Today's date:
Uploaded on: 6/24/2004
Archbishop Harry Flynn:
History written on faces of natives, newcomers
By Archbishop Harry J. Flynn
Come, Lord JesusArchbishop Harry J. Flynn |
Look at the people that make up the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and you can see the history.
It is written on our faces. Some church-goers are Minnesota natives whose families are firmly rooted here but whose ancestors came from faraway places years ago. Others recently have travelled thousands of miles to America to come to this land of opportunity. With each person comes their culture, their hopes and their dreams. And most important, each brings their faith.
Turn the clock back and think of the French missionaries and explorers who landed in Minnesota and the native people they converted. Stories of the Irish, German and eastern European immigrants who helped found and build parish communities in the Twin Cities area in the mid-to-late 1800s comes to mind as well.
Their stories, dating back 160 or 170 years, speak volumes about our local Catholic community.
But it would be a disservice to overlook the new wave of immigrants that enrich our faith community.
Our history as a people of God continues to evolve each day. In recent years, Latinos, Asians and Africans have enriched our local church, bringing their own Catholic traditions with them. Just as important, they continue the tradition of the United States — and of Minnesota — of being a great melting pot. Each brings their wonderful heritage to our church family, too.
In our archdiocese, I think of the Hmong community at St. Adalbert in St. Paul who bring their gifts to the Lord’s table. Or those of African descent who have begun celebrating Mass regularly at St. Olaf in downtown Minneapolis. I also think of the thousands of Latino families who worship at any of our 19 Hispanic parishes. The list goes on and on. Our rich, diverse tapestry as a faith community is a story in itself.
The complexion of the archdiocese is always changing, and thanks to the work and outreach of so many in our church, we as a community are able to welcome those coming from all corners of the world.
As archbishop, there is nothing more affirming for me than to see hundreds or thousands of Catholics in this archdiocese come together as one community in honor of our rich legacy. It touches me profoundly each time we come together from our different cultures and traditions and celebrate as one in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
While times and our church have changed in many ways in the 154 years since the founding of the Diocese of St. Paul back in 1850, in many ways Catholics in the 12-county area surrounding the Twin Cities face many of the same concerns that Catholics here faced back through the decades here:
- How can I worship and pray better?
- How does my being a Catholic mean I live my life?
- How can I pass my faith on to my children?
- How can I share this faith I cherish with others?
- How can we as Catholics in this community — as an archdiocesan church — have a positive impact on life for all the people whose lives touch ours?
It all starts in each of our hearts. No matter what our culture or vocation in life, faith must be at the core of who we are. We must continue to make God a priority.
And as we move forward as a people of faith, we must continue to be a welcoming people to all who cross our path or join us on the journey.
Our openness to diversity, our unity and our oneness in Christ are what legacies are made of. It is our heritage. It is our mission as Catholics.
Through that richness, future generations will always remember our unique church tapestry — so many faces, so many cultures, all united as one body of Christ — and carry on that rich legacy.
And like those of us who make up the church today, thank God for it.