Hội Đồng Giám Mục Hoa Kỳ: Hội Nghị Tham Vấn về Mục Vụ Á Châu và Thái Bình Dương
Ngày 26 và 27 tháng 5, 2008
Phenix, AZ: ngày 26, tháng 5, 2008: Văn phòng Đa Văn Hóa trong Giáo Hội của Hội Đồng Giám Mục Hoa Kỳ đã tổ chức một Hội Nghị Tham Vấn về Mục Vụ Á Châu và Thái Bình Dương tại Phenix, AZ với sự tham dự của nhiều đại diện của các sắc dân Á Châu và Thái Bình Dương sau đây: Bangali, Miến Điện, Cambuchia, Trung Hoa, Nhật, Hmong, Ấn Độ, Syro Malankan, Nam Dương, Phi Luật Tân, Đại Hàn, và Việt Nam.
Phía Việt Nam có Đức Cha Đa Minh Mai Thanh Lương, Giám Mục Phụ Tá Giáo Phận Orange, CA, Linh mục Nguyễn Thanh Liêm, Chủ Tịch Liên Đoàn Công Giáo Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ, Linh mục Nguyễn Đức Vượng Phó Chủ Tịch, Sơ Theresa Phan Thanh Thủy, San Bernadino, CA, và Philip Trần, Seattle. Quý vị trên đây đã trình bầy các sắc thái nổi bật của cộng đồng Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ. Cha Liêm cho hay Liên Đoàn Công Giáo Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ hiện nay đã có 800 linh mục, 65 thầy phó tế vĩnh viễn, và 1000- đến 1500 nam nữ tu sĩ và cũng đề cập đến Hành Hương Mẹ La Vang tháng 6, 2008 tại Hoa Thịnh Đốn.
Năm mục tiêu được đưa ra năm nay là:
- Truyền thông về tầm quan trọng của đa văn hóa
- Đào tạo Đức Tin
- Bảo Vệ Hôn Nhân
- Bảo Vệ Đời Sống, Nhân Phẩm Con Người và Công Lý Xã Hội
- Ơn Gọi
Dưới đây là nguyên văn bản phúc trình của hội nghị bằng tiếng Anh.
USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church
Consultative Meeting on Asian & Pacific Ministry
May 26, 2008
National Ethnic Community Representative Report:
In the last year what have been your (1) Successes and (2) Challenges?
Henry Gomes (Bangali):
1. East Bangal and West Bangal are now together as one family.
2. But there is still a feud between the biggest group and smaller group. Still looking forward to getting back the small group still left out (25%)
John Sailon (Burmese – 85% of country is Buddhist):
1. One Buddhist family converted to the Catholic church last year. Four Protestant minors came from Malaysia as refugees and are now learning Catholicism.
2. He needs credentials as a lay person.
Phansy Paeang (Cambodian – no Cambodian priest):
1. 6 children and 3 adults baptized at Easter last year. This Easter 5 adults baptized. So work is slow but growing.
2. Community cannot stand on its own feet yet, still relying on Mary Blatt(?) as a mother to the community, not only for Catholics but for Cambodian community in general. Lay leaders such as Phansy can speak the language but do not have ability for pastoral care. Others cannot read or write Khmer or English.
Michael Lau (Chinese)
1. For the past few years the community has focused on collaboration with each other. Southern California community participates in the New Year celebration every year and feast day of Chinese martyr saints, celebrated mass for universal day for prayer for China, and got permission from pastor at Cathedral for second collection for earthquake victims.
2. Overcoming personal egos and minute differences in cultures even within different Chinese cultures.
Fr. Arturo Balagat & Naida Castro (Filipino):
1. Began an apostolate in Diocese of Richmond (like the Diocese of San Bernadino which is the largest Filipino community in US). Made documentary of trip to Philippines with young adults.
2. Majority of population remains on sacramental devotional practices so community is challenged to elevate their understanding of faith. How can they meet on a regular basis since the leadership comes from all over the US.
Kou Ly (Hmong):
1. Organized a 4-day national conference for all Hmong in the US. Every two years holds leadership training in various cities around the US. Starting to develop hymnal books for all the communities, to provide a standard for worship.
