Faith in Action—Fr. David Esquiliano, June 15, 2026

Tune into Faith in Action at 9 a.m., Monday, June 15 on Channel 88.1 FM, Siouxland Catholic Radio. Host Joanne Fox interviews Fr. David Esquiliano, Sioux City Diocese priest and native of Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. 

This program replays at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20.

Faith in Action is brought to you by Mary's Choice, a Sioux City Pregnancy Resource Center. Previous Faith in Action programs can be found at siouxlandcatholicradio.com, on YouTube, and on several other podcasting platforms. Programming is subject to change.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Hey, it is another edition of Faith in Action. I'm your host, Joanne Fox, and I am so grateful that you take time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show or one of the many other excellent programs we have on Stillland Catholic Radio. We are very grateful, listeners, for your support. And I want to remind you that it might be Monday at 9 a.m. or it might be Saturday at 7 p.m. when you listen, or you may have gone to our website at stilllandcatholicradio.com and clicked on Faith in Action and listened to the program at your convenience. We are also on a number of other podcasting platforms, including Spotify and some other ones, and it's all due to the general technology resource center, which is the exclusive underwriter for this shelf. So I am still pleased today to have a guest on my program over the telephone. I have titles with the diet sites of sex. First and foremost, I think it's the first of the diet of sex data. And I asked if you would be willing to share a journey to becoming a U.S. citizen. Oh wait a minute. Are you thinking to yourself, I thought he was a U.S. citizen? Well, no. He went through the citizenship process. And so he was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to share with you listeners that journey. So, Father David, thank you so much for chatting with me about this.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

Well, thank you for having me over and allowing me to share this story with uh your um listeners.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Very good. Well, first, Father David, why don't you tell the listeners a little bit about yourself, where you grew up and where you went to school, and how is it that you came to the diocese of Sioux City?

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Okay, well, um I was born in Southeast Mexico. For those who have gone to Cancun from that same state, although further south, right on the border with Belize, the name of the town is Chelumal, is the capital of the state, is about the size of Sioux City, actually, in terms of population. So I I was born there, I grew up there, and that's where I fell the um the calling to the priesthood. And how I ended up in Sioux City, that is a question that could take probably a whole show. So I'll try to summarize it. Um but basically I when I was growing up, I had the witness or the testimony of pastors who grew up in were born and grew up in Ireland and were missionaries in Mexico. So when I started thinking about the priesthood early on in my life, um I always thought of missionary priesthoods. I I could not conceive the idea of being a priest in my homeland, not because I didn't like it. Of course I love my homeland, I miss it, I miss the food, I miss the people, uh, I miss all about it. But I I that's what I saw in the priesthood. People that uh men that left uh their home, their language, their family, everything, uh to be priests. So I I that that's how I I I ended up here. I was invited by a uh priest, at the time seminarian friend of mine from a different diocese here in the States, saying uh there are some American dioceses looking for uh seminarians for uh future priests, and uh if you're interested, I can put you in touch with some of them, and and uh that's basically just how I ended up here just uh having this desire to be a missionary. So I came as a missionary.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Interesting. Now, if I remember correctly, because listeners, you gotta just bear with me. Um I interviewed Father David when I was at the Catholic Globe, the newspaper for the diocese of Sioux City, and he is not like uh a lot of our typical seminarians who, you know, went to high school and then went to college and then went to seminary. You actually worked in the real world for a while. Can you tell the listeners a little bit about that?

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Yes, so I actually went to seminary right out of high school, but only lasted for a year and a half. And and and perhaps it was because I was not in the right place. I was with a religious community and and I won't go too deep into this, but religious life is different than diocese and priesthood. Um so anyhow, after a year and a half I left and I worked for a while, I taught English, I um and then I studied computer engineering. So I worked also as a computer engineer, I wrote a software. Um that was in the early days of uh smartphones and and I I wrote software for smartphones uh when they were just starting. So yes, I I did have uh a life uh before I I I I was ordained a priest.

