Denver Catholic

49 DENVER CATHOLIC | AUGUST 2023 "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) DISCIPLE OF THE MONTH Finding Purpose In His Painful Past Con g r atulations CESAR SANCHEZ, for being the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, "Disciple of the Month." If you know someone else who is courageously spreading the Gospel, please share his or her story with us at give.archden.org/nominate and they may become the next "Disciple of the Month." By the time Cesar Sanchez was 13, his brother had died in gang violence four years earlier, his single mom had emotionally withdrawn from Cesar in her grief and the young teen turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. A year later, he was lying in a hospital bed from an over- dose and doctors were ready to turn off the machines that were keeping him alive. The boy's mother dropped to her knees and prayed for a miracle. Her cries were answered, and Sanchez recovered. Even the doctors pointed to his mother's prayers for saving his life. She said, "you need to thank God, because he's the one who gave you another chance." Despite his moment of clarity and a return to church, temptations continued for Sanchez, and he fell right back into a lifestyle of partying with friends. He said he was too weak and fell twice as hard. Sanchez felt he was the worst of the worst, but just like Jesus' parable about the 99 sheep, the teen learned he too was deserving of God's love. He recalls his "calling" to serve on the second day of a church retreat his mother coaxed him into attending. Sanchez first was called to participate in the Prevención y Rescate youth group at Ascension Catholic Parish in Denver and later to volunteer as a leader for the group that focuses on rescuing addicts and gang members found on the streets. Sadly, Sanchez also lost a second brother to gun violence in 2020. Sanchez uses the grief and challenges from his life to gain trust from the youth who participate in Prevención y Rescate. Sanchez hopes the teens learn from his honesty about his experiences. "I pray they have an eye-opening encounter," said Sanchez, 23. "Helping them, is helping me. I'm finding my purpose." 20 23 D I SCI P LE O F TH E M O NTH

• Cover