints.

For the past 45 years I have been guided by the Holy Spirit and our Holy Blessed Mother. In 1979 when God the Father came to me in an incredible way; it is very difficult to explain and share. I felt ashamed and felt unworthy for His Prescence before me; I had not been the good holy Christian Catholic that God created me to be.  because of my sinfulness. I prostrated myself before the presence of God the Father. I was struggling in many ways after my tour of duty in Vietnam. I had left the Catholic Church because I could not find Him. I was empty and hollow inside. I felt like a dried-out sponge. After three months of seeking God in other Christian denominations I never found Him. It was around 3-4 in the morning when I knew without a doubt that God the Father had come to visit me. His strong and powerful Words were like angels singing beautiful songs of love and thunder mixed. His words to me… “My Son you have been seeking Me. Now I come to visit you.”

I had no idea what was happening other than His Words were real, firm and loving. He told me that since the time of my first “Cry at Birth” he had Chosen my life to serve Him. His Words filled my hollow soul with the fullness of His Love. He had prepared me for a Mission that was to take place in the fullness of Time. I said yes and drank from the Chalice of my future as His Messenger and Servant. It was not going to be an easy life, but I was ready now. “Before I had been like a Green Branch and not ready now, I was solid as Oak.” I did not understand then. He expressed His unconditional love and shield of Grace. The Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary would guide, teach and me to proclaim love for all His Creation. I felt unworthy and committed myself to serve Him for the rest of my life. 

I was shown the future of coming events and my responsibility as His Messenger. I was to be one of His Ezequiel’s. He was choosing millions of men and women for this same task. The interior life of my soul changed instantly. He told me not to be afraid because I was going to witness many spiritual things in my journey. He blessed me with many spiritual gifts that I had no idea what they were, Now I do. I was to reach out to the Four Corners of the World and proclaim His Word and of Lord Jesus Christ. The Words that Jesus cried out on His Crucifixion. 

The Lord was pleased with my love for Him and His creation. I was to meet many holy people in my spiritual journey.  He would bless millions with the task He was giving us. Our Lady of Grace took me aside for almost 3 years; She taught and showed me many spiritual wonders that the human eye could not see.  The Father was bringing together His Chosen Apostles and disciples for the End Times. I consecrated my life to do the Will of Almighty God and serve Him for the rest of my life. 

Many are called but few are Chosen.
-Matthew 22:14

The phrase "For many are called, but few are chosen" is found in Matthew 22:14. This scripture is part of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where Jesus illustrates that while many are invited to partake in God's kingdom, only a few will respond appropriately and be accepted. The phrase emphasizes the idea that not everyone who hears the call of God will be chosen, as it requires a genuine response and commitment

God is calling all believers to be saints. This calling is not based on human merit but is a gift from God. Every Christian, regardless of their current character or behavior, is considered a saint by God. The term "saint" signifies a relationship with God and participation in His kingdom work. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, emphasizes that all believers are called to be saints, with all who call on the name of Jesus Christ being included in this calling. This inclusive understanding of sainthood applies to all who place their faith in Christ, regardless of their flaws or imperfections.

I have come across many good and holy people who have been chosen to be Saints of God and have witness the Hand of God in many wonders. In my spiritual journey I have met not by coincidence but by God’s Grace of allowing me to witness the goodness and flaws of some of God’s holy children as my spiritual revelations would continue with each breath of my body.  I have come across people who I hope to become as them as they have completely received an anointed and gift from Almighty God. I pray that God continues to open doors and I must be submissive to Him on the Tasks He has before me.  I listen and obey only to God. I must use the gift of discernment to separate evil from rightness. Satan has many false prophets, seers and mystics that have not been chosen by Him. I must only seek counsel from anointed people that I know personally or have come into my life through and not suggested by individuals that are wolves in Sheep clothing. Every individual chosen by God must be Shepards to His Flock and not seek pride or personal popularity. Education is good but not if it is used to promote themselves. 

In 1984 My Spiritual Director and I were given a letter from Archbishop Patricio Flores from San Antonio, Texas to attend a private Mass with Pope John Paul II and we were also blessed in meeting Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India.

I have come to realize that God has been teaching and telling me that I will have the opportunity to meet individuals that have been Chosen by God to reach out to the unsaved walking in the darkness of evil. They must be Christ like loving and kind.  Reach out to the poor, the spiritually broken, those in need of healing both physical and spiritual. I must be caution and discern those that speak their educational knowledge with the selfishness and pride and not with the pure holiness of God. 