SPEAKER_00 5:10

Okay, very good. And then of course it's so interesting that it was just an invitation from um you know another seminarian who said, you know, maybe you would like to come to the States and serve in in a diocese. And so you're coming to the diocese of Sioux City, and uh again, listeners, just bear with me. I know a lot of these stories because well Father David has told me, but you gotta tell them how you got off the plane here and it was a bit cold.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Right. So I and and this this will tie up into the whole um citizenship uh story. So um the whole thing started in 2006. Uh that's when I uh I believe it was uh spring of 2006 when I first met Father Brian Hughes, uh then vocations director for the diocese, and that was in Mexico City. He came to visit. At the time I was living just a couple hours away from Mexico City. So we met and he invited me to come over. And um for those who don't know, to come to the States, you need to get a visa, which is basically a piece of paper that allows you to get on a plane and get to the border, and then they decide whether they let you in or not. So he invited me to come and without any commitment, he said, Well, if you're gonna be a priest in a place, you need to know at least uh the place, you need to at least see it and and get to meet people. So he invited me to come and I applied for a visa not too long after that, um, with intention of coming the fall of 2006, but that didn't happen. I I applied for a visa, it was denied, so I couldn't come. So I had to apply for another visa, and that happened in the fall of 2006, it was approved, so in the spring of 2007, uh I came to visit. And I remember it was Ash Wednesday, uh, so I woke up in the morning, I was flying from Cancun, so I spent the night in Cancun, went to Mass in the morning to get my ashes, and it was um well Cancun, it's sunny, it's hot, it's warm. Uh so you wear flip-flops and and shorts, and and that's what I was wearing. And then got on the plane, flew through uh Houston, I believe, and then to Omaha, and the change in temperature was very, very uh uh significant, going from Cancun to um to in that case Nebraska and then Iowa. That was the first time I saw snow, uh at least up close. I had seen snow uh flying through London once from the plane. Um but that was the very first time I saw snow. It had snowed, I think, a few days prior. Um and I remember arriving at at a cathedral where I was staying uh for a couple months, enjoying uh piles of snow, and it was cold.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

That's true. It's cold here, there's no doubt about it. So uh and I'm glad you mentioned the visa thing because I am going to circle back around that. Um, but what was it? I mean, you grew up in Mexico, you spent most of your life there, and so you come to the States. What was it about the United States and maybe the diocese that you said to yourself, I think this might be a good fit? What might have been the appeal?

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Well, it was uh first that invitation that I mentioned earlier. I had never thought of come of coming to the US to live. Um I wanted to be a missionary, and my thoughts were going to Africa or Asia because I had met missionaries going to those places. And I knew those were uh mission uh grounds, so I wanted to go there. Um the states never crossed my mind. I I of course I wanted to come, uh growing up we'll hear um all the theme parks, and I wanted to come see that and and the big cities. Uh so yeah, I wanted to come visit, but I never thought of coming live in the States. Um so it was that invitation that brought me here. Otherwise, I wouldn't have uh considered that. And once being here, it was meeting people. Uh some of those people are people that uh I work with today because as I mentioned, I stayed at the cathedral. So some of the people are still um employees here, and now they're my co-workers, even though I just met them uh uh 19 years ago, and and at the time none of us would have thought that would happen. So it was meeting people, it was coming to mass and and uh meeting at at that point uh Bishop Nicholas, uh Father Hughes, and other priests that were here, uh the cathedral enter all the diocese. So that's what did it. It it was people.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

And I would agree with you, and I think listeners would as well. We uh I often kind of joke that you know it's the Holy Spirit working in mysterious ways. But you know, when we look back on our lives, you know, maybe the individual that we chose to marry, maybe the uh university we chose to go to, a lot of it has to do with uh a feeling, uh a vibe or or the person or the people to kind of draw us to places and that we have a comfort level and intuitively, or again the Holy Spirit is saying to us that might be where you want to settle. So um you decide that you know you want to be a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City, and um again, I covered this, so I kind of know it. But tell the listeners, you know, what that process was like, because again, it kind of involved you not being a U.S. citizen.