2. Still don’t have uniformity on worship material, including funerals, etc. Had help of Fr. Paul Fliss but he is no longer able to help, so will have no pastoral care. Challenge in providing service to those who are first generation and therefore have a lack of language.
Fred Semendy (Indian):
1. Last year had various celebrations: 10th anniversary of the Our Lady of India at National Shrine, 500th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier. Also participated in celebration of the Asians for Mary function. Also had “faith healing” retreat where they brought priests from India.
2. Because of small percentage of Catholics within Indian community, young adults marry outside the faith leading to dilution of religion and secularization within community. Also a decrease in leadership within Indian Catholic community. Lack of participation in social ministry among youth and young adults.
Fr. Jacob Chirayath George (Syro-Malankara – have been here since 1950’s and 1960’s):
1. Celebrated 25th anniversary of their ministry. Now have own catechism in English, youth organization, fathers’ forum, mothers’ forum, had a convention of nearly 1300 families in New Jersey, a youth convention in Houston of 400 participants, and a children convocation in Washington DC with 350 children and their parents. Planning different programs for jubilee celebration. Two young men planning to join seminary. Five young ladies planning to join religious communities.
2. Biggest challenge is living their faith in the US, to reach out across geographical distances without religious clergy and sisters.
Densi Chandra (Indonesian – currently 33 communities, some permanent, many temporary, such as student communities):
1. Last year had a jamboree. Currently ordained priests and brothers trying to promote vocations within Indonesian communities so are planning a retreat for Spring 2009. There are now 5 seminarians, 2 priests ordained, 1 will be ordained next year, 3 permanent deacons. More and more have taken active role in local parishes. Now 4 communities that have masses in Indonesian every week: Los Angeles, Orange, Philadelphia, Atlanta (with permanent deacon).
2. Many members of community lack English proficiency so are under-employed and unable to work with other ethnic communities to become a bridge. Also lack awareness about social justice.
Ruth Narita Doyle (Japanese):
1. In last year, entered into Archdiocesan activities, especially in Los Angeles. Participated in a conference on contemporary Japanese Catholicism in Georgetown.
2. Many 3rd, 4th, 5th generation need outreach in particular on campuses. Effects of internment trauma on families.
Peter Choe (Korean):
1. Dedicated Korean Madonna Bar Relief at National Shrine to commemorate centennial of immigration to US. Began publication of Korean missal changed into US liturgical calendar. Started restructuring of national organization to give more authority to non- Korean clergy and other lay who give pastoral service to community. Working on standardized process for bringing priests from Korea, and orientation packet for arriving. Vocation development and leadership training for young adults and adults. Developing pastoral resources with dedicated team.
2. Integration of Korean church into local community, still clinging onto monocultural community. Huge diversity among Koreans: immigrants (smaller group now), transcontinental group (temporary stay), undocumented, Chinese-Korean immigrants, North Korean refugees, fast growth of 2nd/3rd generation (expect to have 2 million American-Koreans by 2010).
Themes heard so far:
1. Need for clergy
2. National church awakening to presence of ethnic groups within the national church
3. Perseverance of people doing the work
4. Evangelization we are doing
5. High importance for cultural diversity office at USCCB
6. Need for formation for lay and by per culture
7. Continuation of this work through bridge with younger community
8. Need for more collaboration and consultation among ethnic communities
9. Need for education within family
10. Better dissemination of information that there is support available from USCCB
11. More lay ministry
12. Youth and generational issues
Fr. Alan Deck, S.J.
Director, Secretariat of Cultural Diversity
First, thanks to Cecile Motus. Second, the Bishops are looking for a way ahead, don’t have all the answers.
Let’s place what’s happening in its context. It has become clear recently how dramatic the change in the Catholic landscape because of recent immigrant groups, it is a change of historic proportion. Now it’s a group no longer from European background. There is a somewhat special role for Hispanic people – to move forward we need to understand the historic role the Hispanic people are going to play in the future. 6 out of 10 Catholics in the US under the age of 35 are Hispanic. The transformation that we are all part of is that the church is becoming a group of Hispanic and Asian and Pacific background. The institutions within the church that serve the groups here have been changing over the years. In addition, there continues to be a need for new institutions that reflect the particular needs of the various groups that are here of their particular Catholicism.
