Dozens gathered at Concepcion Park Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring missing 7-month-old Ozana Cisneros. Faith leaders, advocates, and family and friends prayed for her safe return.
Raul Trey Lopez
Ozana Cisneros, 7 months, is missing from San Antonio. She was last seen June 10 in the 330 block of Roosevelt Avenue.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Hope filled Concepción Park on Tuesday evening as dozens of community members gathered in the rain to light candles and pray for the safe return of missing 7-month-old Ozana Cisneros.
The “Vigil of Love, Prayer and Hope” brought together faith leaders, advocates, family friends and residents nearly a month after the infant disappeared. Despite the weather, attendees stood shoulder to shoulder, united in prayer for Ozana’s safe return.
Article continues below this ad
“We are here today to pray for a safe return,” said Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach. “Unfortunately, we see this far too often when a loved one goes missing. That alone is enough to leave a family devastated. But when a baby is missing, it’s not just the family that feels the pain — the entire community comes together to pray for Ozana’s safe return.”
Allen acknowledged the rain likely kept some people away but said the weather did not diminish the purpose of the vigil.
ALSO READ: Tornado cuts path from UTSA area to The Rim on San Antonio’s Northwest Side
Pastor Kenny Vallespin of Summit Church opened the vigil by encouraging those gathered to lean on one another during a time of uncertainty.
Article continues below this ad
“We do know that in the darkest moments and the hardest of times, the strength of a community is measured by how it carries one another through its deepest pain,” Vallespin said. “In the midst of darkness today, let us be the beacon of light in this dark moment.”
In his prayer, Vallespin urged attendees to hold onto their faith and compassion in the face of fear. He concluded by asking the community to continue praying for Ozana’s safe return.
As the prayer concluded, community members quietly gathered to light candles, their flames illuminating the park as they honored Ozana and held onto hope for her safe return.
Among those in attendance was Rose Menthata, who said she has known Ozana’s grandmother for nearly 20 years and watched Ozana’s mother, Maximina Cisneros, grow up.
Article continues below this ad
The family of Rose Menthata gathered together following the vigil.
Raul Trey Lopez
“When I saw the Amber Alert and I saw the name, it just broke my heart,” Menthata said. “I held that baby when she was 3 days old.”
Menthata said the past several weeks have been filled with uncertainty as she has tried unsuccessfully to contact the family.
“I just want to know where this baby’s at,” she said. “It’s a baby. It’s an innocent soul. She can’t even talk.”
Article continues below this ad
Menthata said seeing so many people gather in support of the family gave her hope.
“It feels overwhelming,” she said. “People have lives and things to do, but they made this happen.”
The vigil came as the San Antonio Police Department, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies continued searching for Ozana.
READ ALSO: Amid heavy rains, ’20-foot wall of water’ roars downriver near Uvalde
Article continues below this ad
Although the Amber Alert for Ozana Cisneros was discontinued Monday, acting San Antonio Police Chief Jesse Salame said the search remains active.
Authorities said Ozana’s mother, Maximina Cisneros, was found Friday and taken to a local hospital in stable condition, but Ozana is still missing.
Ozana was last seen around 6 p.m. June 10 in the 330 block of Roosevelt Avenue. She is about 2 feet tall, weighs about 20 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.
Article continues below this ad
Anyone with information about Ozana’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.