SPEAKER_01 10:50

That is correct. So after a couple months, which was the time uh I was given to visit, I um and and during that time actually, I also visited a couple seminaries where the diocese used to send seminaries at the time, Conception uh uh seminary in Conception, Missouri, and um St. John Viani in the Twin Cities. So it was decided that I would be going to Conception uh because I also applied to the seminary during that time I was here. Um and I went back and applied for another visa, in this case a student visa. Uh again, just for those who don't know uh the process, uh you can come with a tourist visa just that for a very uh short amount of time, usually no more than three months at a time. So of course that would have work for me to study here. That's the visa I had to come initially. But then once it was decided to study here, I applied for a student visa and I was here for two years as a student. And then um Bishop Neplet decided to send me uh to Rome to get my uh study in theology and then in canon law. So during that time I was uh I didn't have any uh legal status as a resident here in in the state. So I still have uh I still had a tourist visa at the time, so I would come and visit for the summers um just um to keep that connection uh with with the parish. But of course I wasn't able able to work. I was visiting, spending time in the parishes. Um so that that's what uh what happened during those years.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Okay. And so um ordination day uh remind me I should know these things, and in fact I do know the ordination date because I will share with the listeners a little story, but maybe you could tell the listeners when and where you were ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Sioux City.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

So I was ordained uh June 29th of 2013, uh the same cathedral where I am rector right now.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

Yes, very much so. All right, now it's time for me to share a little story. Listeners know that I often segue into my own little stories. Well, because this show truly is all about me, although I have all my friends on. So at the ordination, I'm covering it. Um my dear friend Jerry Meninga is taking oodles and oodles of pictures of it. And uh this older woman comes up to me and hands me a uh a plastic container. And it's all about um three inches by five inches, I'd say it's her card and it is for you, and at the top of the and of course that is John, chapter 15, verse 16. And then it says here your name, which is Father David Esquilano. It is David Esquilano. Yes. And then it has the date, and then inside of this um uh in this plastic covering is what I would call a little a little tiny rosary that I can say, and it's definitely handmade. And I think later on, um I I I I thought, who is this? And wasn't it your maternal grandmother?

SPEAKER_01 14:12

It was actually my mom who made this.

SPEAKER_00 14:14

Okay, but I it was an older woman, it wasn't your mom who gave it to us.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

Yeah, it was probably my my my ummother. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:22

Yeah, I remember of course, you know, covering it and and seeing your folks there. And then, but it was this older woman, and then I'm sure somebody told me, because I nudged somebody, said, Who's that? And I think they said it was your your grandmother. So that listeners uh sits on my desk at my home. Uh wonderful reminder of um, again, the Holy Spirit working in mysterious ways and bringing uh this individual with four names. And maybe you could explain why you have these four names to me.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

Well, yeah, and actually I would say it's also had, uh, not have anymore. And I'll explain why. Uh so in Spanish, as in like from Spain uh tradition, one would get to I I want to say family names because last name implies it is the very last word in your name. So one gets two family names. Uh so just like many people here, you have a first name, you're given name, and then many have a middle name. So in my case, my first name is Jose. My um middle name would be uh David, um, although I go by my middle name just because um at home my dad my dad's name was also Jose, so we never use that name for myself. So it's not that I don't like it or I have anything against it. It's I never got used to it. I always went by uh David or David, and that's that's what I go by now. Um so with the last name or or the uh family names, uh the first one, Escaliano, would be my dad's family name. Uh so that's what he got from his dad, and and his dad got it from his dad. Um, and uh Diaz would be my family name on my mom's site, and again, that's what she got from uh her dad, who got it from uh his dad. So that's why we um many uh or or all Hispanics, uh at least all Mexican-born and and other places in Latin America, you will see uh there's usually two uh last names or or family names, uh, because that's the his the the the Spanish uh tradition. But when I became a citizen, um I changed my name legally. I I dropped uh the Diaz part, not because I have anything against my mom, I I love her dearly, but just to standardize it to the way uh it would be uh in in in American custom.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