One thing this requires is that the various groups that make up the church today need to work in a different way than in the past. In the past, different groups spoke its own language, etc. In addition, especially with the larger and more established groups, we need to diversity our thinking and let them do what they need to do but also need to take seriously the need for groups to communicate and work with each other, to take the leadership in the Catholic church. The question is not how the communities are going to serve their own communities but how they are going to serve the whole church. God is calling us forward to respond to the need.
In the structures that the Bishops set up at the USCCB, the offices that existed in the past in order to serve the various ethnic/racial groups were put into one umbrella of the office of Cultural Diversity in the Church. Former “committees” became “subcommittees” and one that never existed before, one on Asian and Pacific Affairs and one on Native American Affairs were created. And 42 Bishops are on the committee on the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. Things are generally continuing as they did before, but is allowing them to move in a way toward focusing on the priorities the Bishops have set up for them.
We have five priorities at this time. We will work on those for now, then 3-5 years from now, will reassess and then develop more priorities then. Various groups within Bishops Conference will work in a way that is more organic, among all the departments of the Conference to get as much collaboration as possible. Two values the Bishops insisted upon: the need to collaborate, promote what’s good, but not necessarily be responsible for them, i.e., subsidiarity – to let committee and leadership do what needs to be done and level be what it needs to be.
One feature of the reorganization is the stress upon intermediate organizations really succeeding, but the responsibility is on group itself. Regionally, we need structures that convene the people and work together. Nationally, need to have good structures/associations that convene people. The Bishop’s conference will no longer be the main convener all the time. It is an expression of confidence of Bishops in all the people and movement of the Holy Spirit. What needs to happen – various groups need to be able to help each other. Also, we need dialogue across cultural differences. We need to develop a vision of what it means to be a Catholic in the United States.
What comes up over and over is the matter of youth and 2nd/3rd generation. Usually the tendency is to look at recent immigrants, but our success will be measured by what happens with the next generation. Issues of youth and second generation usually cut across different ethnicities and communities. Hopefully the new structure can help with this matter more.
Pope Benedict used the word diversity over and over again in his talks on his recent US visit. He defended the importance the church places on immigrants and it centrality in the identity of the church. It is where the Gospel meets culture and the message of Christ speaks to each and every one of us. It’s a matter of how the spirit speaks to us here and how makes the Gospel come alive for all of us.
The word the Bishops have chosen to use is “Cultural Diversity” (over Multiculturalism) because in the US, multiculturalism is understood simply as a practical way to promote and accommodate different groups that is tolerant, just to get along, and being respectful to others. But the church has not tended to use the word multicultural much, and there is preference for the word diversity and linking it to Catholicity. It’s not a question of tolerance, it’s a question of love. It’s a matter of how we relate to each other in an intercultural way and begin to grow in mutuality and interdependence, in giving and taking. It’s linked intimately to the requirement that love shows itself in action and is at the root of our Catholic identity. We have an opportunity with the changes that have taken place to move more toward this direction.
Five priorities of the Committee:
1. Diversity – communicating the importance of diversity, recognizing the diversity in the church, with an emphasis on Hispanic ministry.
2. Faith Formation – with an emphasis on the sacraments
3. Marriage
4. Life and Human Dignity – social justice
5. Vocations
One thing that has been reassuring within the USCCB is that many Bishops are involved in the task forces that are looking at these priorities and proposing plans and programs for them. Many of the non-European Bishops are involved in these task forces or in standing committees. Our secretariat is involved in all 5 task forces, in June we’ll know more after their meeting.
Key point: For each priority, what are the key concerns that come out from your particular community? This is what the Bishops will be looking at when figuring out how to work on these issues. Cecile will be working on these, she is the staff person for all five of these, working with Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, the chair of the taskforce on diversity.
In the past, especially after 1950’s, USCCB viewed its role to “Americanize” immigrant groups. Now they realize that the church is not about Americanization but about evangelization – trying to maintain a Catholic identity and to helping each group become American, but figuring out how to be American, assimilating American values but also Gospel values also. Underneath the surface is the question of upward mobility and the effect social and economic advancement has in the exercise of faith. As people become more affluent, often they leave the church. So we need to look at that issue. Also, interreligious marriage is a factor in people moving away from the church as well.
