Edwin Lucero, 34, is a production engineer in manufacturing in Rockland County. In his spare time, he takes photos for Young Adult and Hispanic ministries, which post the images on their social media sites. Lucero does this on a freelance basis, but also often without pay, volunteering his time and talent.
Years ago, at age 17, Lucero was on a multi-parish, nine-day trip to Italy visiting sacred sites, including the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. It was at the basilica, while praying in the crypt, that he experienced a spiritually decisive moment, one that led the teen to return home to the Bronx and become a more active member of his church, Santa Maria in the Bronx, later closed. That included serving as an altar boy. He has remained an active church volunteer since.
In the crypt, Lucero prayed for the overall well-being of his family. He grew up as the oldest of five children, three boys and two girls. He commutes to Rockland County from the Bronx, where his current parish is St. Dominic. He teaches catechism and is involved with the Encounter NYC ministry there. One of his sisters died of leukemia last December at age 23. He noted that the family’s strong faith helped a great deal in coping with her death.
Chasing profound peace
“It was a special moment of peace, ever since that moment, I’ve been chasing that peace,” Lucero said of his time praying in the basilica crypt. He spoke with The Good Newsroom in the sacristy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Wednesday, Aug. 19. “It was profound, up until that point, it felt like it was just about going to Mass on Sundays, just to go.”
Lucero, Bronx-born of Mexican descent, added, “The Church is really what I’m trying to promote; my focus is transmitting the faith through the images, capturing the beauty of the faith.” After Assisi, he said, “I wanted to understand the faith more, in a deeper manner. When I came back, I felt that I couldn’t stay the same. I made it a point to be more present in the Church, to serve more … It becomes practical, volunteering. It becomes a practical aspect of our lives.”
In addition to photos, Lucero has lent his time and talent as a videographer throughout the archdiocese, in many parishes, including the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard, West 14th Street, Manhattan, and St. Anthony of Padua Church in the Bronx. He often takes photos during the monthly Young Adult Mass celebrations at the cathedral.
A longtime friend recalls
Pjetër Nilaj, director of the archdiocesan Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and University Apostolate, said Lucero has been “definitely serving the Lord, capturing our evangelization efforts and those of so many different parishes, like moments of Confirmations, First Communions, and also some of our Young Adult Masses; his faith is very strong, for sure.” Nilaj and Lucero are friends, going back to their teenage years in the Bronx.
“And he has been capturing the beauty of our Church, through his photography and videography. This leads to young people getting to know more about our parishes, about the beautiful gatherings, archdiocesan and parish level,” Nilaj noted, “It brings people to community, in-person community, which is more important than the likes and the clicks … He tries to get people to encounter Jesus through his work. Pope Leo talked about this last summer, when he got digital missionaries in Rome together.”