Yes, very good. That was a great explanation. I I didn't know all those details, um, but I did know Diaz was your mom's name. So but I think it helps the listeners to better understand what's going on. So ordination back in uh 2013 and what happened after that, because you are not a U.S. citizen, you have these visas. So then how can you continue to stay in the United States? So maybe explain to the listeners how that works out.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Yeah, so after that, um because I was supposed to be working, I needed a different kind of visa. I mentioned a student visa, of course, that allows you to be a student. Uh tourist visa only allows you to visit, so I need to get what is called a workers, or in my case, a religious worker visa, which allows you to stay here for up to three years um working. Uh so that's what I had to do. I w I had to go back to Mexico and it was providential because my mom passed uh right after the ordination and I was able to be there with family while also working on my uh visa. I I had an assignment uh in Storm Lake, but I couldn't work uh until I got a visa. So I I took care of that. It took me a few weeks, and uh it was a process that started uh before I finished uh seminary because uh it's it's a lengthy process. So I applied for a worker's visa, and um that's how I had my first four years. Uh I mentioned uh three years actually, uh as long as you don't leave the country, uh it may allow you to stay longer. Uh so that's what happened. In my case, I I work for four years under that religious worker visa. Now, one of the other things is that I couldn't leave the country because if I had left the country, I would have had to apply for another religious worker visa. Again, it's a lengthy and expensive process. That's something people don't realize. Uh so during that time, uh during my uh fourth year here, my dad passed, and I couldn't be with him, I couldn't be with my family, I couldn't be there at all. Uh I could have gone, but then I would have had to apply for another visa. And that would have meant leaving the parish for weeks or months while the whole process was going on, and always risking not even getting it. So um it it is not an easy process. It is um it is a complicated process. It is not just like saying, Oh, you go to the embassy and they give you a visa. Uh it was expensive and lengthy and uh no guarantees.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

And listeners, I am almost positive that a lot of you have kind of an understanding of this because so many of us have um friends or acquaintances who are also trying to, you know, navigate the visa process. I mean, it's a bureaucracy at a whole new level of challenges. And uh listeners, if you uh just happen to be tuning in right now, I want to remind you that Phil is Fate Connection. I'm your host, Joanne Fox and on the phone with me is uh David Connell, Director of the State of Crest or Data 23 and chatting with me about so we've been talking a lot about the the FISA process, which uh literally uh started back in 2006 where you tried to get one and couldn't get one, and in 2007 you did get one, and uh you know listeners, this is 20 years later of um you know going through a lot of paperwork and uh as we know it's expensive. So uh what kind of prompted the decision to become a U.S. citizen, Father David?

SPEAKER_01 20:31

Sorry, could you repeat the question?

SPEAKER_00 20:33

What prompted the decision to become a U.S. citizen?

SPEAKER_01 20:37

So going back to um what I mentioned about my pastors in in in Mexico, uh Irish pastors, um, they they went through the same. They they I I I said as they became uh part of the people they came to serve. So it was the same thing for me. Uh becoming part of the people that I came to serve. And the other thing, and and I want to be clear, I'm not a politician, I don't talk politics, I preach the gospel, but sometimes uh this uh gives um these uh spheres uh like intersect. And one of the realities is that at uh at a point I had already applied for a different status, which is a permanent resident. Um with a whole political climate, I was not secure uh here because even as a permanent resident, I'm not as I I was not guaranteed to be here. Um and anything could have happened that I could have been removed from from here. Uh so I wanted to to be able to provide a a um long um ministry here in the diocese. So that was a way to guarantee that I would be able to stay here because as a citizen, this is where I belong. So um there was a little bit of that. Um that I wanted I didn't want to risk my permanence here in the diocese. I Love this place. I I I I consider myself now an Iowan and particular uh northwestern Iowan. So I just wanted to make sure I I could stay this way.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

So I and this is kind of interesting because in my mind I suddenly had a vision of somebody, some ICE agents knocking at the door of the cathedr or uh cathedral or or you know where you reside and going, We're we're looking for someone named David Esquilano because he needs to be taken back. It was that a possibility? Because again, it's it's a little confusing as to what we see on the news and of course what we hear amongst acquaintances over coffee or something. Was that a possibility?