God's call to mankind to become saints on earth emphasizes that every individual is made in God's image and is called to live a holy life.

The Second Vatican Council highlights that holiness is a universal call, urging all people to seek God and strive for a life that reflects His love and grace. 

1.    All Christians are considered saints, as they are called to be set apart for God and to live in a way that honors Him. 

2.    The concept of holiness involves living a life that reflects Christ-like qualities and being united with God, which is essential for becoming a saint. 

3.    This calling extends to all believers, encouraging them to embody the image of Christ in their daily lives. 

In essence, the call to become saints is a divine invitation for all to live a life that honors God and reflects His love.

 
Father Rick Thomas was a Friend and now in line for Blessed and Sainthood.

I first met Father Rick Thomas in Rome in 1984. Father Rick Thomas, S.J., was a Jesuit priest known for his significant contributions to the ministry of the poor in the border region between the U.S. and Mexico. He founded The Lord's Ranch in 1975, which has since become a center for recreation, rehabilitation, and community service for needy youth. Under his leadership, the Our Lady’s Youth Center expanded to include various ministries, such as food banks and medical clinics, serving the community in Juárez, Mexico. Father Thomas's legacy continues through the ongoing ministries of The Lord's Ranch, which also hosts retreats and broadcasts KJES International Shortwave Radio Station.

When I first met Father Rick, he was a simple priest who loved Almighty God and the poor. At first, I thought he was nuts, He walked into St. Peter’s Basilica wearing and old pair of blue jeans, old Converse Tennis shoes and of course His Priestly Collar. A beautiful man of God who radiated God’s Love and Presence. 

What happened at the Lord’s Ranch was unbelievable. Father Rick’s ranch was in the Dumps of Mexico Border with the United States and El Paso. The poor people were in thousands. They ate garbage to survive. Father Rick with the Grace of God did the impossible. The faith of this gentle small skinny giant was beyond words. There was a lot of witchcraft in the Dumps. Father Rick was not afraid of the demons. He got a “Water Gun” and put holy water in his water pistol and cast out demons. There was a time during Christmas that someone donated a Ham to Father Rick. Father Rick lined up over 1,200 poor starving souls and God fed them all with only one “Ham”. The power of love and holiness. 

Below is a testimony from Cindy who lives in El Paso and worked with Father Rick 

Testimony by Cindy on Father Rick Thomas

Hi John!  In response to our discussion a few days ago, I wrote down some memories I have of Father Richard Thomas. I honestly do not remember how I met Father Rick. At that time, my life was a whirlwind between adult ministry and youth ministry. I remember sitting in my office at work and answering the phone. 

Father Rick had a big strong voice. “Cindy!…..”.  He was asking me and the youth ministry to join him at the DNC (Democratic National Convention) which would be held at the civic center in El Paso, Texas. He would provide the signs with information about what an abortion actually is and also posters showing abortions.  These would be given to the young people, and I would take my guitar to play sweet songs like “Jesus loves the little children…”.  I remember one woman saying loudly that she had gone through three abortions and was proud of it. The young people were shocked by the response from the DNC attendees.  They seemed surprised that “grownups” could support abortion.  In those days, I think most young people trusted adults and felt they made good choices.  They assumed that adults stood for what was right. We ended up inside the DNC and yes, I played!  The whole time, Father Rick stood in doorways of buildings that were close by, prayer book in hand and wearing converse shoes you couldn’t ignore. 

Dear Father Rick was in prayer. It was a privilege ministering with him.  In that same timeframe, Father Rick taught the young people how to do street ministry. 

He was such a hard worker. I had heard the stories of different miracles associated with Father Thomas. A lady was telling me that they were going to pick up a crop of potatoes, but they were not looking forward to it because they didn’t expect much. To their surprise, there were plenty of potatoes for the poor. Another miracle was that there was a piece of land at The Lord’s Ranch on which nothing would grow. He shared this with a friend in Great Britain. The friend, I believe was a priest, came to the ranch.  They prayed over that piece of land and it was cleansed and healed and could finally produce crops. I understand that a massacre had taken place on that land. The land is now at peace. 

A friend who worked with Father Thomas was remembering that they had made 300 burritos for the people at a dump in Juarez. They had many more in that line. They did not run out of burritos!  Everyone received a Burrito and punch.