In June, the Bishops will have a session in which they will talk about two reports that have come out: PEW Survey of Religion, CARA study on Sacramentality. Catholics of European background are leaving in alarming numbers. The only reason the Catholic church is not declining in numbers is because of immigration. The Bishops see clearly that the future of the church has to do with retaining immigrant groups, more than anything else, especially their children.
In creating a budget for the department, the committee is hoping for approval of some kind of a convocation in 2009 of all leaders of groups the Committee for Cultural Diversity works with. So, hopefully will be able to continue conversations.
Question: Sr. Felicia Sarati: Can the office help monetarily with small communities who have no pastoral care, with bringing in priests, etc. or place on list of priorities for Bishops to look at?
Fr. Deck: Already have begun conversation with Bishops and will begin looking at different options, e.g., fund for emerging ministries. But clear something needs to be done.
Bishop Solis: it’s not a simple answer of money, it’s more complicated than that. We’ve tried different things with the Thai community, for example. It’s a lack of resources within the ethnic communities of clergy, etc.
Question: Fr. Arturo Balagat: Is it also true for Hispanic communities, etc. that as we see them as dialogue partners they see us that way as well?
Fr. Deck: Yes, it’s about interculturality, even with the Anglo community. We need to find ways to be effective with everybody.
Bishop Luong: In the past 12 years there has been no increase in money coming in, plus what we’ve spent on sexual allegation cases. We can/should raise money amongst ourselves in Asian Pacific community.
Question: George Takahashi: Should we be directing our requests to the committee rather than local Bishops?
Bishop Solis: There’s a vast world of situations. People need to get the response at the level at which they are. If the issue is diocesan, need to deal with local Bishop. Some issues are being dealt with at regional or national levels. Generally they should be enabling the groups at whatever level they need to encourage subsidiarity. In the future, they want to strengthen the group that is working to provide them with resources they need, wherever they can get it, in order to function. But sometimes they can’t do that.
Bishop Solis (Keynote):
We are living in a contemporary society that represents a new reality – globalization brings new impacts, including migration. For several decades we have seen waves of migration, especially in America. Migration brings new values, and has impacted our parish communities in particular. Our parishes have become multicultural communities. Church in America has become an immigrant church.
What does migration do to our society? Diversity is a commonplace everywhere we go. America has been home to immigrant groups for a long time. Church has worked to bring dignity for immigrants, and to help with dialogue in confrontation. The complexity brings new challenges to the mission of the church. We need a new direction and new method for evangelization. While the immigrant groups face an uphill task, the church has reached out to offer affirmation of values. Ethnic communities play a vital role in the parish community, serving as catalysts and leaven.
Harmony in Faith: From its inception our church has been enriched by the cultures of the worldover. For many years now, AP communities have made their presence felt in exciting and challenging ways. Rich cultural traditions of our ethnic groups have slowly but surely inched their way into every parish community. The forms of liturgy and social events have been enriched by AP flavors. Over the years a number of efforts have been made to identity the presence of the AP community, culminating in the document Harmony in Faith. But some pastoral responses were proposed and we have attempted to act on some of them. The result is the Subcommittee on Cultural Diversity.
The Catholic church in the US now stands at the threshold of a transition. The organization of the USCCB and the introduction of CDC and the SCAPA (Subcommittee on Asian Pacific Affairs) presents a new opportunity for all of us to make a difference in the life of the Catholic church in America. Most important of all, the Asian and Pacific Islander community has now become an integral part of the immigrant church of America. Our time has come and our long awaited moment has arrived. For the first time, Asian and Pacific Islanders will be a visible presence in the Catholic Church at a national level.
