An Unusual Ministry for Us

The bishop here has insisted he wants Dick and me on the discernment team, with several priests, supported by a dozen intecessors. When a parish priest encounters a person with symptoms that they can not resolve, and they suspect demonic involvement, they are instructed to send them to one of this team for discernment. In the rare instance of true "possession", they are then referred to the bishop's designated exorcist for possible "exorcism". This may take several or many sessions, using the official ritual of the Church.

About the "exorcism": There are some differences between this part of
the country and where we've lived before. This area was never fully
evangelized and the ancient mixture of paganism, magic, and sorcery
still hangs on. There is even an area not far away that is an open
center for witches. When life is this hard,people will grasp
anything they are told might help, and in a few cases, the Evil One,
Satan, whatever you want to call that old archenemy of God and of us
takes over the person completely. Of the cases sent to us so far, none
is even close to that category. It really is rare, but it's a terrible
tragedy for so many to be labeled "possessed". They then believe it,
and whatever the original cause, they get worse,convincing
themselves, or convinced by their families.

So I'm beginning to see this is a valuable ministry sorting all that
out and steering folks to the help they really need. Do you see the
dangers of either extreme?: Not believing in the existence of evil at
all leaves you in a war with no defense. But thinking everything is
"satan made me do it" is equally damaging. And it's really so simple:
once your life is, of your own will and decision, completely in the
Lord's hands, He takes on the fight and if you give no opening or
invitation, that old enemy can't get in. He keeps trying, but our
doors are shut and the drawbridge is raised.

This problem is considered so important that the Council of Mexican Bishops has a national conference on the problem which we hope to attend next week. Because of our involvement in this ministry we do need extra prayers. It's a great responsability.
Excuse the treatise, but I wanted you to understand more part of our work here and see it a little more clearly.