Martin's Old Blog

This is what he told a group of children during a Mass in his home country. "The first step on the right road is baptism, he said. But to continue to "walk with Jesus," Catholics have Communion, where they can "drink directly from the source of life," he said.
The pope said the Eucharist has another aspect: forming a community that has no borders and that embraces all languages, the universal church."

Challenging words.

What borders are we setting up? Are we participating in bringing unity or division?

Again our Holy Father helps me to see that the work MACC does is very much needed in our society.

We were blessed here at MACC to be visited by one of the princes of the Church, Cardinal Renato Martino! He celebrated Mass with us, and stayed for a tour and for a bite to eat. I even got my book Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, signed! His eminence is the president of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace, and it was under his leadership that the Compendium was promulgated.  I was really inspired by having met him.  I would encourage all you readers to get a copy of the Compendium it is AS IMPORTANT as the Catechism.  You cannot have one without the other! Seminarians need to be steeped in this doctrine, in order to really serve the People of God.  Cardinal Martino helped convince me of this truth. This is especially true here in the United States in this day and age. If more Catholics here were familiar with Church teaching on this subject, we be a more loving community, and would really understand the meaning of Deus Caritas Est!!

Here is a letter I received referring to Sr. Maria Elena Gonzalez's speech at the Youth Encuentro in Notre Dame, IN. My response is also posted. Enjoy.

 

Dear Sister Gonzalez,  Our diocesan paper, The Catholic Virginian, gave us a story of the Mexican American nun, Maria Elena Gonzalez, who is telling Hispanics not to lose the cultural heritage. I was especially set aback by your perverted use of accusations of “racism.” As an accomplished propagandist, you know how to spread guilt and exploit the goodness of virtuous people. My dear lady, during World War II, white Europeans were killing white Europeans in Europe. There was no racism; only self defense of one’s nation and culture.

The current invasion by illegal Hispanics, and especially Mexicans, is as much an invasion as that of Germans crossing the Maginot Line into France. Americans who care resent and resist large numbers of aliens bent on changing their culture and overrunning their country. As a nun involved in politics, you are a hypocrite. Are you not violating your vows? What does your work have to do with salvation?

She said: “ The aim of Hispanic church leadership should be to build unity in our diversity.”  There can be no unity in diversity. It is God Himself who created diversity in the story of Babel to divide the people. But, what would a Catholic know of the Bible or its lessons? It is likeness that unites, a reason why this Hispanic nun promotes  Hispanic cultural heritage.

A theme found on your WEB page talks of “Fostering Peace and Justice,” Why are you not in Hispanic lands doing just that? It is a reason why so many Hispanics seek America, the lack of peace and justice in Mexico and most Hispanic countries. Please go peddle your peace and justice where there is none and is most needed. But, what is the cultural heritage of Hispanics?  Hispanic nations are of the most corrupt on earth,. Catholic Columbia is the number one most murderous nation followed by South Africa with Catholic Mexico being third. It is in Catholic Brazil that a few weeks ago we read about Brazilians  killing their own people in the fashion of “peaceful” Muslims by bombing busses of civilians and civilian places of business.

Hopefully, you will one day be accountable for fostering guilt in otherwise good but non-independent thinking people with unwarranted respect for religious people. Your shameful involvement, and that of Cardinal Moynihan, in politics, is one reason why the Catholic church has lost so much respect in America. Please find enclosed my reaction to The Catholic Virginian regarding an article about your misguided work, a work undermining America, a work which I view as treasonous. W.Boiselle.