Where do we go from here? That is why you are here today. The road is now open to achieve greater harmony among ourselves and with other Catholics in the US. We are given an opportunity to contribute to the evangelization mission of the Catholic Church. Lights, camera action! What does action mean? We need a concerted effort, which is intentional and incarnational, which comes from the roots, from our own people and communities and leaders. We need a national pastoral plan for the evangelization and pastoral care of the API Catholics in the United States. So let’s begin working with new enthusiasm with new pastoral mission, new vision, and new action. With a new structure, the API Catholics can stand with new vigor, as stronger collaborators and contributors to the Catholic church. God has blessed us with this golden opportunity. Let’s work on it so that this becomes a moment of grace, not only for the API Catholics, but the Catholic church of the United States. Let’s come up with a concerted plan of action to carry it out. It’s about teamwork. The Bishops carry the team, the leaders do the work.
Question: Sr. Felicia Sarati: Not only a new moment, but we need a new way of coming together. Before we can come to a national level, we need a sense of what is happening in our region and in many places, even Diocesan groups don’t get together. If the regions can have a sense of what is happening, then the national can get together, there is no buy-in on a regional level. We need to rethink how we can come together.
Bishop Solis: Our pastoral plan is based on regional strategies. My dream is to continue to celebrate our gifts within our own parishes, dioceses, and on regional levels. Our point is that it’s more than accommodation, we want to become an integral part of the larger church of the United States. Let’s surface what the gifts and concerns and issues are, then with that, we can come up with regional summits to come up with responses and suggestions. Then from there, we can come up with something on a national level.
Fr. Tony Abuan: Who will come up with the plan? Is it the role of the regional?
Cecile: There has been a national pastoral plan for the Filipino community that took years to plan. We can learn from other communities, how do we plan TO PLAN?
Fr. Dominic Isaac: Some communities are rich and some poor. Evangelization is another challenge from one culture to culture. Some richer communities can afford a priest while poor communities depend on dioceses and then they have other responsibilities. The plan at a national level should support directly the priests for the poor communities.
Bishop Solis: We face the same situation in different dioceses. We cannot complain. I have two other departments in addition to my Bishop’s role. We need to see what happens with a sense of optimism. It gives us a new opportunity and perspective with the reorganization of USCCB. What’s important is to see how we can work collaboratively to properly address our challenges.
Fr. Deck: At the conference they are expecting something from our Secretariat, in a way they didn’t expect before because they’ve made diversity a central issue. It’s on the front burner. But what are we going to do, that’s the question.
Fr. Ricky Manalo: The regional/national strain has always been there. The regional work has led to the need for Asian Bishops and that’s now been met. Structure and power issues will continue to be transformed. On one end, the national work is welcomed for networking and pooling resources, etc. At the other end, what happens with the specific regional needs? How do the local needs that we heard today from the groups work with the 5 priorities of the Bishops we also heard today. We need to keep the regional needs in front of us and make sure they’re being met.
Bishop Solis: New reorganization and SCAPA are the answers to needs.
Fr. Marc Alexander: Need clarification of existing structures that are floating out there, how they function. Even on USCCB website, not up to date on how they’re structured. Also we need a core planning group. We need to use what we have – Harmony in Faith is an excellent document but we haven’t used it and no one is at fault but ourselves. Also, the issue of leadership development – we have good resources but haven’t done a good job of identifying and developing leadership.
Fr. Tovia Lui: It is our time now. So instead of looking for other means, we need to look at what we can do. How active and effective are the different ethnic groups in your various dioceses? If we are to respond to the USCCB then we have to begin to help them prepare a core group with a national plan.
The Pham: Could you clarify the number of Hispanic Catholic numbers?
Fr. Deck: 60% of Catholics in the US under age 35 are Hispanic.
Bishop Luong: Currently 41 million Hispanics (70-80% Catholic) in the US, 38 million black Americans (5% or less).
Rodrigo Valdivia: How important is it for our communities to know about the realities of other subcommittees?
Fr. Deck: We can get synergy from other groups. Groups need to get out of their ghettos to make collective contribution to the church but can’t do that without mutual support and communication. At secretariat, they are just beginning to sense how to do this.
National Ethnic Community Representative Report – CONTINUED:
In the last year what have been your (1) Successes and (2) Challenges?
Sr. Alice Thepouthay (Laotian):
1. Lao Catholic conference in Canada with 150 attendees. Accompanied Bishop Bach to Milwaukee and San Diego.
2. Need to continue to expand involvement of youth and young adults.
Fr. Dominic Isaac (Pakistani – 150 million total, 5 million Catholic, started coming to US in ~1987. Population mostly in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Maryland, Riverside):
1. Translated Urdu into Roman Urdu of basic prayers and songs because many in community can’t read in their own language. Started ecumenical services with Protestants especially for Easter and Christmas. Converted one Pastor to Catholicism.
