Bishop welcomes immigrants at East Valley parish

By Joyce Coronel | Oct. 15, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

CHANDLER — St. Mary Parish opened its doors and its heart to welcome immigrants Oct. 7 at a bilingual Mass concelebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and five priests from the Diocese of Phoenix.

Despite the heated debate over immigration reform, the message was clear: the Catholic Church welcomes newcomers without reservation.

“Our Catholic Church embraces all languages, cultures and countries,” said Bishop Olmsted as he greeted more than 400 people gathered for the mid-week liturgy. “Our faith makes us one.” 

Fr. Dan McBride, VF, pastor of St. Mary, told the congregation he knew what it was like to be a foreigner experiencing a new culture. During his third year of graduate school, he spent a semester living in Israel and traveling throughout the Middle East.

Fr. McBride recounted visiting with Palestinian and Egyptian shopkeepers who welcomed him by sharing tea and a meal and introducing him to their families.

“That really is the law of the desert,” he said, “welcoming the stranger.”  

He also spoke of the fact that some find it difficult to welcome newcomers. Even among his own family of nine siblings, he said, some question why Mass is offered in languages other than English in the Phoenix Diocese.

Acknowledging Masses are celebrated in Spanish, Tagalog, Polish, Korean and Vietnamese every week in the Diocese of Phoenix, Fr. McBride said it’s because the language of the heart — the language of prayer and spirituality — is not necessarily English.

“We understand as Catholic Christians that when we gather to share the eucharistic meal, the Body and Blood of Christ makes us one family… we are all brothers and sisters no matter what language we speak,” Fr. McBride said. “The true welcome comes from God Who welcomes us to this table.”

Readings and prayers at the Mass were offered in Spanish, English and Tagalog. One of the petitions asked that God grant an “end to the violence and poverty that leads to people being displaced from their homes.”

Bishop Olmsted thanked the families who attended the Mass, telling them that families are where Christian faith is formed.

Just outside the church, the congregation waited in line for a chance to shake hands with the bishop and priests.

“I loved your message,” one woman exclaimed as she pumped Fr. McBride’s hand, asking him if he’d ever been to Mexico.  Speaking perfect Spanish, he told her, yes, he had. 

Julia Guzman, Guatemala’s consul, and Alfonso Navarro, Mexico’s deputy consul, both attended the Mass and reception.

Socorro Córdova Hurtado, spokesperson for the Mexican consul, appreciated Fr. McBride’s homily.

“It is fantastic what Father said… it’s about culture and seeing how we can share together,” Hurtado said. “It’s not about nationalities.”

Ignacio Rodriguez, the associate director of the Office of Ethnic Ministries for the Diocese of Phoenix, was pleased with the turnout at the Mass, the fourth in a series of liturgies to welcome immigrants.

“I think it’s what God calls us to do as followers of Christ,” Rodriguez said, “to be welcoming and show hospitality to all newcomers.”