[Here is my response]

"…the immigrant members of the Church…must be able to remain completely themselves as far as language, culture, liturgy and spirituality, and particular traditions are concerned" Pope John Paul II Address for World Migrants' Day, 1985

 “…we have rejoiced in a special way in the beauty of the Church’s varied face.” Pope John Paul II, Novo Milenio Ineunte, 2001, 40

Dear Mr. Boiselle

 I am saddened that you disagree, not only with Sr. Maria Elena González, but with our late Holy Father John Paul II and the Bishops of the United States.  The teaching of our Catholic faith is clear. The idea of “unity in diversity” is not a new one. Not only does our Holy Father and Bishops call for this unity in the Body of Christ, but we hear it from the clear message of Scripture. You are correct, on one point, however, that the Tower of Babel did divide people; you are incorrect to believe that that is what God wanted. We hear in Acts 2:1-11 the real desire of God in sending us the Holy Spirit. Your message showed us again that the “people in the pew” need to hear the Gospel in light of the magisterium of the Church and the pope – not their own political opinion. Setting up “straw-man” arguments does not change the fact that what this society hungers for is a “personal encounter with the living Jesus Christ; this comes through conversion, communion, and solidarity”. (John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, 2000) “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a Person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 2005, 1)

Your comment concerning racism is not surprising, our bishops call it America’s original sin (USCCB Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity, 2000) we are all affected by it and ask the same Holy Spirit that brings unity in diversity, to continually purify our hearts from the disfiguring effects of it. You mentioned World War II. The effects of racism, in that era, could be seen in Nazi Germany against Jews and other cultures, in the Deep South against Blacks, in the Southwest against Native Americans, Americans of Mexican descent, and Americans of Japanese descent. Dr. Hector Garcia, a veteran of World War II founded the GI Forum explicitly to combat the racism he found against Mexican-American servicemen and other citizens in this country. Let us not forget that many servicemen and women fought (and died) for this country, but were excluded from full participation in their own country. Please read, Love thy Neighbor as Thyself: US Catholic bishops speak against racism, 2001.

Your comment, “The current invasion by illegal Hispanics, and especially Mexicans, is as much an invasion as that of Germans crossing the Maginot Line into France” is yet another insidious example of why there is a need for authentic Catholic formation. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, that you regret those statements, because they are not statements worthy of any true and faithful Christian. I invite you to read the bishops’ letter, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope, 2003. Are all “Hispanic nations” guilty of corruption? Is the US free of corruption, or high rape and murder rates (among the top ten in the world)?

Finally, your letter proves that peace and justice are definitely needed in this country - as a society and in our own hearts. I believe you meant Cardinal Mahoney (not Moynihan), and yes he lost a lot of respect, but not from all Americans – only the ones who consider their faith in Jesus Christ as secondary to being “a good American”. Your letter provided evidence that the mission of our Church, of which MACC plays a part, needs to be spread to all the people of this nation, to truly create “one body, one spirit in Christ”.

We understand the fear you might feel in the face of changing demographics, but know that you are in our prayers that the Holy Spirit might come upon you, and guide you, “For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of sound judgement.” (2 Timothy 1:7) May you experience God’s love in a special way, that you may ask our Lady to walk with you as you discern your own call as a Christian. [END]

 

We must always ask ourselves, if what we are doing will help the poor. Happy Holidays everyone!

By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Christmas drew near in Washington, the juncture of two seemingly unrelated public campaigns came to symbolize the frustrations of those working to combat poverty in the United States.

As some in Congress pushed for a resolution objecting to efforts to ban traditional Christmas greetings, 114 faith-based activists volunteered to be arrested Dec. 14 on the Hill in a protest of how the House-passed budget treats the nation's poor.

As part of a nationwide week of prayer and action, the protesters sang hymns and prayed as they blocked an entrance to the Cannon House Office Building. Their goal was to illustrate their dissatisfaction with the House version of the budget, which reduces taxes for the wealthy and cuts funding for many social service programs.

"The House budget is a blatant reversal of biblical values," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, executive director of Sojourners and convener of Call to Renewal, a network of churches working to overcome poverty. "The faith community is outraged and is drawing a line in the sand against immoral national priorities."

Cutting programs that help the poor -- including Medicaid, food stamps, housing subsidies, child care assistance, and enforcement of child-support payment laws -- "is not just bad policy, it is a moral disgrace," he said at a rally that drew about 300 people in bitterly cold weather, with wind chills of about 15 degrees.

"There is a Christmas scandal in this nation that has nothing to do with people at shopping malls saying 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas,'" said Rev. Wallis, a nondenominational evangelical Protestant minister.

