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Catholics to celebrate ethnic communities at 10th annual cultural diversity Mass
By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
September 20, 2007
The Cultural Diversity Team and the Office of Ethnic Ministries of the Diocese of Phoenix will host the 10th annual Cultural Diversity Mass Sept. 29 at St. Mary’s Basilica.
The Mass is intended to remind Catholics of the cultural diversity present in the diocese, said Ignacio Rodriguez, the associate director of the Department of Ethnic Ministries.
“Not only are there Hispanic, black and Native American Catholics, but there are Filipinos, Vietnamese and other ethnic communities,” he said. “The only difference is our language.”
Marie Ausberry, who has worked in black Catholic ministry for seven years, said the Mass is an opportunity for communities that don’t often interact to mingle with each other.
“It’s a melting pot,” she said. “In a diverse Catholic population, we don’t see all the different ethnic groups and cultures. This is a way that we all come together.”
This year the Tongan community will lead the main parts of the Mass and the Filipino, Korean, Polish and Hispanic communities will do the remaining parts. The Vietnamese community will present the gifts and the black and East Indian communities will lead the prayers of the faithful.
Deacon Sione Hola, a local Tongan, promised that “all Tongans in Arizona” would attend the Mass.
“This is the tenth time we have been with this Mass and especially this year we share our gifts of our voices to praise God,” Deacon Hola said.
Many Tongans will also wear traditional clothing to Mass. In Tongan culture, a taovala, or woven mat, is worn around the waist to show respect, Deacon Hola said.
“If I put one word to describe my culture, this is it,” he said. “Respect — God, others, yourself.”
Deacon Hola invited all Catholics to attend the Mass, whatever their ethnic background.
Ausberry agreed.
“I think all Catholics should come to see how diverse the diocese is, especially right here in the Phoenix area,” she said. “You have all these Catholics who are worshiping one God and it’s a good time for them all to get together.”
Musical preludes from some of the ethnic communities will begin at 4 p.m. and the Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted will begin at 5 p.m. The communities will share their food at a free, multicultural buffet following the Mass.
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