The Story of Manuel Obando's Faith

My curiosity as a child to know technically how a radio works, plus my father's insistence when I turned 13 that I had to learn a trade while I finished high school, led me on April 25, 2009, to start working at Radio Hermanos, a radio station of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. 

At that time, I had two options: learn mechanics or go into radio. With much fear, I decided to enter the field of radio, where two years later (2011), I met Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, who had just become our diocesan bishop. Upon meeting me, he asked, "What do you do on the radio?” I replied, "I have a program, and I transmit the cathedral Masses.” 

He immediately proposed to me to accompany him on his pastoral missions in the parishes and rural communities of the diocese.

Shortly before I concluded high school, Monsignor Alvarez, during a live radio program, proposed that I enter the seminary to begin the process of priestly formation. I said no! He asked me, "Why?" My answer was that surely the Lord wanted me to serve him in another way and in a different vocation. 

And so it was. On Dec. 8, 2017, through the intercession of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I married Maria Victoria Perez Escoto. We now have a beautiful 4-year-old son, Luis Manuel.

I got a degree in social communication. In 2015, Monsignor Rolando asked me to be the director of social media of the Diocese of Matagalpa. In 2018, he named me the director of diocesan communication media. 

The Cross of Service 

It’s 5:47 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. I am in a vehicle together with my enthusiastic son and in the company of my wife, my sister, her husband and children. I see several patrols of the Nicaraguan Police pass around our car; they serve the federal government. I look down to read a text message and, in a fraction of a second, heavily armed officers surround our vehicle. They pull me out, place me in police handcuffs with my hands behind my back and make me walk towards one of the patrol cars. Meanwhile, I hear the cries of my son and the desperation of my wife trying to find out what was going on.

I was under investigation for accompanying the bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa in his pastoral work during the last 11 years. At that point, Bishop Alvarez had been deprived of his freedom for four months, together with other priests and lay people.

I was taken together with Wilberto Artola to the General Directorate of Judicial Assistance in Managua (El Chipote), where the government was holding its political opponents, priests, lay people and seminarians captive. 

On the first day, I was in a cell that measured 1 meter by 1 meter. 

Then I was held for 38 days in a “punishment” cell, of small size, completely sealed, which only had an opening to pass food through. On Dec. 14 and 21, we were presented in the courts of Managua, where the prosecutor of the republic accused us of undermining national integrity.

In the midst of everything, I put my faith and trust in the Lord, who, in his providence, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the angels and saints, would soon grant the grace of freedom. 

That miracle came in the early morning of Feb. 9, 2023, when the police officers delivered the civilian clothes that they had previously requested of the family. Then we were transferred in buses. I thought that I would be going home. However, we were released in an unexpected way.

The buses entered the runway of the International Airport of Managua, where we were delivered to officials of the Department of State of the United States, who transferred us to Washington, D.C.

At that moment, I thanked God, and I understood that we were being expelled from Nicaragua and had our Nicaraguan citizenship removed.

Serving Christ, his pastors and the Church will never be a betrayal. It will always be an honor.

Miracle Comes

Jesus, in his Providence through his Church, took care of me and my other brothers-in-faith: Father José Luis, Wilberto and Sergio. On Feb. 10, the Diocese of Gaylord — through Bishop Walsh and Father Wayne Dziekan— contacted us and offered to welcome and accompany us on this new journey in the U.S. 

None of us were prepared for this, nor was it in our plans, but the Lord in his will allowed it. 

Thanks to the efforts of the Diocese of Gaylord, on Holy Thursday, April 6, my wife and son arrived in Traverse City, and we shared the joy of meeting again. 

After all these months, little by little, with the help of God and your help, we have been making our way. For my part, I already have a job, and my son will soon be starting school.