Editorial

A parish is a safe place during the storms of life

The website for St. Ambrose Parish in Seymour, stambroseseymour.org, contains the following message in English and in Spanish:

“In case of tornado warning, the church basement will be open for parishioners who need a safe place.”

“En caso de alerta de tornado, el sótano de la iglesia estará abierto para los feligreses que necesiten un lugar seguro.”

Thanks be to God, St. Ambrose is a safe place during times of natural disaster. But it is also a place where parishioners from very different backgrounds can feel welcome, spiritually nourished and safe from the economic, cultural and political storms that threaten them.

Many different Latin American countries (including Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela and other nations) with a variety of different languages and dialects are represented at St. Ambrose. The parish’s Hispanic Ministry coordinator serves as support for the Hispanic community in any Church matter and also as a bridge to help the pastor with translations.

Events are planned for the entire parish such as the Hispanic Fiesta during September/October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the independence of the Hispanic countries of parishioners. Other events include the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Posadas, Three Kings’ Day, the Feast of Divine Mercy and celebrations of Mother’s and Father’s Day.

One of the ways that St. Ambrose helps people from different backgrounds is by helping them to better understand and speak American English. This process happens naturally when children enroll in schools and when they socialize with other students who are native English speakers. Adults often have more difficulty because of work and family responsibilities and because the older they get, the more difficult it is to understand, read and write new languages.

At St. Ambrose, helping adults learn English is an integral part of the parish’s ministry of hospitality. The first Hispanic families began praying at St. Ambrose in the mid-1990s. Today, there are native Spanish speakers represented on all parish commissions.

St. Ambrose is a parish that is bursting at the seams. On weekends, 1,100–1,200 people attend Masses in a church built for 300. Meeting and gathering spaces are limited, and every square inch is utilized to provide ministry and faith formation to children, teens and adults.

Father Daniel Staublin, the parish’s pastor, is excited about this growth in the parish community.

“The bilingual spirit in our parish is growing,” he says. “We welcome the opportunity to help our Spanish-speaking parishioners learn English, and we encourage those who are native English speakers to learn about the different cultures and languages of their fellow parishioners.”

Father Staublin says that, for him, what is most significant is the way that the different cultures represented in his parish have added to the sense of reverence within the entire community. The strong Latino presence has helped everyone appreciate more fully the Church’s traditional devotions—for example, praying the rosary, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament and participating in novena prayers.

Father Staublin says that many people have told him that the blending of these diverse communities in prayer at St. Ambrose has enhanced the whole parish’s experience of worship and its profound sense of reverence.

In addition to helping parishioners with language skills and providing them with the spiritual benefits of belonging to a vibrant faith community, St. Ambrose is responding to the increasing need for help with life’s necessities.

According to Father Staublin, “This past summer we had a ‘Christmas in July’ event at St. Ambrose. The need is increasing here for many of our immigrant brothers and sisters. Many are losing their jobs and some of the men—the major breadwinners—are being arrested and being detained and/or deported.

“At the last minute, we decided to have a collection of food, toiletries, clothes, etc. and have them available in our school gym. Instead of saying it was for those in need—we want to respect their pride—we labeled it a ‘Christmas in July’ party. The response—both in donated items and in participants—was unbelievable!”

St. Ambrose is one of many vibrant parishes in central and southern Indiana that provide a safe haven for parishioners. Whether spiritual, emotional or physical, the storms of life can be devastating. Generous gifts of time, talent and treasure are needed to strengthen and sustain the Church’s role as a safe harbor in troubled times.

All of us are invited—and challenged—to do our part.

—Daniel Conway