AUZENNE: The courage to speak

(Photo by James Ramos/Houston)Spanish is not my first language (for those who are native Spanish speakers, this will become very evident if you read this article in Spanish.) I studied for many years in school and college, and I use Spanish a lot in my work in the Archdiocese. But it is very difficult for me. When I give talks, I always start with, “Thank you for your patience with my Spanish.” People are very patient with me. They understand how difficult it is to speak a language you didn’t learn as a child.

A big problem for me is the verbs. I cannot conjugate them in the past, nor the future, nor most of the 16 tenses that exist in Spanish grammar. When I speak in Spanish, I only use the present tense.

For this reason, my life feels much smaller in Spanish. In English, I say, “I have lived in Houston all of my life.” But in Spanish, “Soy de Houston” (I am from Houston). In English, “I met my husband when I was nine years old. We have been married 26 years.” In Spanish, “Estoy casada” (I am married).

My grammatical limitations mean that I am much more “present” in Spanish. I have to listen attentively to what is being said and think deeply before I respond. I have to use my words carefully. My thoughts are just as fast, but my words are slower.

This experience of feeling my life both smaller and yet more present in Spanish makes me think about the courage I see in my migrant brothers and sisters during this uncertain time. Elements of our government want to shrink their existence in our communities, even DACA recipients who have known no other home but the U.S. They want to make us believe that these young adults — many of whom work in our parishes and in our chancery offices — have no future in our country.

I encourage all Catholics and people of goodwill to learn more about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Texas v. United States and the efforts of our state government to revoke the work status of nearly 90,000 DACA recipients in Texas. As our bishops noted in their November 5, 2025, statement, such action would force DACA recipients (including those working in our parishes and ministries) to abandon their homes, livelihoods and communities where they have lived most of their lives. 

The bishops conclude their statement with a clear call to accompany those who are impacted by this injustice: “We want to say unequivocally to all our immigrant sisters and brothers, and in a particular way to those who arrived as children: We have heard your cries. We are with you in these difficult days.”

May the Lord give us the kind of courage that opens hearts and minds, that stands with our bishops as they speak truth to power, and that builds bridges instead of walls.

Mary of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Amy Auzenne is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.