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MACC

Unity in Diversity at MACC

At MACC, we are not afraid of differences. In fact, our mission embraces that we are a culturally diverse church and society. Summers at MACC tend to bring people from many different cultural backgrounds together. This past summer, students enrolled in our Intensive Pastoral Spanish and English programs had origins from 11 different countries.

“There is a great richness to work with participants that come from so many countries and cultures,” said Laura Graham, MACC’s director of continuing education. “Together we learn about our customs, food, music, prayers, and so many things.”

Students enrolled in Intensive Pastoral Spanish and English Programs enjoy coffee and pan dulce during morning break.

The work of the Holy Spirit was evident as the students built unity with one another, sharing the common goal of learning another language in order to better serve the Church in their respective dioceses. After the first week, the quiet morning coffee break in the MACC Fiesta Room seemed more like old friends reuniting.

“We learn more about our own culture when we are sharing it with each other people, and learn to appreciate other cultures which we are not familiar with,” said Laura.

Even more than that, one can witness a more profound harmony brought out by prayer, for example, when in one of the daily masses Fr. Esau Andrew Forka, originally from Cameroon, asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe for his home country, which continues suffering from terrible violence.

“Thank you for giving us this opportunity to celebrate mass with you,” said Fr. Andrew. “You participate in our pain as Christian brothers and sisters. We offer this nation to our mother, Lady of Guadalupe who helped the Mexicans fight the war.”

The rest of the students joined him in prayer by singing, Ven Con Nosotros a Caminar, as he and another student from Cameroon knelt before the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe in MACC’s chapel holding up the Cameroon flag. 

These moments are inspiring signs that unity is possible and that the Holy Spirit can create cultural bridges over difficult terrain, where differences are both respected and accepted.

“Connections are created naturally among all of us,” said Laura. “Many of them last for a lifetime.”

Graphic shows what countries and U.S. dioceses were represented by students enrolled in Intensive Pastoral and English programs over Summer 2018.

Unidad  en la Diversidad en MACC

En MACC, no tenemos miedo a las diferencias. De hecho, nuestra misión abraza el hecho de que somos una iglesia y sociedad culturalmente diversas. Los veranos en MACC tienden a reunir a personas de muchos diferentes orígenes culturales. El verano pasado, los estudiantes inscritos en nuestros programas de Inglés y Español Pastoral Intensivos eran originarios de 11 países diferentes.

“Es una gran riqueza trabajar con participantes que vienen de tantos países y culturas”, dijo Laura Graham, Directora de Educación Continua de MACC. “Juntos aprendemos de nuestras costumbres, comida, música, oraciones y muchas cosas más”.

El trabajo del Espíritu Santo se veía casi instantáneamente a medida que los estudiantes creaban un sentido de unidad entre ellos, compartiendo la meta común de aprender otro idioma para poder servir mejor a la iglesia en sus respectivas diócesis. Después de la primera semana, el descanso tranquilo de la mañana en el Fiesta Room de MACC parecía más una reunión de viejos amigos.

“Aprendemos más sobre nuestra propia cultura cuando la compartimos con otras personas, y aprendemos a apreciar las culturas que las que no estamos familiarizados”, dijo Laura.

Aún más que eso, uno puede ser testigo de una armonía más profunda que se manifiesta en la oración, por ejemplo, cuando en una de las misas diarias el Padre Esau Andrew Forka, originalmente de Camerún, pidió la intercesión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe por su país de origen, el cual ha estado en continuo sufrimiento por la terrible violencia.

“Gracias por darnos esta oportunidad de celebrar la misa con ustedes”, dijo el padre Andrew. “Ustedes participan en nuestro dolor como hermanas y hermanos cristianos. Ofrecemos esta nación a nuestra madre, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe quien ayudó a los mexicanos a luchar en la guerra”.

El resto de los estudiantes se unieron en oración a él cantando, Ven Con Nosotros a Caminar, mientras él y otro compañero camerunés se hincaron frente a la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la capilla de MACC, sosteniendo la bandera de Camerún.

Estos momentos son signos inspiradores de que la unidad es posible y de que el Espíritu Santo puede crear puentes culturales en terrenos difíciles, donde las diferencias son respetadas y aceptadas.

“Las conexiones entre todos nosotros se crean de forma natural”, dijo Laura.“Muchas de ellas duran toda la vida”.

Posted in Fall 2018 Newsletter, SOMOS MACC NEWSLETTERTagged Archdiocese of San Antonio, intensive pastoral english, intensive pastoral spanish, intercultural competence, newsletter, pastoral ministry

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5th National Encuentro for Hispanic/Latino Ministry – 9/22/2018 – Afternoon Session
Coming Together at the Table: How MACC is Weaving Cultures

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