Abraham Brown, director of Hispanic ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson, receives the Ohtli award from Luis Franco, the Consul General of Mexico in Indianapolis, on Sept. 15, 2021. COURTESY OF DCN. CHRIS GUTIÉRREZ
Opening a path
Holy Name minister awarded for civic contributions empowering local Latinos
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On Sept. 15, the director of Hispanic ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson received an honor from the Mexican government for his work with Mexican nationals living in the United States.
Abraham Brown, who has dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico, was presented with the Ohtli award by Luis Franco, the Consul General of Mexico in Indianapolis; and Lloyd Winnecke, the mayor of Evansville, Ind., during a celebration kicking off National Hispanic Heritage Month (which takes place annually from Sept. 15-Oct. 15) at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville.
Besides serving in Hispanic ministry, Brown is a local Latino community leader in the Henderson and Evansville area, and is known for promoting inclusion and community involvement for Latinos.
According to nmshsa.org, (the website of the National Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Association), the Ohtli award is named for the Nahuatl word “ohtli” meaning “path” – alluding to the idea of opening a path for others. The award is administered by the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and has been given annually by individual consulates, since 1996.
Dcn. Chris Gutiérrez, director of the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry, with Abraham Brown, director of Hispanic ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson, after Brown received the Ohtli award on Sept. 15, 2021. COURTESY OF DCN. CHRIS GUTIÉRREZ
“The Ohtli Award recognizes individuals who have aided, empowered, or positively affected the lives of Mexican nationals in the United States and other countries,” stated nmshsa.org.
Brown told The Western Kentucky Catholic in an Oct. 14 phone conversation that he was “humbled” to receive the award.
“I feel this has been my calling,” he said of his work of empowering Latinos. “What I’m doing right now with my community gives me that peace and happiness that nothing else could.”
He said that being awarded for “something I enjoy is just the cherry on top.”
“When I accepted the award, I wanted people to know that this was not just Abraham Brown doing this, but Abraham Brown with hundreds of people and the support of hundreds of agencies wanting to help make things better for Latinos,” said Brown.
He credited Holy Name of Jesus and the diocese for being supportive of his initiatives over the years, and said the diocese is a leader in Hispanic/Latino ministry.
“A lot of people have lots of obstacles (in this ministry),” he said, “but I’ve been very blessed at Holy Name.”
He offered some advice to his fellow Hispanic/Latino ministers, who might feel that their work is an uphill battle.
“Enjoy what you are doing; don’t feel discouraged; work as a team,” he said. “Be the best you can at what you do. Offering your best to someone is offering Christ to the people. Because this is not for you – this is for the community.”
Originally printed in the November 2021 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