When Father Rick passed away, the people of God gathered at Las Alas in downtown El Paso, where he had his prayer meetings. It was sad that he had passed away, but at the same time, it was a joyous occasion. I remember that everyone was praising the Lord and dancing. We even danced around the coffin. I know this may sound disrespectful to some, but please believe me, there was great love for Father Rick; and he was on his way to heaven. 

We are working among saints. 

The Lord has His hand on Father Rick. Now, he is being honored and the process for sainthood has begun. 

My questions now are:

1. Why did the Lord place us in each other’s path?
2. There are saints among us. What should I be learning from them?
3. What would the Lord have me do now?

Cindy Erivez

Cindy was the Music Ministry Director at the Release of the Holy Spirit Retreat in Fredericksburg, Texas. She is a wonderful faithful and loving servant of God. She gives her time and energy in working with children and the poor.

Fr. Richard Thomas from El Paso, Texas

Pending Beatification and Sainthood
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/totally-committed-to-jesus-usccb

Below I am sharing Father Rick Thomas’ saintly story.  I hope I do not bore you. I believe we are all called to be Saints of God

During Tuesday’s public sessions at the USCCB November plenary conference, Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico will petition the USCCB to consider whether to advance the local level cause for Thomas’ beatification and canonization.

Currently, Thomas’ cause for canonization is at a preliminary stage. The Lord’s Ranch website lists a page to request prayer cards and document any graces through his intercession.

Last year, the Lord’s Ranch and individuals who knew Thomas petitioned Baldacchino to begin the investigation into his cause for canonization. Baldacchino accepted and appointed Fr. Bill McCann, a local priest who knew Thomas, as postulator.

“Our petition has been accepted and I’ve been named postulator,” McCann told The Pillar. The next step is for the U.S. Bishops Conference to give the thumbs up on allowing it to go forward. Hopefully that will happen tomorrow.”

Father Rick’s cause has been gaining favor amongst other local bishops. Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso will speak in favor of advancing the investigation, Fernando Ceniceros, the director of communications for the Diocese of El Paso, told The Pillar.

At the time of his death, Father Thomas was a well-known, beloved figure in both the charismatic and pro-life community. McCann believes that many of the bishops will remember his ministry.

“He was well-known in the charismatic movement and charismatic publications often included articles about him, but he was also a pioneer in the pro-life movement. He had a real zeal for protecting babies in the womb,” McCann said. “I think a lot of the bishops, because of their age, probably knew about him and would be interested in seeing his cause go forward.”

In 1969, Thomas and members of his community experienced the charismatic renewal after Fr. Harold Cohen, SJ, another local Jesuit, invited them to a prayer meeting, Thomas’ biographer, Richard Dunstan, told The Pillar.

“Fr. Rick was baptized in the Holy Spirit at that meeting,” Dunstan said. “The immediate effects were not particularly apparent to him, but his ministry took off at that point that he had the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“He said he was never a lazy person, but after he was baptized in the Spirit, he had a level of energy that he hadn’t had before.”

After this experience, Thomas began hosting prayer meetings twice a week and bible studies five days a week. The community developed a charismatic approach to its ministry and, according to the people involved, began witnessing miracles.

On Christmas Day, 1972, Fr. Rick and a group of volunteers traveled across the border to minister to the poor who lived and worked at a garbage dump in Juarez Mexico. The group brought 125 burritos, a few oranges and other pieces of fruit, two hams, and some tamales.

“They all ate, we all ate, they all took food home and came back and took more,” Thomas recounted. “Yes, God was at work that day.”

Frank Alarcon, a volunteer from Our Lady’s Center, stood in amazement on the bed of his truck as he watched one small ham feed an entire line of people.

“This lady started cutting this ham and she was giving big portions to the people in line,” Alarcon said in the same television interview. “I am looking at the ham and looking at the people and everybody is eating and having a good old time and the lady is still cutting away at this big ham.”

“When it was all over, 350 workers had eaten, eight carloads from the ranch had ate, and we still had so much food that we had to go to three different orphanages on the way home,” Thomas said.

In 1975, Fr. Rick sought to expand the ministry and purchased 160 acres of land east of Vado, New Mexico. Initially, Fr. Thomas hoped to turn it into a summer camp for poor children in El Paso. Quickly, it became an active farm where volunteers planted fruit trees and raised goats and cows. The food was donated to The Lord’s Ranch Food Bank in Juarez, Mexico.

Volunteers lived and worked at the ranch, developing a variety of other ministries including a shortwave radio station — KJES, caring and housing youth, hosting retreats, and hosting visitors. It also served as a homebase for Fr. Rick’ other local ministries such as operating schools and orphanages, jail ministry, mental and dental clinics and food banks on both sides of the border.

