Pime Missionaries
  • Home
  • What Makes Us Different
    • PIME 75 Years in the US
    • The Missionary Vocation
    • Our US Missionaries
    • PIME Martyrs
    • PIME Saints & Causes
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsorships at A Distance
    • Mission Development Projects
    • Events
    • Mission Store
    • Prayer Intentions
  • Our Impact
    • Our Missions
    • Mission World Online
    • PIME Asia News
  • |
  • DONATE
  • Home
  • What Makes Us Different
    • PIME 75 Years in the US
    • The Missionary Vocation
    • Our US Missionaries
    • PIME Martyrs
    • PIME Saints & Causes
  • Get Involved
    • Sponsorships at A Distance
    • Mission Development Projects
    • Events
    • Mission Store
    • Prayer Intentions
  • Our Impact
    • Our Missions
    • Mission World Online
    • PIME Asia News
  • |
  • DONATE
March 1, 2017  |  By PIMEMissionariesUSA In Brooklyn, Catholic, Chinese New Year, Mission Work, Mission World, New York, PIME Missionaries, USA

We Do What We Do, Not Because You Are Catholic, But Because We Are Catholic

A Reflection by Fr. Marco Brioschi, PIME Missionaries

We don’t usually think of the United States as “mission territory.” However, much to my surprise, I discovered in my assignment to Brooklyn, New York, not only people from all over the world, but the need to re-define what I am called to do as a “missionary.”

It is true that evangelization of people is the goal of every missionary, but I have discovered that the meaning of evangelization takes on different forms when it is applied to the territory of a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual parish.

“We do what we do, not because you are Catholic, but because we are Catholic”. This quotation is one of those well known from Rev. Msgr. Ronald T. Marino, the Episcopal Vicar for Migrant and Ethnic-Apostolates of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Msgr. Marino has spent more than four decades caring and advocating for the pastoral and temporal needs of newcomers here in Brooklyn, New York.

Msgr. Ronald T. Marino

The Diocese of Brooklyn from its founding has been recognized as a Diocese of immigrants, it is the smallest territorially and the only fully urban Diocese in the United States. In this great Metropolis of New York City, it stands as a beacon, welcoming people from every nation, culture, race and creed. These newcomers, of which many are non-Christians, bring with them their faith, culture, heritage and traditions which is an ongoing challenge to the local Church.

Msgr. Marino also served as Director of the Catholic Migration Office which was established in the Diocese as a direct response to the call of Pope Paul VI in 1969, namely “Instruction on the Pastoral Care of People Who Migrate”. The Instruction called on bishops to set up a separate office in the curia of the Diocese for immigrants if they found this would be necessary to provide a true welcome to the newcomers. This agency was recognized as the first in the world to respond to the Instruction on creating a special Diocesan office for immigrants.

During his tenure at the Catholic Migration Office, Msgr. Marino established numerous initiatives and programs serving to enhance the lives of the immigrants and helping them to better integrate in their new society. As a direct result, large numbers of immigrants continue to encounter Christ through these efforts of the Diocesan pastoral ministries. Waves of newcomers experience encounter, conversion and renewal leading them to communion in and with the Church.

Fr. Marco Brioschi

It also happens that Msgr. Marino is the current Pastor of St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Parish, where I am presently assigned. Little did I know that I would be associated with someone who has such a long and rich understanding of the Catholicity of the Church. Here we have a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic faith community made up of individuals from Italy, China, Taiwan, and several Spanish-speaking countries like Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. However, lest anyone think that this is only a matter of priests and staff who can speak other languages for the celebration of Holy Mass and the Sacraments, it has long grown from that basic level to an attempt to create the unity of the Church through the Catholic faith which we share.