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Well, I I wouldn't say necessarily that being a possibility, but just for an ex just as an example. Um if you're a primary resident, you are supposed to have um certain moral uh standards, uh, because that's um who the country wants here, and and I I have nothing against that. But for example, a simple uh traffic violation could jeopardize that. Uh just speeding could jeopardize that. Because at that point, uh you are charged with with something and and uh so it is not like I was I I was afraid that somebody would knock on on on the door of the uh cathedral, but um again, even minor things that we couldn't think that that we wouldn't think of uh could jeopardize my my permanence.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

Okay, that that is really interesting. Again, you know, and listeners would probably be nodding their heads as well. Um, you know, the risk that there is, and I I didn't put two and two together. Something as simple as a speeding ticket or maybe even a parking violation could put yourself at risk. So that makes sense that you know you say to yourself, you know, mm I I love Northwest Iowa, I love being a priest of the diocese, um, appreciate my co-workers, all that stuff. So how does one then begin the process of becoming a U.S. citizen?

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Well, um, in my case, I would have to give a big uh shout out to Catholic Charities and their welcome program. Uh for those who don't know, this is one of the projects that was begun uh just uh a few years ago uh by our local uh Catholic charities of the Diocese of Sioux City, in which they provide uh immigration uh terms. So I just went through them and I presented my case and I said I'm a permanent resident, I've been here for five years, which is the minimum required to apply for citizenship. And they felt they helped me with the paperwork, they uh filed everything. And after that, I had to go through um well first uh just background check and fingerprints and picture taken and all that, and then I had to study. I had uh exams on technically. So at the time I I had an easier one, there were a hundred questions I had to learn, and then I had to ask I had to answer I believe ten questions uh correctly. Well, I wasn't gonna be asked ten, I had to answer I believe six correctly. But now it's uh even though it's just been a few months, uh there are some things I've forgotten uh the details. Uh so yeah, so I had to pass a test, and of course, during that time I had to be very careful. Um no um speeding tickets, no nothing that that could jeopardize that.

SPEAKER_00 25:33

Okay. So and now I'm curious, um, we like to go to trivia nights. Would you be a good person to join me for trivia nights? Um, because you know a lot about like our constitution and our government. Would you be a good person?

SPEAKER_01 25:48

Well, when I took the test, absolutely. But now I've been forgetting a few things.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

As we all do. I mean, civics class for me was uh 50 plus years ago in school. So yeah, I mean I I know oddball facts, but um I might be hard pressed to answer questions as well.

SPEAKER_01 26:07

So what's that's something people don't realize either is that um it is not just like, oh, you apply for citizenship and you get it. We have to prove that uh we know about the country, that we know the history, that we know the values, um also we speak the language. Uh the the exam was in English, and actually part of the exam was a uh writing test, a speaking test, a listening test. So it wasn't just like, oh, I applied and and here it is the paperwork. It takes time and and again I I I'm fortunate, but I will have to say and and I want to be careful not to sound like I'm bragging, but I have uh at least three college degrees theology, canon law, engineering. And even I was freaking out before the exam with almost a hundred questions. Um because the consequences are significant. It is not just like, oh, I failed the test and I take it again. Um I could have jeopardized my status here in the country.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Well, yeah, and again, you are absolutely right. It isn't like, oh dear, you know, in college I did not do well on that exam. Uh, well, I guess it won't impact my grade, it's just a part of my grade. The consequences for not passing is then what happens if you don't pass? Is the opportunity to take it again quick, or do you have to kind of s start from you know page one again? I think the listeners might be interested in knowing that.

SPEAKER_01 27:39

Well, fortunately, I did not fail the test, so I I don't know what happened. Um if if that were to happen. Um but it is not like right away. You have to go through the scheduling process. Uh and then if you don't pass, I think you just have to apply again.

