SEWELL — “Pride of ownership.” Waves of immigrants carved their Catholic identities into the shrines and churches across the United States. They found comfort and solidarity in the traditions and language of their culture. They carried their devotions and festivals to their new country — and found solace, knowing they had created a place of their own to worship God.
How different is that story from the immigrant experience of Catholics who come to the United States today?
Last week, more than 200 priests, religious and lay people came together to hear University of Notre Dame Professor Timothy Matovina discuss this question and its implications on the new generations of Hispanic immigrants who are seeking a place of worship that feels like their own.
Matovina, author of “Latino Catholicism: Transformation in America’s Largest Church,” specializes in U.S. Catholic and U.S. Latino theology and religion.
The event, presented by Camden Diocese’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, was delivered in English on Friday, March 16, at Church of the Holy Family here. He gave the presentation in Spanish on Saturday, March 17, at Pope John Paul II Retreat Center, Vineland.
There are a good number of Masses and worship opportunities throughout the diocese regularly celebrated in Spanish. Is this an indication that Hispanic, or Latino (a broader-based, grassroots term) Catholics are “at home” in the parishes of the diocese?
Perhaps. But if Matovina’s observations are correct, there is so much to learn and so far to go.
To start, Matovina advised, “Know who is in your parish community.” He spoke about the diversity among the different groups of Hispanic heritage – or in other ethnically-labeled groups. Even among people who speak the same language, festivals, music, devotions and customs have their special flavors. If parish leaders are not tuned in to this, they may miss an opportunity to meld the faithful into a vibrant community. But even further, Matovina suggested that parish communities need to move beyond tolerance, beyond respect for differences — and reaffirm the unity of one God, one church by helping all worshippers feel at home.
When questioned about how parishes could work to serve such diversity, Matovina said that groups need to have a sense of belonging. He said that separate groups can allow the whole to find unity.
“People integrate from a position of strength,” Matovina said. That’s what happened with the Euro-American Catholics who came to this country, he said.
There are several differences in the Latino experience, he said, explaining that there have been generations of immigration from Spanish-speaking countries, putting people are varying levels of integration. If it were possible, for instance, to offer English, Spanish and/or bilingual religious education classes, Sunday liturgies, or other faith-filled experiences, the parish community would be richer. The reality is that the resources are not often there.
Matovina offered some suggestions that parish leaders might use to bring Latino Catholics to new roles within the faith community: One was to observe those who are the natural leaders within the community and enlist their help. “We look for people who have a leadership personality. We try to identify people who have followers,” he said as he told a story about a woman so loved by the neighborhood children that they seemed to flock around her. “We knock on the doors of those who have followers,” Matovina said. The woman proved to be an important link to the Hispanic families in the neighborhood as they planned the parish procession.
In communities with large Hispanic populations, the visible expressions of Latino devotionals are fervent and enthusiastic, although not always understood. Don’t douse this passion, Matovina said. Rather, try to inculturate them into parish worship. Ask, “How do we treasure these customs – and how can they be integrated in worship and evangelization?”
Other suggestions that flowed during the question and answer period seemed to draw real interest from participants. Matovina talked about tapping into the energies of the Cursillo movement, which has its roots in Spain, or finding those who are involved in the Latino charismatic movement. He suggested looking to the strong grassroots movements in Latino communities, too. Discover the strength of their networks, observe their tradition of oral communication, and understand the importance of family. Which can translate into many practical applications, some as simple as offering childcare during parish meetings or getting volunteers to lend a helping hand.
Matovina said that Latino Catholics “have a real hunger, but it has to be fed.”
“This is a mission for the whole Catholic Church,” Matovina said. “There is no easy solution.” He noted that national issues surrounding immigration reform and unemployment affect the daily lives of many in the Hispanic community, that parochial schools aren’t accessible to so many families, and that cultural pressures pull young people away from the church. “You are the ones who will have to do the hard work,” Matovina told the leaders of Hispanic Ministry of the Camden Diocese.
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