He was one of several speakers to contrast their concerns with a campaign by some religious groups and politicians to encourage the use of the word Christmas instead of more generic terms and greetings. "The scandal is the budget in Congress," he said.

The House budget, passed Nov. 18 by a two-vote margin, would cut off food stamps for more than 250,000 by 2008, cut $10 billion from Medicaid funding, and reduce support for foster care, child support enforcement and aid to disabled people by $8 billion. It also would increase mandatory work hours for welfare recipients while underfunding a related child care program, cutting off 270,000 families.

The Senate's budget bill makes far less dramatic cuts. A reconciliation of the two budgets was likely to be finished before Congress recessed for Christmas Dec. 23.

In a Dec. 13 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. bishops, asked senators to continue to support the Senate version.

"I wish to express deep concerns and disappointment on the impact of certain proposed cuts on our most vulnerable brothers and sisters," Bishop Skylstad wrote. The House budget falls well short of the standard proposed by the bishops that it guarantee adequate funding to assist people trying to move off welfare, to educate their children, to gain access to health care and to overcome hunger and homelessness, he said.

Meanwhile, the same day as the "Budgets Are Moral Documents" protest outside the Capitol, House members echoed some of the campaign's points in floor debate over a resolution expressing disapproval of efforts to "ban references to Christmas."

The resolution, which passed in a 401-22 vote Dec. 15, was introduced by Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., who said the measure was "important because it defends the traditions of Christmas for those who celebrate Christmas." She argued that efforts to secularize Christmas are "political correctness run amok," where "Santa Claus, Christmas trees, candy canes, they have been placed on the endangered list."

Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., questioned whether Davis' measure is "another war we fight for reasons that do not exist. ... Nobody is attacking Christmas or its symbols."

The resolution is "symbols over substance," said Ackerman, who is Jewish. He added, "I like Christmas. I like the message of Christmas. I like helping the needy and the poor and the least among us, but I did not come here to protect the symbols. ... What silliness we engage in, protecting symbols.

"If you wanted to protect the message of Christmas, come to the floor with real bills of substance," he said. "Where is your bill to house the homeless? Where is your bill to feed the needy? Where is your bill to clothe the naked? Where is your bill to protect senior citizens who will not be able to heat their homes this winter?"

A Dec. 12 statement by the director of the Catholic Alliance for the Common Good, Alexia Kelley, said: "If Jesus entered a department store today, he wouldn't be worried about whether the advertising said 'Christmas' or 'holiday.' He would care if we were so stressed out about shopping that we didn't have enough time for family and friends.

"The Catholic social tradition calls us to ask if Wal-Mart workers and shoppers are earning a family wage, if they are able to feed their families and take their kids to the doctor."

An advertising campaign launched Dec. 15 by the National Catholic Rural Life Conference also encouraged people of faith to lobby 14 members of Congress to reject budget provisions that cut funding for food stamps, Medicaid, state child support, foster care and other programs.

"When Congress says, 'Slash the budget,' what are they really talking about? The poor. The hungry. the homeless," says the ad, running in Catholic newspapers in those representatives' congressional districts. "It is the vulnerable who struggle the most -- to eat, to grow, to survive."

The ad urges lawmakers "to remember the 'least of these' in our nation. In this season of giving, celebration and hope, it is the right -- and righteous -- thing to do."

END

I recently was asked to do a presentation on Small Christian Communities (SCC), due to the fact that the person doing the presentation had to leave out of town on an emergency (everything is OK).  I agreed to do it even though I knew very little about the topic.  I knew that SCC's were mentioned in the Natl Plan for Hispanic Ministry as a means of evangelization, but I really did not know much else. Or so I thought.

It turns out that many of the church documents around SCCs (from Evangelii Nuntiandi and onward) speak of the importance of these small groups for the Church as a whole.  I belong to the the Cursillo Movement and one of the things that is stressed is the need for perseverance in our "Fourth Day" (life) and that coming together as a group reunion is a means to persevere. As I reflected on it I found that I had indeed persevered through the help of my group reunion!