SPEAKER_00 28:01

Okay. All right. And we've talked a little bit about um, you know, all the paperwork associated with the visas and then becoming a citizen. And back toward the beginning of this interview, you mentioned that it's costly as well. And so what kind of costs are involved in the pursuit of a U.S. citizenship?

SPEAKER_01 28:23

Well, the main cost comes from different visas that you have to apply for. In my case, uh for citizenship, it's not it wasn't the the the most expensive one. Um and I was uh grateful for the support of the diocese throughout the whole process. Uh so I didn't have to bear the majority of these uh costs. I had to cover a couple, for example. Uh when I apply for a green card, I had to have a medical exam and vaccination, stuff like that, um, and and similar for student visa. But some things, um, for example, when I applied for my first religious worker visa, uh the diocese had to provide pictures of the bedroom I would live in, the bathroom I would use, uh, the kitchen where I would be eating, so they had to go to the rectory, take pictures. Um and all of these things of course of course uh are costly because you have to use people and and and their time and uh and the the paperwork was several pages. Uh I would say at least uh about a hundred-200 pages uh long. Um the application with all the the requirements and tax documents and um different different things. Uh so of course shipping that and and I I can guarantee I can tell you it was definitely independent uh of thousands.

SPEAKER_02 29:48

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 29:49

From when I first applied to to um in in for a BC in 2006 to 2026 when I finally became a citizen.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

Wow, I and that is certainly something I did not realize. Wow, I that kind of takes my breath away.

SPEAKER_01 30:06

So you Yeah, and if you if you if you allow me to say this, um I think this is also important to remember. Uh uh one of the things that I hear often uh in terms of pastoral plan is why don't we bring more priests from overseas? And and I think uh my uh I I hope my journey helps answer that question. One, it is not easy. As I mentioned, I wasn't there for my dad's passing. Um my family couldn't see me. I I had a uh the loss of a very, very uh close cousin of mine a few years ago. I couldn't be there. There's a lot that is asked uh from uh guy who is gonna come here, and and please don't don't I don't wanna sound like I'm I'm um uh just making it like oh for me. Uh I knew all of all of that of that and and I I decided to come and and I'm not regretting a single minute of being here. But uh not everybody is able to do it. And and some of you know how close you are to your family, so for some it is easier than it is for others, but then also the financial aspect of that. It is not cheap to go through a uh process performing seminary and and bring up a brief go through all the legal uh paperwork. Um I so so that I I hope that that also helps. My my that my journey helps uh illustrate that.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

I think that's a great point to make as well. Um because again, so many of us just don't understand. You know, we we revel when we see the TV or the newspapers show, you know, the individuals becoming U.S. citizens, and we smile and we nod and we go, well, that's so wonderful because you know, we want more citizens. Uh but the backstory that is what is so fascinating, I think. And uh, you know, uh was it Winston Churchill that said blood, sweat, and tears, I think. And uh there's a lot that goes into this. And and as you alluded, uh the the money that it takes, you know, to the paperwork, the pictures, uh um just at the expense. And so you're absolutely right. Uh, you know, when people say, why don't we just import, you know, seminarians and have them be priests of the diocese from other countries. And of course, that's a whole other show. But you're you're right, you know, that there's a lot involved because in your own journey, uh I, you know, and I still appreciate you sharing all of this because it is eye-opening to to learn, and I consider myself as as I do you, educated individuals. And yet I don't know everything about what goes into this. So this is is just fascinating. Okay, so you have passed the exam. Then what?

SPEAKER_01 32:55

So after that, um I just had to wait uh until a ceremony was uh scheduled. Um so there are a couple of things that could have happened. If I had not changed my name legally, and I already explained that and and why I did it, um, I could have been thrown in right after the test and and become a citizen. But because I was changing my name and again, nothing against my mom uh uh and and her uh maiden name, it was just uh a matter of going to a standard for this country which makes it easier for people to understand. Um I had to wait until a ceremony was scheduled in front of a judge. So I was fortunate that one was here in Sioux City uh about three months later, um, or a couple months later, so December uh last year, I was in front of a judge with uh 23 other people and became a citizen.

