SEPTEMBER 2020
an international music student who had recently moved from Bolivia to the state of Arkansas. I was the new kid on the block and was very excited to meet a fellow Catholic who offered to take me to Mass. I was not fluent in English at the time and did not know what to expect.
W
We walked into this beautiful cathedral where my friend, who later became my husband, served as a music minister. When the procession began, I remember turning around and thinking “wow, nobody looks like me.” Ten the hymn began. I had never heard this music before. I did not know the tune, the words, but thank God I am a musician and could read from the hymnal! I would smile occasionally as I would catch myself mispronouncing some words. Ten the presider began, and when it was time for the first assembly response, I took a breath and as I was about to respond I realized I did not know what to say, I did not know the words in English. Even when I got the hang of it, it felt so unnatural to say them in a new language. I remember being in awe, not just by the beauty of the music, but also the cathedral, and the solemnity of the Mass. But I was also in shock because, for the first time, I felt like an outsider. For the first time, I could not use my language to communicate and pray out loud, and all I could do was listen.
After Mass, I met the music director, who invited me to join the ministry. I accepted without knowing that this experience would shape my future. I still remember how challenging it was at first to keep up with everyone at rehearsal because of the language barrier. During Mass, it was difficult for me to participate in the spoken parts. I remember sharing this frustration with my future husband, and he said, “we are all saying the same words, nothing keeps you from praying out loud in your own language.” I decided to try it out, it worked out at first, but then a fellow choir member standing next to me commented that I was being distracting. After that experience, I forced myself to learn the Mass in English. I wanted to participate with
hen people ask me about my first experience with the Church in the United States, I remember when I was
everyone else, and that was the only solution. I did it, and while that allowed me to feel integrated and blend with that community, I also realized that in doing so, I had to leave a part of who I am behind.
Te Face of the Church
Trough my years in ministry, as a Hispanic woman, I often asked myself if someone like me could possibly represent the Church of the United States without having to sacrifice a part of who I was? I also began wondering about people, particularly immigrants, who don’t have access to resources to learn the language and often face rejection. How do they worship? And do we as fellow Catholics recognize them as members of the same church?
When I moved to Texas, I faced a completely different scenario. I learned that the face of the Church is a face of many colors, races, and cultures. Still, through my years of work at the Diocesan level, it became evident that there are still many discrepancies, cultural misunderstanding, and much room for growth when it comes to cultural diversity and integration.
Baptism is the sacrament that brings us close to Christ and his Church. Trough baptism, we become integral members of the Body of Christ. But do we really see each other as such? In our day to day ministry, do we truly answer our baptismal call to bring Christ to others and to be a presence of unity in our world? Or are we doing this just for some, but not for others? As pastoral musicians in the same parish, are we truly fostering unity among ministers of other
“ As pastoral musicians in the same parish, are we truly fostering unity among ministers of other cultures and races? Or, on the contrary, do we isolate ourselves within our own communities, sharing only the church building as a common denominator?”
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