​Here in Brooklyn, the other parish priests and I often reflect on the challenges of such a diverse population. We believe that the multi-cultural nature of our parish is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, and our duty as true missionaries is to understand what the Holy Spirit is demanding from each one of us. This has caused us to put aside many ordinary pre-suppositions and to re-examine our own missionary call. In my case, I was called to be PIME missionary when I was in Italy. Through my regular mission assignments, I went to other countries and took the time to learn other languages, especially Chinese. In my current assignment I am once again utilizing, more so than ever before, the Chinese language and customs which I acquired in my missionary assignments in the Far East. In my ministry, I celebrate Holy Mass in Chinese, English, Italian, and sometimes in Spanish.

Chinese Immigrants in Fr. Marco’s congregation celebrate Chinese New Year

A Parish consisting of such a diverse Community requires a genuine openness to the Holy Spirit in welcoming the newcomers while adhering to the needs of its established parishioners. Given this dynamic, to be pastorally effective, it is vital to have careful, creative and vibrant pastoral initiatives enabling each ethnicity to grow in the faith and uniting as one parish family. Due to the many initiatives of our Parish, the Chinese immigrants in the area have come to the Church in good numbers which grow every week. This has been a sincere wish of the Pastor and even the Bishop to welcome the more than 500,000 Chinese immigrants in the Diocese into the Catholic Church. For many of these individuals, the freedom to celebrate the Catholic faith here without fear, is itself a gift of the Holy Spirit which He has caused us to share.

The Catholic Church which the immigrants encounter is the experience of the Church as it is lived here in America. In St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Parish the immigrants come together as Chinese, English, Italian, and Spanish ethnicity, all join together and participate in the celebrations of the major feast days. This is because here we instituted a pastoral practice of “multi-lingual and multi-ethnic celebrations” which include the use of the languages of our parishioners. Nothing is repeated, but each group has a significant part in the prayer. This is a wonderful experience and expression of celebrating our unity in diversity.

Along with the experience of multi-cultural worship, the immigrants are learning how the Catholic Church respects each group, honors their customs and traditions, and is growing in welcome, hospitality, and the sense of belonging which should characterize any immigrant parish. This reminds me of another famous expression of Msgr. Marino, “Immigrants hear with their eyes and what they hear in Brooklyn is the call of Christ to keep them close to Him through the Church.”

As for me, I am still learning and witnessing how the Holy Spirit continues to guide and strengthen the Church by bearing countless fruits. As a missionary, this assignment has been a real gift to me, full of new encounters, ongoing spiritual enrichment and a greater desire to follow where the Lord continues to lead me.

_________________

The PIME Missionaries are Catholic priests and brothers who commit themselves to lifelong missionary services, but they can’t do alone. Will you help PIME Missionaries make a difference in crossing cultures and transforming lives through the Gospel?

Find Us Online: https://pimeusa.org/

Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, & Flickr

Previous StoryJoys and Challenges: Life in the Missions of Mexico
Next StoryA Missionary in a Rioting Prison

Related Articles

  • Fr. Vendramin, late PIME Missionary in Cambodia
    Fr. Vendramin, the first PIME Missionary in Phnom Penh after Pol Pot
  • IMG_3044-e1623310418437
    From the World, For the World

Archives

  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • January 2021
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • April 2016
  • December 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013

Categories

Tags

Banglades Bangladesh Bishop Vijay Rayarala Brazil Coronavirus COVID-19 COVID-19 Relief Dhaka Education Fr. Ace Valdez Fr. Gian Paolo Gualzetti Fr. Simone Caelli Hill Tribes India Mission in India Mission Work New Missionaries PIME PIME in India PIME Missionary PIME Priests Social Justice Sponsorships Sponsorships at a Distance Thailand The Mission The Philippines Witness You Make a Difference

About

Sed molestie augue sit amet leo consequat posuere. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Proin vel ante a orci tempus eleifend ut et magna.

 

WHO WE ARE

  • What Makes Us Different

WHAT WE DO

  • Our Impact
  • Get Involved
  • DONATE

ABOUT US

The PIME Missionaries are Catholic priests and brothers who care for and develop communities in 19 countries around the world.

FIND US ELSEWHERE

en_USEnglish
en_USEnglish