SPEAKER_00 33:48

Well, during this journey, and and it has been quite a journey, I'll say, what surprised you? Maybe something that you didn't anticipate, and it didn't have to be like a negative surprise, but maybe something that you said to yourself, Wow, I I guess I didn't see that coming.

SPEAKER_01 34:05

Um I actually wasn't anything negative. It's on the contrary, something positive, the support of the people. Especially the people here in in the diocese, um and in in the area. When I was um uh at the ceremony, there were priests from the diocese and actually from across the river. Uh Father uh Nigga Meyer from South Sioux was there because he's a good friend that I've known for years in seminary days. Uh but other priests here from the diocese, uh Father Gallus, one of my fellow co-makers, and other priests were were there. Some others couldn't be there, but then we had a gathering uh to celebrate, and and other people again. Um Mark Proser, the uh Chancellor of the Diocese and his wife, and and and other people that that uh I've I've known and I didn't expect that. Uh not that um I I don't think um that they're great people, but it is one of those things that oh wow, they're busy, everybody has their things going on. But uh so I was very grateful.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

Oh yeah. I would imagine so. Yeah, because you're right. Uh people have busy lives, and you think to yourself, well, this is important to me. In fact, it's incredibly important to me personally. But you know, I understand people have lives and you know, maybe they can't make it, and uh what a delight that must have been to look out and see the support of individuals that you have a relationship with, be it friends, acquaintances, uh uh, maybe parishioners even, um, to be there to say, you know, we're here for you, Father David, that must have been uh humbling. And in fact, um I probably would have been in tears, quite honestly, to think that people admired me or respected me so much that they wanted to be there for me.

SPEAKER_01 35:53

Absolutely. And there were other there were parishioners actually being thrown in at the same ceremony, and and that was very, very nice. And um at the end uh of the ceremony the judge uh said that she had never seen a um support group as large as the one I had, um uh or a cheering group as much as as large as the one I had. Um because there were people from the community, parishioners and and friends that that were there. Uh people came from Storm Lake actually. Um friends from Storm Lake came uh for the ceremony, uh which again I I'm so grateful. That was my first assignment. It was tell me uh grew into the the pre-sign now and uh Yeah that that that was uh the biggest surprise again, not because I did not know that people are great and and very uh welcoming again, going back to to the beginning of the story, is that's why I decided to stay here because of the people. And that was kind of like close into circle.

SPEAKER_00 36:51

Yeah, it would. It would be the circle of life as they sing in the Lion King, very much so. So uh, you know, a couple more questions. The the you know, you've shared this journey, it is just remarkable, and it was not an easy one. So, what would you say to an individual who's maybe listening? Maybe they're not qua maybe they are not pursuing their citizenship, but maybe they know of someone who might be. What would you say to encourage someone to to go forth with this? What would you say would be um the impetus to do that?

SPEAKER_01 37:26

So the first thing is be supportive. Uh we're all at different stages. I know some people have not gotten their citizenship because they haven't been able to pass the test or perhaps uh help people uh prepare. Uh also decide not to do it because they may not want to live here uh forever. They may be planning on just raising enough money and go live somewhere else, but just be supportive. Um I again for me that was the main thing is being supportive. Uh uh being supported by by the people during the diocese.

SPEAKER_00 37:58

Yeah, and I think you you have really um spoken to that pretty clearly is you know, for us to be supportive of an individual or individuals who are are thinking of doing this and saying, you know what, we're here for you. It's no different than we you know, our friends or acquaintances or our loved ones say, you know, I'm thinking of going, you know, to college or university or trade school or you know, that we are there for them. That so they don't feel alone. And I I'm I so appreciate you kind of sharing all these insights because it so sounds like on this whole journey you were never alone.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

That is correct. I was never alone.

SPEAKER_00 38:39

Very good. So another question is okay, so now you're all done and uh you're a a US citizen. Um what was the first thing you did to celebrate your citizenship?

SPEAKER_01 38:52

Well, I had a dinner with friends that evening, uh that one of my friends hosted uh at a place and and um so yeah, so I I I partied um uh with w again with with friends and um I was wearing uh some um US flag theme socks to celebrate that day.

