Page 57 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

like cattle. Even some of our seminar- more seen as an asset to celebrate of sin that demonized those who
ians have talked about experiences rather than a deficit of which to be thought differently, looked different
in seminaries in different parts of ashamed. Our Church has also made and prayed differently. We often took
the country where it was presumed progress; Patrick Flores was named the European experience of Christi-
that their academic preparation was bishop of El Paso in 1978, the first anity to be normative and failed to
inferior and when they were the butt Mexican American bishop in the appreciate the ways that God was
of jokes suggesting that their families United States. Latino/a theologians already at work, and still at work
must know something about drug have long offered inspired insights today, in indigenous peoples and
trafficking. on these matters. In my pastoral cultures. We perpetuated damaging
reflections here I stand upon their notions of power and the desire to
39. This is a history of racism and its shoulders. Those in leadership in our dominate and so contributed to the
deadly effects. Why is there greater diocesan church increasingly reflect exploitation of peoples and the en-
poverty, less access to education and our population. Our liturgies, with vironment. There are some who still
health care and lower wages in our diverse language and song, more feel estranged from the Church on
border community? Not because fully anticipate the diversity and unity account of those actions and omis-
anyone is inherently inferior, criminal of the Reign of God. sions which diminished the credibility
or lazy. But because on these criminal of the Gospel.
pretexts people on the border have 41. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo talk
had less opportunity. This is institu- about how by the 1970s their people 44. I am grieved as I reflect upon
tional racism. And yet the people had dwindled in number to only this and I realize that and nothing I
of the borderlands are not victims. around 400 members. Today, the can say will undo that harm. Nor do
Resilience and dignity are the jewels community numbers in the hundreds I have the answers as to how we can
in the crown of this long and on- of families and they have created move forward together. But I extend
going struggle and are the mark worthy spaces to develop their my hand in humility and friendship to
of our people. The people of the economy and promote their cultural those individuals and communities
borderlands have built a real com- heritage. They have invested gener- who feel estranged from the Church.
munity. Against walls and inequality ously in renewing and restoring their I want you to know that the Church
and fear, we have maintained our mission church, where they were not is with you and stands beside you in
vital connection with Ciudad Juárez. even permitted to enter through the your work to build a more just world.
In spite of this story of oppression, front door in the nineteenth century. I stand beside you and am ready to
railroads and highways are built, food Now during Mass they can proclaim learn from you.
is grown in abundance, our sons and the Scriptures and pray the Our
daughters battle and die with valor in Father in their native language. They 45. The example and lives of the
the armed services, our people build can invoke the intercession of the martyrs also shows us what genu-
wind turbines and airplane consoles, canonized Kateri Tekakwitha through ine Christian witness is. We see this
we paint murals of beauty, we speak song and dance. example in the lives of Saint Oscar
many languages, our young people Romero; Blessed Father Stanley
are passionate about justice and the 42. In the aftermath of the matanza, Rother; the four Maryknoll women
environment, we thrive in the desert. we immediately saw the unique spirit missionaries killed in El Salvador in
of El Paso in an overwhelming com- 1980; the six Jesuits, their house-
40. Great progress has been made munity response, a people united keeper and her daughter killed in
in recent years, with the passage of in prayer and service, regardless of El Salvador in 1989; our own San
civil rights legislation, victories in the race, age, nationality, gender, religion Pedro de Jesus Maldonado. In the
courts, and hard won wins of civical- or political belief. Yet August 3rd also spirit of these examples which make
ly engaged communities, genuine reminded us that our achievements the Gospel credible I wish to build a
public servants and organizers in are to be defended and deepened, bridge. They show us that true evan-
the workplace. Latinos have worked not taken for granted. gelization is ‘to lay down one’s life for
hard to build a more just society. one’s friends’ (John 15, 13). Like them
Our schools and universities are Purification of Memory I pray that I may speak without fear
more reflective of our population when it is called for and help to give
and are more bilingual. Our children 43. Pope Saint John Paul II set an voice to those who have not been
have graduated from distinguished example for us all during the Jubilee heard.
academic institutions to become Year 2000 when he asked pardon for
fine theologians, teachers, doctors the violation of ‘the rights of ethnic
and lawyers. Our community has groups and peoples’ and ‘contempt
demonstrated remarkable hospi- for their cultures and traditions’.
tality to migrants and refugees. On many occasions leaders in the
Borderland culture is more and Church did little to disrupt patterns