2. Limited time as chaplain because of diocesan responsibilities (e.g., chaplainship as apostleship to Port of Philadelphia).
Fr. Liem Thanh Nguyen (Vietnamese – Federation consists of 4 main groups, priests and brothers are 800, 65 permanent deacons, 1000-1500 seminarians and brothers/sisters):
1. Planning first pilgrimage to Our Lady of LaVang.
2. Bringing understanding and unity within Federation, and then with other API groups.
Sr. Joelle Aflague (Chamorro):
1. Met with small group of Chamorro community in San Bernadino who want to organize a group within the church system. Bishop Randy of Reno is Chamorro, Fr. Tony Perris (Sulpecian) who teaches in Washington DC also, also have a Deacon.
2. Clusters but not cohesive because maybe don’t think of themselves as immigrants.
Fr. Tovia Lui (Samoa):
1. 3 dioceses with Samoan communities where he ministers – 4 in LA, 2 in Orange, 1 in San Diego. Brought in another priest to take over the ministry.
2. Lack of participation by people in the community or see things short-term. Also lack of access to other dioceses, would appreciate connection.
Deacon Sione Toetu’u Hola (Tongan):
1. To be Tongan means: (1) full active participation in the parish and diocese; (2) full support of our 1 Tongan chaplain. 33 small communities from Alaska to Florida. No communities in the Eastern part of US. 3 permanent deacons, will be 9. Goal to have one in each state. SF has 3, LA has 1, Sacrament has 1, Salt Lake 1, Phoenix 1, Seattle will be ordained this year. 8 sisters. Currently have religious education all over country, have liturgy in Tongan, dancing, speech debates. Helping organize World Youth Day for 800 youth and 10 priests to go to Australia from Tonga. Organized special retreat and renewal with Vicar General from Tonga at Redemptorist Renewal Center last weekend.
2. Growing number of community in the US but many still don’t feel a sense of belonging to the larger church.
Questions: Sr. Felicia Sarati: Peter Choe, could you clarify the new reorganization/new agreement between bishops?
Peter Choe: It’s being worked on, they are hoping to standardize the process of bringing new priests into the US.
Cecile Motus: We have started a dialogue with the Korean Conference of Bishops from the Committee for Migration to (1) organize how we bring in the priests because mainly the diocesan contracts with the priests vary in regard to things like insurance, transportation, etc. We’ve drafted this agreement but it’s difficult because every Bishop is the one who should be connecting with the sending Bishop. (2) Also to standardize a pre-departure program in Korea and an orientation program upon arrival here. The USCCB would like to assist by providing this orientation program.
George Takahashi: If that is happening between Korean Conference and USCCB then why isn’t that being worked out for other ethnic communities?
Cecile Motus: Because of the special needs of that particular group. The other communities have guidelines in place. Plus, it’s a Bishop action, and despite the fact there’s guidelines it’s an individual Bishop’s call.
Rodrigo Valdivia: It’s important to clarify that this was something that was already in place, not something the USCCB initiated. It was in place and PCMR became involved to try and facilitate the process.
Diocesan Directors Representative Report:
In the last year what have been your (1) Challenges; 2. Priority for Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific; and (3) Priority for Committee on Cultural Committee:
Fr. Marc Alexander (Hawaii):
40% of Hawaii is single race Asian, 19% identified as two or more races so 70% of Hawaii is Asian or Polynesian in some way. Don’t do specific ethnic ministry. 20% of Hawaii is Catholic.
1. Identifying and training and supporting leadership within API communities. Also, integration with the parish and ministries.
2. Dioceses and parishes should have programs to acculturate clergy and religious workers to US issues such as immigration and tax laws, history, language, culture etc. Also, dioceses and parishes should prepare local communities for a more welcoming attitude toward and API priests and religious workers.
3. Need to identify clergy and lay with leadership potential from underrepresented culture groups and provide training. Need to educate clergy on cultural needs of ethnic groups they represent and minister to.