SPEAKER_00 39:15

Perfect.

SPEAKER_01 39:17

So yeah, I uh and after that um I kept going.

SPEAKER_00 39:23

Now, did you have cake at the uh the celebratory get together?

SPEAKER_01 39:29

Um I again I can't remember the details. I know we had uh MMs in uh black callers.

SPEAKER_00 39:41

Oh, excellent. And were there gifts involved?

SPEAKER_01 39:44

There were.

SPEAKER_00 39:45

There were. All right, very good. And uh, you know, I'm joking because because again, you know, um I was there for you through your ordination, and we've had a long friendship, I think. And so I was waiting for you to say, and the first thing I did was I I I exceeded the speed limit on Hamilton Boulevard. So I think it's 35, so I went 45 because if they pulled me over, they couldn't deport me. But I know you didn't do that. Now, citizen now, listeners, you know, I'm not trying to say that that was a good thing to do, but you know, this has been such a delightful interview. Oh, Father David, I cannot thank you enough. I mean, I have learned a lot about the citizenship um journey, and listeners know, you know, I spent my entire career in the field of journalism. I've interviewed people who have become citizens, I've interviewed teachers who are in um classes that teach citizenship and they talk about, you know, the gratification that they receive when that class uh becomes U.S. citizen. So I know a lot about the process, but this has been a wonderful interview to to learn more about the backstory. And then, you know, as I was kind of jotting down notes of 20 years. I mean, from 2006 when you didn't get that first one, and today it's now 2026, and 2007 where you did get the first visa, and the whole uh, you know, I hate to say bureaucracy, but the whole uh years and years of uh filling out paperwork and spending money and you know, then finally last December swearing in. What a a wonderful journey, and uh I am so grateful that you were willing to share this with our listeners, Father David. It it I I know that they are nodding their heads going, this is a very a very, very cool faith in action program.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Well, thank you. Thank you for uh allowing me to share this story again. Um I know it intersects into politics and and I'm not a politician, but I do want to share that this is not an an easy journey, and um I I'm glad that I was able to do it. I I'm glad I had the support and now that I get to share the story.

SPEAKER_00 42:03

Yes, and I am glad too, because I know you're a busy guy, um, you know, rector of the cathedral, and then you're in uh doing things in the tribunal with um all sorts of things, marriage cases and other stuff. So And just being a priest, you know, doing the sacraments for all of us. So so grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. Um in this has this has been great, and I wish you well as uh a U.S. citizen and uh continued um you know well wishes for you continue uh your journey in your priesthood as well.

SPEAKER_01 42:38

Well, thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

So, listeners, that kind of wraps up another edition of Faith in Action. You know, this is a wonderful program, uh local program that we produce here on Sioux Land Catholic Radio. Like I said, uh it airs every Monday at 9 a.m., replays every Saturday at 7 p.m. And then we have other great local programming. We have the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day at 3 p.m. And we have Mass from uh Modern Day Parish every Sunday at 9 a.m. We have this great show for younger people called Life Plan Sundays at 8 o'clock p.m. And then um our Catholic Ministry Professionals with John and Ty every Tuesday at 4 p.m., John Air with Fred and Cara every Wednesday at 4 p.m. And Father Knows Best with Father Mark Stoll Wednesdays at 9 p.m. And then of course that is in addition to all the great EWTN programming we air. So um I just want to remind you if you tuned in late, you can always go to our website and listen to this or any of our shows, still landcatholicradio.com. We are also on Spotify and on a number of other podcasting platforms, and that's all due to the generosity of Mary's Choice, a Sioux City Pregnancy Resource Center, which is the exclusive underwriter for this show. So before we sign off, Father David, would you please give us your blessing?

SPEAKER_01 43:58

Absolutely. The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

And with your spirit. Amen. So, listeners, on behalf of myself, I'm Joanne Fox, I'm the host of this program, and my executive producer, Anne Reid, I want to remind you that a faithful reaction is good, but faith in action is so much better. Thanks for listening and God bless.