At the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress, I was walking through Quito with Spanish Bishop José Ignacio Munilla when we met Teté Calderón. (@tetecalderonl). To my surprise, the monsignor recognized in her the author of one of his favorite songs. At that moment, I thought: "This young woman is even more influential than I imagined.".
A faith rooted in childhood
Raised in a country with a deep Catholic tradition, her connection with God was strengthened after the birth of her younger brother, which she attributes to the intercession of Padre Pio.
Teté fondly remembers her father's teachings: "My dad always cared about bringing us closer to God. I remember with much love our long conversations and times of prayer before bedtime. He would come to my room, we would pray together and then talk about spiritual matters.". "Since I was a little girl I was very sensitive and liked to talk to God, especially on Thursdays during the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament." says Teté. Her mother instilled in her the value of service and dedication to others. "My mom taught me love in service: giving yourself for others with joy and without expecting anything in return."he says.
A change of school at the age of 11 gave him the opportunity to deepen his faith through daily Mass, communion and participation in spiritual talks and retreats. "I feel that God prepared my heart from before and, by taking me to that school, He gave me the tools to continue loving Him and growing in my relationship with Him."reflects Teté.
Music as a path to God
"At 15 I discovered that I could find God in melodies, but it was at 24 that I started writing Catholic music."he explains. "In the most difficult times of my life, when everything seemed to fall apart, the only way I found solace was by composing." explains Teté.
The sacraments also occupy a central place in their spiritual life. "I need to attend Mass daily or at least four times a week to sustain me spiritually."she confesses. The daily reading of the Gospel is another essential practice for her, where she finds "direction and a call to live God's love in my environment.".
A beacon of faith for children
Teté dedicates her afternoons to creating spaces where children can discover God and connect with Him. "Children are transparent, simple and sincere, which makes talking to them about God natural and fun."he says.
Through "Niños Adoradores," a space designed for children ages 3 to 6, a partner introduces them to key figures of the faith through stories, songs and craft activities, and guides them in moments of silence and contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament. It's a fabulous experience that many Catholic parents seek for their young children. In addition, with its children's choir, it offers children ages 3 to 10 the opportunity to express their faith through music, preparing them to sing at Mass and at special events such as Christmas. "My desire is that these spaces are not only moments of learning, but also of community, where children can feel accompanied in their journey of faith and learn that God loves us immensely.".
An indelible memory
The loss of her mother a year and a half ago deeply marked Teté, but it also provided her with a powerful lesson about God's presence in her life.
After he was absent from a class of "Niños Adoradores", the little ones greeted him with questions and affection. Weeks later, a new child asked about the photo of his mother on his cell phone. "She's Aunt Teté's mom, and now she's in Heaven with God."another child replied. Teté was touched by the new boy's concern for his father: "Ahh, right. It's just that if you get lost, someone has to go look for you and find you. If it's not your mom, it might be your dad.. His words made a deep impression on me. It reminded me that, just as my dad will always be there to look for me if I get lost, our Father in Heaven never fails to look for us and guide us back to Him."concludes Teté.
