From the Director
I’m an American from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and work in Fontana, California. Aren’t the Columbans supposed to be “cross-cultural missionaries?” Yes, we are. After about 20 years in Korea, I returned to the US in 1999 and have been working here ever since. I came to St. Mary’s parish in 2012 as pastor. I had studied Spanish in high school in 1966 and 1967 so someone thought I was ready for southern California.
Our parish here is over 90% Hispanic. We have six Masses each weekend – two in English and four in Spanish and one a month in Filipino. Some of our people are recent arrivals from Mexico or Central America, and many others are second or third generation immigrants. Others are 85 years old and, though they have Hispanic names, struggle a little with Spanish because they were born here and in their youth were forbidden to speak the language of their parents. We also have a good number of Filipino families.
As an Anglo-American from the Northeast, I am used to seeing churches being closed or joining with three or four other churches for form one parish with maybe two priests. Our community here has over 5,000 families registered and only God knows how many not registered. Probably over 25,000 people.
We are doing our best to encourage parents and children to talk to each other about their faith in God and the Church.
One thing that always brings a smile to my face is to see so many young families – mom, dad, three or four kids, grandparents, uncles and aunts – often in church together. The level of education in the parish is generally pretty low, but most parents love their children and want the best for them. They work hard, often both mom and dad, to keep things going. It’s very hard. Family is the center of life here.
During Advent we had our celebration of Posadas every night for nine nights before Christmas. Parents bring their children to church. We pray the rosary. Then we gather in two groups in the back of church, one group inside and one outside. “Posada” means “inn.” This very traditional little action celebrates Joseph and Mary looking for a place at the inn when they arrive in Bethlehem to register for the census. One group is with Mary and sings (usually very off-key) asking for a room six times. The other group is with the innkeeper and sings, answering why they can’t come in. In the end he relents and offers the Holy Family room in the stable. Everyone goes outside to our plaza in the cold where our ministries have prepared food and hot chocolate for everyone. Then the kids take turns trying to break the pinata full of little candies. It takes about an hour and a half. And it’s very good family time. The faith is passed on, everyone has a good time, and it’s a great chance for adults to give to the young ones. Sometimes, I worry a little that the children get spoiled, but nobody sees it that way.
In how many parishes do adults mix with children like this? Not too many, I think. We work hard to have involvement of adults with their children. In our First Communion and Confirmation classes we have the children in groups in back of church while we have groups of parents in front, both studying about Jesus, the Church, Sacraments, etc. Both finish at the same time and can go home together. St. Mary’s also is part of the 4th Soil Project, a national project with about 20 churches of various denominations designed to help parents pass on the faith to the next generation. There are only four Spanish-speaking churches in this group, and we are one of them. It’s difficult to keep up with all the possibilities because all our people are volunteers and very busy. We are doing our best to encourage parents and children to talk to each other about their faith and God and the Church. There’s a lot of life in this parish, and I am very blessed to be here.