Support the mission work of Sebastian Duran

Hello, my name is Sebastian Duran. I am honored to serve as a missionary for ISKALI, a nonprofit created to empower and equip young Latinos like myself to become transformative leaders. I was born in Berwyn, IL, and I am a first-generation Mexican American. My parents immigrated from Mexico to the US to give me and my siblings a better life. My parents are both from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico. I am the middle child of 3, but I am responsible for being the oldest male. We lived in the south side of Chicago, and by the age of 5, my parents had settled in Alsip, a small suburban town away from the city. Thanks be to God, I was privileged to live in the suburbs despite facing many challenges of adversaries since, back then, Alsip was a predominantly white neighborhood. 

Growing up Hispanic, Catholicism was always rooted in our family. We attended mass every Sunday, and we were taught to pray to enhance our faith, although, to me, that was just something that was mandatory. My spiritual life wasn’t perfect and still isn’t perfect. However, that changed in 2019 when I lived my initiation retreat through ISKALI. That experience has changed my life forever and continues to change my life. It has led me on this path with God to serve others and deepen my relationships with God at the center. He has given me many fruits and gifts to share with the people around me and to make disciples of God. 

God has called me to serve in this mission to serve the Latino young adults in the Southside of Chicago. An area that is no stranger to crime and violence. An area where a lot of young Latinos are raised through gangs because that’s all they know and all they have. An area where, by the grace of God I wasn’t raised in because my parents feared that I might have been introduced to that lifestyle and wouldn’t have been here today to share my story. Through ISKALI and the Catholic Church, as a missionary, I am called to reach these young Latino adults to help them grow spiritually, mentally, and professionally through outreach in the church and in the professional world. 

With your donations, no matter the amount, we can help young Latino adults have a better life and teach them a great love, that is, the love of God. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)