SCCs are not bible study groups, they are groups that come together to be leaven for the church and society.  Studying the bible is a part, but it also includes the realization that we are to be transformed by the Word in order to help transform the world. We are to help bring about justice.  We are to care for our brothers and sisters (Matthew 25).  In fact our Pope Benedict (then-Cardinal Ratzinger) said, in the document from the Congregation for the Doctine of the Faith, "Instruction On Christian Freedom and Liberation":  There is no gap between love of neighbor and desire for justice….The evil inequities and oppression of every kind which afflict millions of men and women today openly contradict Christ's Gospel and cannot leave the conscience of any Christian indifferent.

As our bishops said in their document "Communion and Mission" 

"Small church communities offer an important and unique means of formation for the new evangelization. They strengthen their members to persevere in their faith and mission, providing both inspiration and practical support. To be involved in the new evangelization, however, requires that members of such communities be as ready for engagement with the world outside their community as they are for deepening their relationships within it. "

Let us look into forming small Christian Communities in our parish, not only because our Church is asking us to do so, but because it is for our own good and the Church!

 

This past weekend, as part of the MiniPastoral we visited the Rio Grande Valley. We stayed in San Juan, Tx and visited the area including Reynosa, Mexico. It was a great experience! One of the highlights for me was visiting an organization, founded by Cesar Chavez, called LUPE.  I was inspired by the work it does to try and better the lives of the poor.  LUPE operated on 10 acres that was donated by the diocese of Brownsville, and has been going strong ever since.  I pray that all of us that attended would make a strong stand for the poor, because it is not optional- but the gospel.  I pray for all those people we met and pray that God blesses them continually through their efforts in promoting justice.

One of my most favorite things in the world is music - especially conjunto music! If you do not know what that is, I invite you to visit the website for our group - we are called Los Padrinos, "the godfathers". This music, often called "tex-mex", touches my soul and I hope it will yours. Peace, Martin

Sunday was the feast of Corpus Christi, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Our Holy Father wrote in Ecclesia in America that Christ is present in the Scriptures and in the Liturgy. 

Concerning the Liturgy, John Paul wrote: "Christ is present in the celebrant who renews at the altar the one and only Sacrifice of the Cross; he is present in the Sacraments through which he exercises his efficacious power. When his word is proclaimed, it is he himself who speaks to us. He is also present in the community, by virtue of his promise that “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). He is present “especially under the Eucharistic species”. My Predecessor Paul VI deemed it necessary to explain the uniqueness of Christ's real presence in the Eucharist, which “is called 'real' not to exclude the idea that the others are 'real' too, but rather to indicate presence par excellence, because it is substantial”. Under the species of bread and wine, “Christ is present, whole and entire in his physical 'reality', corporally present”. The Scriptures and the Eucharist, places of encounter with Christ, are evoked in the story of the apparition of the Risen Jesus to the disciples of Emmaus. The Gospel text concerning the final judgment (cf. Mt 25:31-46), which states that we will be judged on our love towards the needy in whom the Lord Jesus is mysteriously present, indicates that we must not neglect a third place of encounter with Christ: “the persons, especially the poor, with whom Christ identifies himself”. At the closing of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI recalled that “on the face of every human being, especially when marked by tears and sufferings, we can and must see the face of Christ (cf. Mt 25:40), the Son of Man”."

Let us not forget that the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations depend on how we treat the poor - the marginalized.

 

My wife and I attended a gala for a local seminary. It was part of a capital campaign to build a new seminary campus.  This was the same seminary that I attended about 15 years ago - it has not changed much.  It was already in need of upgrades when I was there, so it is great that they are hoping to remodel it.  I have a deep concern for seminarians. We often get seminarians to attend the Mini Pastoral here at MACC.  I think the biggest challenge is that some are very much about holding the party line (Republican or Democrat). In other words, they allow politics to form their faith, as opposed to their faith forming their politics.  They hold positions that are consistent with a particular political party even if it is contrary to the position of the Catholic Church - which they claim loyalty to.  For example, some claim knowledge about multiculturalism because they have read Dinesh D'sousa, yet they have not read Welcoming the Stranger among us:Unity in Diversity which was written by our bishops.  They hold positions regarding immigration that sound more like Bill O'Reilly than Pope John Paul II. This is not true for all seminarians, but if it is found in one it is too many because they are called to be our spiritual helpers and guides.  I am proud to be an American, but as St. Paul reminds us, our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Let us be patriotic about this, and challenge our church to be the leaven it is called to be. Pray for our seminarians!

