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By Suzanne Haugh, Special To The Bulletin

ATLANTA-Gabriel Onofre came to the United States from Colombia 10 years ago "to have an adventure," he said. He took what each day brought in his newfound home of Atlanta and dove into American culture. He could not escape an ensuing restlessness, however. Prompted by his mother, he got on his knees to pray. As a result, he found himself closer to the Blessed Sacrament and at the start of what would become one of the most challenging adventures of his life. May 2001 - Atlanta "I came without a plan," he said. "I had finished my medical education (in Colombia) and was disenchanted with the way medicine was practiced there. I was really confused." His mother, then in Colombia, encouraged him to pray. "So I started. I never had before taken prayer seriously in a disciplined way." He began reading the Bible, praying and attending Mass, which also helped him improve his English and opened up opportunities to participate in American life both inside and outside the church. "Day by day, it became a very important activity for me, to be involved in the Catholic Church." Even though he grew up in a Catholic environment at home and in school, Onofre had unresolved questions about his faith. "Church was important, but Mass I didn't really understand, or the depth of the sacraments, the Eucharist." He also had no prior exposure to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. "About a year ago, adoration became more and more important. I stopped every day at least for a moment. What a beautiful thing to do, to visit the Lord and get into a conversation," he said, adding, "Being in adoration is a great opportunity to listen to Jesus without distractions. I pay close attention to him every day." While his spiritual life became more focused, he continued to seek out his professional calling. He has a master's degree in public health from Emory University and worked for St. Joseph's Hospital and Catholic Social Services, among others. He completed his medical residency in family practice, graduating from Morehouse College School of Medicine. "With every day, I am part of God's plan. Whoever I meet, I see more clearly (God's will) and I take that more seriously, the people God is guiding me to." When his parents and sister moved to Atlanta, the family became involved every Saturday in the lives of Hispanic immigrants at the San Felipe de Jesus Mission in Grant Park. Onofre spent time tending to both their physical ailments and sharing with them church teachings on issues, such as natural family planning, in a catechism class. He also prayed the rosary with the immigrants, in both English and Spanish. "Often Hispanic immigrants don't attend Mass for many reasons, one being that when they arrive in the United States, their financial priorities take precedence and they may not easily find opportunities or support to grow in their spiritual lives," he said. "It's very important to have support from the church," he said. "If they don't have it, it's hard to come across with the (Gospel) message." Onofre would end the busy Saturday with an hour of adoration at 11 p.m. "It (was) busy. But what a beautiful way to end the day." But a new chapter in Onofre's life was about to begin. Adoration helped him during his residency program. While practicing his skills, he was discerning a possible vocation to Religious life in the quiet he found before the Blessed Sacrament. Living a faith-filled life is not without sacrifice and conflict, but invites both. "It's a gift from God to celebrate all that and to rejoice before the complications in my life. Today I can face them. Today I'm stronger. In an environment, mostly Christian, I'm glad to be a Catholic Christian and can hold on to those values." Onofre recalls this past Good Friday. A female patient with a heart condition called for a prescription for an antibiotic to take that would prevent infection from an abortion she hoped to obtain the following day. After trying to talk with this woman, he gave his "painful approval." He then shared the exchange with his professor. "I felt that day that I had messed up. I was feeling so guilty and miserable. I asked God for mercy." At church hours later, people had invited him to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which had never before "clicked" with him. But today was different. He poured out his sorrow as he prayed, "Oh God, please have mercy." He recalls, "It was a gift, a beautiful gift, a growth for me that day." Onofre admits that now he is a very different person. "Fifteen years ago I was more interested in medical school, partying, dating, drinking. I've had a transformation," he said, adding that he has more peace in his life now. "Before I had more of a sense of enjoying the time; now with the opportunity of each day, I can celebrate, even through the struggles, because of the gift of grace that God has given me to grow in my faith." "Faith has been very important to me. It's my base; it's my cornerstone. I see myself as very imperfect and I'd like to improve on some things." Now 37, Onofre relishes in the adventure that has unfolded before him. He sent in responses to the 100 questions necessary for applying to become a brother in the order affiliated with Mother Teresa's work.And while he admits he stumbles in certain areas and acknowledges "my humanity tends to be very impatient," he remains confident that what is to come is far better than anything he could imagine. "(God's) plan is a great one." That plan still unfolds, as Onofre's spiritual adventure continues. December 2001 - Los Angeles Having had a morning wake-up call at 3 a.m. to participate in "Las Mañanitas" on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Onofre said that at times during the day he has struggled with physical fatigue while working beside the brothers of the Missionaries of Charity in Los Angeles. While the festive celebration with music and dancing was not what he experienced growing up, the event allowed him to see "the beautiful love Mexicans have for Our Lady." Hispanics, a large number undocumented, comprise a significant percentage of those the brothers minister to in downtown Los Angeles. Onofre arrived in August to begin a two-year apostolate there and describes the ministry as "very, very beautiful work." He participates in the two main outreaches directed by the brothers. Nuestro Hogar is a drop-in center for the homeless-often involved with drugs, alcohol and prostitution-to spend the day, enjoy a meal and watch a movie before returning to the streets in the evening. "It's a homey place where they can get some new clothes, shave, get a haircut," he said. "It has been a very enlightening experience to see and be a part of this," he said. "We get to know them but it's preaching without preaching. It's simple, basic work and we try to radiate Christ through that work." The brothers hope that with time those who come will "open up" and that then might come moments of prayer and "more pro-active evangelization," Onofre said. The other facet of their ministry involves making about 1,000 sandwiches to distribute to street people on Saturday and Sunday. They divide into groups and scour the city telling those they meet about Nuestro Hogar. Onofre and the brothers also care for three men who now live with them; two show signs of schizophrenia and one has a terrible case of emphysema. "We provide for their basic care here in the house-change them, clean their bedrooms." He has applied for a California license to practice medicine and expects to have to wait about six months to receive word. While he works to educate those he meets on mainly preventive health measures, he and the brothers can see the advantages of having someone in-house who can do more. "This week there was a woman who came in with a two-month-old child. She had an ear infection; I couldn't prescribe her antibiotics but had to refer her to the nearest clinic." The days are full here but work is not separated from other aspects of life such as prayer. Adoration, he finds, is not distinct from his moment-by-moment existence but somehow fused with it. "It's 24-hour adoration," he said. "It was different before. I was just doing adoration in the most sacred, holy silence before the Blessed Sacrament, but it's also outside. It's with the drunk or the strange person on the street." While he still cherishes time before the Blessed Sacrament and at Mass, it's a "different concept" and coming to this insight has been part of "a process." "I always long for growth and I long for heaven, that complete happiness," he said. There are days he has mixed feelings. "I'm tired because I woke up early and I have not been able to discipline myself as much. Other days I like to offer sacrifices, like not eating too much food or not putting on an extra shirt so that I can be one with the poor. Today I might eat a little bit more in celebration. More often, I have had to acknowledge my humanity and let divinity in through that. I have to accept myself and not wish that I am any more or less. It's adoration throughout the day."