Fr. Paul Fliss (Milwaukee):
The diocese has a $3.2 million deficit. Guidelines and recommendations for structure of central office were given and as of May 15, 2008 – 38 positions were eliminated including ethnic, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, deaf, African American, and have hired an Intercultural Ministry Coordinator instead. Bishops are hoping that with elimination of these offices, to enliven and cooperation and network together and engage more grass roots work. But because of the small size of Asian population – 40,000 in Archdiocese of Milwaukee (18,000 Hmong, 3000 Lao, 2800 Korean, 2,500 Filipino, 2,500 Vietnamese) and 4,200 Catholics – it will be a problem.
Sr. Judith Howley (Syracuse):
1. Have one Vietnamese priest but has to serve 3 cities: Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica.
2. Provide for regional gatherings, especially Eastern regions.
3. Citizenship and immigration.
Sr. Maria Hsu (San Francisco):
1. Among smaller ethnic communities, very big lack of leadership because when 2nd generation knows enough English, they take off from community. So the smaller community remains a group of older folks with slow decrease in participation.
2. Regional meetings for different ethnic communities to foster cooperation.
3. To sponsor educational conferences for ethnic leaders so that they are both educated as well as updated (continuing education), e.g., in regard to multiculturalism.
Sr. Theresa Phan (San Bernadino):
1. Up to the diocesan Bishop for ethnic ministries, in particular API ministry to advance. San Bernadino very blessed with Bishop Barnes so organized like CDC, the only ministry we don’t have is PCMR. Under API, work with 6 groups, Filipino is largest and most active. Challenge is API being used as tokens – used for show of food and dance, but for true participation is limited.
2. For regional meetings and gatherings to happen, we need the help of Bishop Solis and Bishop Luong – to write letters to all their brother Bishops for a list of local leaders for each region so when we gather we know who to contact.
Fr. Deck: We’re currently involved in the reworking of website and database. We’re hoping to do it in a timely as way as possible.
Teresita Nuval (Chicago):
1. API 4.5% of 2.5 million and in 90 parishes. Bishops are asking for paradigm shifts because they’re really moving around. Extra clergy are not included in the diocesan fund for education of diocesan clergy. Insufficient orientation program for new clergy. Resources, program development, etc. need more work than longer-established Hispanic and African American ministry. Concepts and strategies for inculturation and contextualization have different meanings among clergy so some materials are not sensitive for API.
2. Common commitment among different API communities and leaders. Lay ecclesial development, and inclusion of API in national ecclesial research. Continuing education for AP clergy, deacons and religious. Youth and young adult outreach and evangelization. Clarify relationship between subcommittee and national organizations. Follow up on the Harmony and Faith.
3. Schedule a series of regional orientation and information programs and objectives and structures of the committee. How are dioceses are being encouraged to embrace this new way of being church?
Fr. Deck: People have used the work “USCCB Paradigm” to talk about the new structure. At least among the Hispanic Bishops, when discussing the way to structure things with the new organization, they want it to be made clear that this is not the way they will organize dioceses. That is not pastoral. It was not the goal of the Bishops to say this is the way it should be done everywhere in the dioceses. The goal is to allow the leadership to rise from each community and function. An informational brochure is being prepared to help people understand what is happening.
Bishop Solis: Regional meetings are just mechanisms to find commonalities because of the strong diversity. It would be difficult to find uniformity in the diversity of pastoral challenges we all have.
Cecile Motus: Sometimes we need to come up with a common understanding of how to educate everyone we work with about the concepts we work with.
Rodrigo Valdivia (San Diego):
1. Coordinate resources, collaborate to help those in need, explore how to train leaders.
Philip Tran (Seattle):
1. Seattle diocese is blessed because API ministry is structured so that we’re under the Vicar for Clergy department so can work with clergy and deacons. But need resources for the 1.5/2nd API generation.
Sr. Felicia Sarati (Oakland):
1. 410,824 API in the diocese + 100,000 in higher education in area. Catholic population is around 200,000. We all need to take quality time to really give analysis of who and what is going on in each diocese because most of our groups are no longer immigrants. Need models of intercultural dialogue to mirror in our own dioceses.
