TOLEDO—While visiting the Queen of Apostles campus of Central City Ministry of Toledo School, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez told students he first considered becoming a priest when he was in the sixth grade.

“A priest, he helps people get to heaven,” said the bishop. “I said to myself, I want to help people get to heaven, and that’s why I’m going to be a priest.”

The bishop of Las Cruces, N.M., stopped by both campuses of Central City Ministry of Toledo School (CCMT) May 6, the day after he served as the keynote speaker for the annual Urban All-American Celebration fundraiser for the Catholic school. Along with Queen of Apostles, CCMT has a campus at Rosary Cathedral.

At Queen of Apostles, he related the story of Pepito, a “burro” — donkey — who had a missing ear and a crooked tail and was cross-eyed and crippled. Pepito was sad because the other burros made fun of him for looking different, said Bishop Ramirez, but he eventually became the only animal to witness the birth of the baby Jesus in his stable.

The burro helped keep the baby warm, and “right then and there, Pepito and baby Jesus became very good friends,” said Bishop Ramirez. Jesus rode Pepito around Bethlehem as a boy, and many years later the donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem.

Sometimes people make fun of us because we’re not good at sports, don’t make good grades or because of the color of our skin, said Bishop Ramirez.

“So we have to make sure that we remember, like Pepito, it doesn’t matter if people make fun of you, or people don’t think very highly of you — Jesus loves you, like he loved that little donkey. He loves everybody,” said Bishop Ramirez.

The bishop took questions from the students on topics ranging from his work in the church to his favorite food (enchilada with an egg on top).

He told them his favorite hobby is visiting art museums, and his favorite game right now is chasing his dog, a Lhasa Apso named Draco, around the house.

“As soon as I get home, he wants me to chase him, so I chase him all over the house until I get tired. He never gets tired, but I get tired,” the bishop joked.

Growing up in a poor family, Bishop Ramirez said he was unsure whether he would be able to go to college. His mother worked hard raising him and his brother, he added.

“I will always be grateful to my mother, because she was a big inspiration and a big help,” Bishop Ramirez told the students.