by Sr. Janice Burns-Watson - Franciscan Sisters of Tiffin OH
To me my time with the Inter-Congregational Collaborative Novitiate in conjunction with the Catholic Theological Union community and the rainbow of humanity that makes up greater Chicago has been one long celebration of diversity. And yes, to me it has felt like a celebration. I have treasured each and every intercultural experience. We have been blessed to experience Mass at several different congregations including: St. Kateri, a Native American congregation; St. Benedict the African, a Pan-African congregation; St. Bakhita, an African American parish; St. Rita’s, a Latino parish, and St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church. It has truly opened the eyes of my heart to celebrate holidays such as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Parish, and the Lunar New Year at St. Theresa Chinese Catholic Church and the Vietnamese Holy Child Jesus Parish. We have explored a Native American, Mexican American, and African American Museum, and went to the Science and Technology Museum to experience Christmas Around the World. In a sense, what it has done is allow me to experience these events through the eyes of those who have lived vastly different lives from my own. I am aware that I can never fully comprehend the history and traditions of any other culture, but at the same time, these diverse celebrations have allowed me to have a much closer look than I would normally have. It has enriched me, made me more compassionate, and I truly believe made me a better person.
What better place to have this experience than in Chicago, a city that has a long history of taking in immigrants. The Patron Saint of Immigrants (who also happens to be
the first American citizen to become a saint), St. Frances Cabrini, died right here in Chicago. Following her
canonization ceremony in 1946, 120,00 people attended a Mass of celebration at Soldier Field here in Chicago. Lest we forget, Cabrini humbly ministered to the Italian Immigrants who were despised and rejected at the time. While the countries of origin have changed over the years, Chicago has remained a city that has a very large and vibrant migrant population.
Over and over again throughout the months I have been a part of ICCN, it has been reiterated to us that the face of religious life today and in the coming years is one that is truly intercultural. The six of us hale from four very unique cultures, and to me that is a huge part of what has made the last few months so special. To quote Maya Angelou: “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” Our tapestry is vibrant!
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