RUIZ, Reyes Maria

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, July 31, 2003 Reyes Maria Ruiz Reyes Maria Ruiz was born on April 13, 1933, in the small farming community of Virden, New Mexico, located along the Gila River on the border of the southeastern Arizona. When he was 7 years old, his father, Isidoro, was killed suddenly in an auto accident. Eleven days later his younger and only sister, Helena, died from illness. These early tragedies left Reyes' innocent heart questioning why God would do this to him. Because God had a great plan for Reyes he wanted to begin to heal his heart for the great work Reyes would do later in his life. God sent Reyes a special gift, the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. He began to pray the Rosary daily as a young boy. Because of this devotion he would later in life adopt the name of Maria as his middle name. He thereafter referred to the Virgin Mary as his "Mujer Bonita," his beautiful woman. In life when you lose in one area you gain in another; Reyes had six of his grandparents still alive and all of them left a loving and prayerful impression on him. Their influence would form his prayer life permanently. Reyes loved education; however another early tragedy would end his schooling early. At the age of 11, Reyes' legs were badly burned and he recuperated at home for almost a year. He had also lost a year of schooling when his father and sister died. At the age of 16 he was forced to quit school and begin to work to help out his mother, Cruz and younger brother, Fernando. Several years later he volunteered for military service and served in the Korean War. One Christmas Eve, he was in a bunker and asked the "Mujer Bonita" to be with him. He felt the sudden urge to move and just seconds later his bunker was destroyed by enemy bombing. After military service Reyes returned home to work. He learned the craft of a bricklayer and he quickly surpassed the skills of his teacher. He then married the second love of his life, Estela Aguilera Ruiz, who shared the same heart and the same last name. He was attracted to her innocence and purity as a woman. They soon married and had their first child Isidoro "Lolo", and then quickly followed the twins, Fernando and Armando. Reyes brought his young family to Phoenix, in search of work. He soon built a house in South Phoenix and settled in to raise a family. Later would arrive his oldest daughter Maria Rebecca "Becky", Reyes Jr., and Rosa Maria "Rosie". Several years after arriving in Phoenix Reyes attended the "Cursillo," an intense 3-day course on God. His already developed prayer life would reach new heights. He began attending Mass at Saint Catherine's Parish and he became a daily communicant for the next 43 years. He also began a small construction business, which would feed his family and teach his children how to work. Reyes valued education, so he sent all of his children to Catholic schools and universities. Reyes said that when his sons went off to the university it was a difficult transition for him because they were his best friends. During this time he discovered his talent as an artist and joined the "MARS" group (Movimiento Artistico del Rio Salado). During this time he also became the guardian of a neighbors baby boy, Tony Valverde and raised him as his own, he would do the same later with grandson Sergio Castillo. When his children returned from university he supported them in their passion for community service. One of his sons served 10 years in the Arizona State Legislature with his final 2 years in the State Senate. Reyes became accustomed to having dignitaries, leaders, and famous people visit his home including: Senator Dennis DiConcini, Congressman Ed Pastor, Governor Fife Symington, Secretary of HUD Mel Martinez, State Senator Alfredo Gutierrez, County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband Earl, State Representative Art Hamilton; political activists Cesar Chavez, Tommy Espinoza, Danny Ortega, School Superintendent Lisa Graham Keegan and sports personalities Steve Young, Dave McGinnis, Jim Brown, Larry Wilson, and Bill Bidwell, and religious leaders as well; Bishops Thomas O'Brien, Jose Ignacio Alemany, Peru, Paul Bimile, Ghana; business leaders Bill Shover, Dick and Alice Snell, and Art Othon. Reyes felt equally at ease among the elite as with the poorest of the poor. He would work 15 years for the Phoenix Catholic Diocese in the Migrant Ministry Program. He would see to the spiritual needs of poor migrant families working in the fields surrounding Phoenix. Later his love of education would lead him to found and open a charter school with his wife and children. He toiled many years in the sun building the school with his blood, sweat, and tears. Many children and their families affectionately knew him as "Grandpa Ruiz." The school would later confer to him an honorary high school diploma, which he greatly coveted. His love of God also would move him to found "Mary's Ministries," an international evangelization ministry. This love of his would take him to 46 states, and almost 50 countries. The ministry currently is based in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, England, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, India, and Japan. He also referred to those who worked with him as his spiritual children, those not born to him biologically, but "born to him from the Blood of Christ". He was affectionately known as "Papa Reyes", the spiritual father for thousands in many countries. Reyes Maria Ruiz died a holy death in his home at 1:07 am, on Sunday July 27, 2003. His wife, mother, children, brothers and sisters, his spiritual children, and many friends surrounded him. The world will miss his holy example. His Rosary will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 6401 South Central Avenue, on Friday August 1st at 7:00 pm, with Mass and an all night vigil at his home, 30 E. Cody Drive. The funeral Mass will be Saturday at 9:30 am at his home. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery at noon with a reception at Reyes and Estela's home from 2:00 to 7:00 pm, followed by a Rosary. Arrangements entrusted to Universal Sunset Chapel. Mr. Reyes Maria Villalba Ruiz, age 70 of Phoenix died July 27, 2003. A U.S. Army Veteran. The recitation of the Holy Rosary on Friday evening at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 6200 S. Central Avenue from 6p.m.-8p.m. A viewing will follow afterwards at Our Lady of America's Shrine of Reyes and Estela Ruiz, 30 E. Cody Dr. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. at the Shrine. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Avondale. Arrangements are by Universal Sunset Funeral Chapel.