Habemus Papam! we have a new pope. I was out of town giving a presentation for MACC when I heard the news around noon time the 19th.  I look forward to reading more of what he has to say in the future.  As a Catholic I am very happy to know we have a new Pope. I think he will surprise many so-called liberals and so-called conservatives. Just like Pope John Paul I think he may defy labels because he holds views that are contrary to both groups. Generally he is considered a hardline conservative (ie God's Rottweiller), but I think anyone who was given the post that he was given would have that label.  He was chosen by John Paul II. He was supported by John Paul II.  So I guess whatever you say about Pope Benedict you can say about JPII. Pope Benedict opposed the idea of a "preventative war" and so opposed the invasion of Iraq, opposes the death penalty, thinks capitalism (as the US preaches it) is as bad as communism and marxism, he will speak out for social justice especially promoting the preferential option for the poor. So tell me is he conservative?  Is he liberal?  He is our pastor, and chosen by the cardinals through the power of the Holy Spirit.

¡Viva el Papa!

We here at MACC are very saddened by the death of our Holy Father.  His writings have been guiding our center for many years.  We pray that we can continue to spread the message of love and unity for many years to come.

Our Mini Pastoral ended just last week, I cannot understate what a wonderful group it was! Thanks to all participants their maturity and openness to the process helped in providing a rich forum of reflection, input, and insights into ministry in our communities. The ecumenical aspect was a challenge and well as a gift.

Last night we celebrated Las Posadas which is a traditional devotion of remembering the search of Joseph and Mary for a place to stay while in Bethlehem for the census. I had the honor of playing Joseph, my wife Mary and my children as shepherds.  It was a wonderful celebration as we make room for the Holy Family in our hearts this Advent season.  May all of us be open to welcoming the stranger among us, and work for justice especially for the poor and the oppressed, because "if the rights of the poor are violated, this is not only the perpetration of a politically incorrect and morally evil act. In the perspective of the Bible this is also an act against God, a religious crime, for the Lord is the custodian and defender of the poor and the oppressed, of widows and of orphans (cf. Ps 68[67]: 6), that is, of those who have no human protectors." (John Paul II) May this Advent and Christmas Season remind us of the blessing we have recieved and must share with those less fortunate than ourselves.  May the Child Jesus be born in us this Christmas (by the way, my baby daughter played baby Jesus for the Acostada del Niño) so that we may look with His eyes upon those who are most in need, the unborn, the homeless, those living in poverty, the abused, the elderly, the forgotten, and those that are far from Him.  Justice shall flourish if we allow Christ to work in us.

Last week we had a group of 25 people in our workshop on the curriculum entitled Power to Serve.  It was very hopeful to see so many people dedicated to lay leadership formation in their dioceses.  The Church in the US recognizes the importance of lay formation especially among Hispanics who now represent 40% of the Church.  The 2 questions that are key in this formation come from the bishops' document [url=http://www.usccb.org/hispanic...]Encuentro and Mission[/url]: What model of leadership will Hispanics offer the Church? and how will this model strengthen the unity of the Body of Christ in increasingly culturally diverse communities? We at MACC are committed to this integral formation so that the gifts Hispanics offer may be for the entire Church, not just the part that is Hispanic.

We have been praying for the bishops as they met in Washington this week.  May the Holy Spirit guide them in their decisions and may we be able to discern the Spirit's presence in any difficult decisions they make.

