Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

The Bishop Writes

(From the July 31, 2003 edition of the Inland Register)

Summer this year seems to be filled with an unusual number of meetings and conferences.

On June 25-27, a regional workshop near SeaTac Airport was sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration and Refugee Services. This was the last in a series of seven workshops around the country for bishops and diocesan leaders on the theme, “Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity.” The theme is taken from the title from the U.S. bishops’ pastoral statement approved in November, 2000.

About 70 from the Northwest were present for the gathering. In our Church, migration continues to be a significant reality, one that we certainly know in many areas in our own diocese. We must also recognize that the city of Spokane remains quite “white” and has been minimally impacted by migration patterns. I suspect that situation may soon change, but it is a fact of which we should be aware.

The Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, Othello, and Connell areas, as well as the Columbia River and Okanogan River valleys, however, have been the recipients of great numbers of new arrivals over recent years. The reality is that the migrant population has been a great blessing to our local Church.

As a church, as a larger community, we must take care to avoid marginalizing any group, especially on the basis of ethnicity or culture. Certainly that is true as we welcome various immigrant groups to our communities. It is also true of other, long-standing groups. For instance, in the northern area of the diocese, there are three Native American tribes: the Colvilles, the Spokanes, and the Kalispells. Their presence in our diocesan family is also a blessing with their unique cultures and expression of faith. We must never allow them or any other ethnic group in the diocese feel they are left out or marginalized because of who they are.

The workshop at SeaTac emphasized strongly that we as church must foster unity in diversity, empower effective intercultural leadership, and become even better welcoming parishes. As we strive to do all of this better, we must be a people of conversion, and strive for communion and solidarity with one another and with newcomers.

We don’t often think about welcoming and serving people on the move – travelers and others. Some dioceses already have ministries that serve seafarers and travelers at airports. I think especially of the chapel and staff at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. The Archdiocese of Seattle has a ministry to seafarers.

Another example would be those people who work in carnivals and circuses. I remember some years ago when I was bishop of the Diocese of Yakima. I was contacted by the Little Sisters of the Poor who were with Circus Vargas. The Sisters took care of the circus’s costumes. The Vargas circus was coming to Yakima in a month or so and they asked if I would celebrate Confirmation and First Eucharist for about 15 children they had prepared to receive the sacraments. It was the only time I have celebrated these sacraments under the big top with the circus family present – and for me, it was a very moving experience. Can we find better and creative ways of serving people on the move in our diocese of Eastern Washington?

On June 28, our Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) sponsored our first statewide workshop on respecting life, with the theme of “Changing Minds and Hearts.” Almost 200 people from around the state came to that gathering at Seattle University. We as church need to find even more effective ways of protecting human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. We must look first and foremost at ourselves as a church community as we strive to integrate this value in our daily living and thus, in the words of Pope John Paul II, contribute to the culture of life.

We must continue our mission to sensitize our society: to the evil of abortion; to the dehumanizing poverty in our midst; and to right thinking about the rights and responsibilities of every person as well as the sacredness of human life.

In all of this, hostility and stridency serve no useful purpose. The bishops of the state and the WSCC for years have addressed these issues. The challenge continues.

Finally, an international congress on evangelization was held at the University of Portland July 16-19. Almost 600 people were present from all over the country, as well as a significant representation from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, B.C., and CELAM (Latin America Episcopal Conferences). For years we have struggled in the Church as to how we might become better instruments of evangelization. More and more in these challenging and complex times, we Catholics are hearing that we must be about the mission of Jesus in our world. There is tremendous need to catechize adults in our church, especially in terms of Scripture and our rich tradition. We live in complex times. We must continue to search our how we and our world can be open to transformation and renewal.

As the Portland meeting progressed I found the participants really energeized. The challenge for the future remains, but I think the event shows how we all need to be motivated and energized to go about the mission Jesus has given to the Church and, indeed, to each and everyone of us.

The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Convention in Dekalb, Ill. (near Chicago) on July 25-27, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention in Washington D.C. on Aug. 2-4, and the regional Engaged Encounter convention in Boise on Aug. 8-10 round out for me this summer’s special gatherings.

All of these meetings focus on the mission, the work, the service and the challenges we face in our Church. I hope they will assist me in serving you better.

May God bless you and give you peace.