“He was so zealous for the things of God and wanting to be doing everything for the glory of God,” McCann said. “That’s what was remarkable to me — his radical adherence to the teachings of Jesus.”

Fr. was a strong advocate for the pro-life movement — he was arrested a few times for protesting outside abortion clinics and mentored many of the current leaders of the Diocese of Las Cruces’ nationally recognized pro-life movement.

“In this area here, El Paso, Las Cruces, there’s a very strong pro-life movement, a lot of the leaders of the movement were mentored by Fr. Thomas,” McCann said. “Many other dioceses are looking at us to duplicate what we’re doing, which is a very comprehensive ministry to women, not just trying to stop the abortion, but we’re trying to help women before delivery and after delivery. We have a maternity home.”

“The leadership of this movement here was greatly influenced by Fr. Thomas and his witness.”

Testimonies on Father Rick Thomas

1. Richard Dunstan, a Canadian journalist, learned about The Lord’s Ranch and Fr. Thomas’ work in 1989. Curious about the charismatic community, he visited and encountered a vibrant, spiritual community centered on Christ. “During that visit, I realized I live a worldly life, I’ve got worldly concerns,” Dunstan told The Pillar. “But after meeting Fr. Thomas and working with volunteers at The Lord’s Ranch, I am a different person from that experience.”
2. The pinnacle moment came in a Mexican jail cell, locked inside with Fr. Thomas, a few volunteers and several hardened criminals. While Fr. Rick was preaching, a guard came with cigarettes for the inmates. They rushed to the door, forcing Thomas to stop his homily.

What happened next forever changed Dunstan’s life.

“When they come back, he said, ‘I’m glad you got your cigarettes, but you can smoke tell a bunch of jailbirds with nicotine addictions that they can’t smoke. He will have a riot, I thought,” Dunstan said. “Nobody smoked and then he did an altar call and about half of them [came forward].”

“I was terrified but then these guys started singing and preaching, and I had a conversion experience, I wasn’t afraid anymore,” Dunstan added. “I started walking around, seeing Jesus in the face of all these guys and listening to Fr. Thomas preach, I thought my life’s never going to be the same again.”=

“It all blew me away.”

McCann too had a powerful first encounter with Thomas.

In 1986, McCann was running a business that was helping the Lord’s Ranch. McCann visited the ranch and was so moved by Thomas’ witness and the community that he went home, sold his company and returned to the ranch for a year before entering seminary for the Diocese of Las Cruces.

“I was inspired by the way that he joined together his social ministry to the poor, the corporal works of mercy with a very vibrant spiritual life,” McCann said.

He said many of the people who met Fr. Thomas at the ranch say he left a profound impact on them.

“So many of them have given testimony of how Fr. Thomas’ example and the ministry to the poor inspired them and transformed their life.”

A few years after his first visit to The Lord’s Ranch, Dunstan was tasked with leading a local charismatic group in Canada.

He had no idea what to do. So, he called Fr. Thomas, who invited him to come down to the ranch again, and the two began regular correspondence.

“His single-mindedness, the absolute dedication he had to His mission and the Church was inspiring,” Dunstan said. “He was afraid of nothing. He would storm hell with a water pistol. He was totally dedicated, but without being humorless or grim or anything like that.”

He was also inspired by Thomas’ devotion and love for sacred scripture.

“He always said, ‘God’s word is serious, and he will take it as seriously as you do. If you do what the Bible says, it will all be true. If you trust in God, He will be true to you, and you can rely on Him’,” Dunstan said. “Thomas was extremely detailed and concrete about scripture.”

Dunstan recalled interviewing Thomas just two weeks before his death of melanoma in 2006. Despite his sufferings, the priest was filled with joy and zeal, he said.

“He was funny. He was good company,” Dunstan said.

“He was totally committed to Jesus. He would do anything if he thought God wanted him to do it. He didn’t care if it looked stupid. He didn’t care how much it cost him. He didn’t care if anybody agreed with him.”

“He not only had the heroic virtues of a saint, but the single-mindedness of a saint. He’s the sort of person that saints are made of.”

Do you say hello to those in Adoration or praying the Rosary?
It might be God’s living Saint

If anyone who knew Father Rick and  has testimonies, please email them to me at johnmartinez1581@beecreek.net.

Thank you, my friends and Saints,