Spiritual Since My Youth

It is historical and many who have known me are aware that since my childhood I have been very spiritual. In fact, it is known that since my days in junior high school and all throughout high school I would make a part of my life to attend early morning mass at 6:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church on Elgin street which was walking distance from my house on Ada Street in the in an area that was then referred to as San Diego.  Coach R.S. Garza and Faustino Rivera (late father of Joe Rivera and Delia Rivera) were the users in the morning mass and eventually I became of the youngest ushers ever in the Catholic Church. I never missed a day of mass all through junior high and high school. When I was senior I was asked by the leading father at Christ the King Church if I would coach the boys basketball team, and I did and we won the conference at that time. I was just a senior at Miller High School.

 I am sharing all of these facts because many might think that  because of my suffering for 20 years in the prisons of America I have found this power of spirituality. In reality this power has always been in my heart and soul as if God was preparing me to be the spiritual warrior/leader that He was seeking for a long time on this earth. Delia, Joe, Father Higgins, Father Fernandez and many others were and are witnesses to my spiritual life at a very early age. That spirituality has now become the essence of seeking freedom, justice, equality and love not only for myself and my family, but most importantly for all humanity.