2. Help us facilitate regional meetings by writing to brother Bishops and allow each region to come up with own agenda. Facilitate for us a way we could talk to your brother Bishops to give them a status of the ministries. Interactive website where we can share and get details on best practices. Financial resources for ongoing lay leadership.
3. Sponsor regional forums for collaborative efforts to be explored, with Latinos and African Americans, and to dialogue with other Asian American religions, such as Buddhists and Muslims. Address educational component of how to be an effective member in addressing national forum.
Ruth Narita Doyle (NAPCO):
History: There was a network of diocesan directors and a need to expand that network so it evolved into the National Asian Pacific National Organization. The first endeavor was the Convocation which was very well received. Right now membership is about 60 organizational memberships of 5 persons each, 70 individual and family memberships. Will be putting out a newsletter 4 x year, and starting a membership drive and asking for suggestions for membership for a board. Bishop Luong has been the Episcopal liaison for NAPCO.
Bishop Solis: My understanding is that it was nonexistent until a few people revived it, so would like to ask about its official status.
Bishop Luong: NAPCO existed for 3 years and last big event was the convocation in Washington. Afterwards, we had some internal issues we tried to resolve and after restructuring USCCB, told Ruth Doyle that if NAPCO is to exist it must be independent and he will no longer be the Episcopal liaison.
Cecile Motus: I would rather not go into details tonight, if there is a need to come back to it tomorrow we will.
May 27, 2008
Where do we go from here?
Bishop Solis – Chairperson of Subcommittee
Let’s recap the issues/concerns/expectations from last night so we know what to aim for when we leave here today (within the context of 5 priorities) within small groups:
Group 1:
1. Main priority is identification of leadership and formation of leaders
a. In particular among young adults
b. With a particular sensitivity of the different needs of different groups like the newer immigrations who do not have resources available (e.g., translation of bible)
2. But before that there are two prerequisites
a. Awareness of need for turnover of leadership among current leaders
b. Before we can have synergy among different ethnic groups, we need stabilization and communication among different ethnic communities at parish, diocesan, national level – through regional meetings and training sessions at seminaries?
Groups 2:
1. Focus on becoming more aware of the smaller groups and not overlooking their needs. For this need fair and intentional distribution of resources.
2. Focus on communications networks on a regional and national level. Those groups that are better can help those that are less able. This will require regional meetings to share, e.g. best practices, access to information for all, etc.
3. Training and education of various people and ministers at parish level on ethnic diversity.
Group 3:
1. Spirituality, vocations, leadership training, intercultural communication, keeping tradition and faith, dialogue with different ethnic groups, spirituality of leadership, faith formation and vocations, particular attention to youth and YA in each priority. Important to note that each priority is interconnected.
2. Key words: communion, common ground, dialogue, process.
3. Actions: (1) Identify on the national level for various groups so that (2) Leadership training (3) Experiences at gatherings so we know each other on an experiential level.
4. Need resources of some kind to establish communication, provide structure, and establish vision and priorities of subcommittee.
Key themes/issues:
1. Leadership formation
a. Identification of potential leaders
b. Evaluate past/current leadership programs – best practices to share with communities
c. Website SCAPA – interactive and updated
d. Analysis and synthesis of best practices
2. Communication + Networking
3. Focus on young adults
4. Focus on vocations
5. Creating organizations and strengthening capacities
6. Balanced distribution of resources for smaller groups
7. Building relationships with other ethnic groups even outside API communities
8. Immigration policies and issues
9. Gatherings to bring communities together
Approaches:
1. Enhance and continue best practices
2. Apply in the diocese and possibly region
3. Beyond c------ ? – education and formation
4. Beyond Asian and pacific – intercultural dialogue + intergenerational
5. Not assimilation but integration
What does leadership need:
1. Leadership = Servanthood
2. Skills in:
a. Leading
b. Management
c. Charism
d. Community-building
3. Young potential leaders who can take over current leadership + zeal + enthusiasm
4. Formation resources who can assist
5. Cultural sensitivity with mix of recent immigrants even among young adults
6. Spiritually formed
7. Sense of vision + collaborative nature
8. Accepted/embraced by the community represented
Nominations for national consultants.