Today is my feast day! My mom is very devoted to San Martín de Porres and so that is why I was given the name.  San Martín is probably the most popular saint among Hispanics, second only to Mary (of Guadalupe). I ask San Martín to pray for us and to help us to be wise, obedient, and humble as he was. This saint was also a healer, having learned much from his mother Ana Velásquez, and so I ask for healing for all those who are in need of it.

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Today is All Souls Day, or for many Hispanics "el Dia de Los Muertos".  Today I would like to remember my dad, Natividad, he was born on Christmas day that is why he is named "Nativity".  To me he is a very holy man who showed me what it really means to be a man: love God, family, country, and culture.  He was a member of my parish Holy name society, of which I later joined, and a cursillista, as I am now.  Even though he died when I was 14 yrs old, I believe he has been a guiding force in my life.  Many people remember him for his wisdom and guidance th at he offered, especially those going through particular struggles in life.  I hope I have inherited some of those traits as I now raise my own children and try to live a life worthy of the calling I have received (Ephesians 4:1). I pray for his intercession to continue to guide me as I walk on this earthly journey.  

From this October 17th until October 2005, Pope John Paul II announced the [url=http://www.vatican.va/holy_fa...] "Year of the Eucharist"[/url]. The celebration of the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith as Catholic Christians. The Eucharist, as a mystery, holds many meanings for us: it proclaims God’s works:creation, redemption, and sanctification”, when we gather at the Eucharist we are fulfilling Jesus’ command to “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24), it anticpates the wedding feast of the lamb (Revelation 19:9), at the Eucharist we are and form the one Body of Christ, and it is a sign of unity as the visible expression of the Church. I would be remiss if I did not mention an important aspect of the Eucharist that is sometimes ignored-The Eucharist commits us to the poor (CCC,1397).  Who are the poor? As John Paul reminds us: "The poor", in varied states of affliction, are the oppressed, those on the margin of society, the elderly, the sick, the young, any and all who are considered and treated as "the least". The poor constitute the modern challenge, especially for the well-off of our planet, where millions of people live in inhuman conditions and many are literally dying of hunger. It is not possible to announce God the Father to these brothers and sisters without taking on the responsibility of building a more just society in the name of Christ.   This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged.

 

Let us remember to take on the interior attitude of poverty and to take on the reponsibility for building a more just society in order to be participants in the "Kingdom of Heaven".

 This is just my opinion, but it really irks me when we in the church try to use political labels to classify one group or the other (conservative, liberal).  I have found that some Catholics pay more attention to Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore then they do Christ, the Pop e and our Bishops. Now that people recognize Hispanics as a possible political force they want to try to figure out where we stand -what label can they give us. Generally speaking, Hispanics are "conservative" on moral issues, and "liberal" on social issues.  We are also realists who take many things with a grain of salt.  One of the main issues for hispanics is poverty. When we at MACC talk about poverty issues and Catholic social teaching (ie God's preferential love for the poor) we are right away labled as liberals who spread liberation theology (or at least their own understanding of it).  When we talk about popular religiousity as a saving grace for us, right away we are labled as too conservative and pietistic.  The "liberals" would have us ignore, or place less emphasis, on our  devotions and the "conservatives" would have us ignore the social issues - except of course, abortion.  It seems that many good people who want to live a life of holiness and obedience are caught in the middle.  We are marginalized by both sides - as was Jesus.  G.K. Chesterton once said: "The whole world is dividing itself into progressives and conservatives. The job of the progressives is to go on making mistakes. The job of the conservatives is to prevent those mistakes from being corrected."

Click on the picture to read the bishops' statements.

please read this article by Fr. Ron Rolhieser OMI

 It has been a very busy year for me here at MACC.  Besides coordinating the [url=http://www.maccsa.org/mp.html...] Mini Pastoral[/url], I have been asked to help in other workshops. One of those deals with home visitations.  We had 25 participants from 9 different local parishes here in San Antonio TX, it was beautiful to see these groups so animated to reach out especially to those who are away from the life of the parish.  Our bishops remind us that one of the gifts that Hispanics have to offer the Church in the US is a strong sense of the sacred found especially in our expressions of faith, or popular religiosity.  The Church has recognized the importance of these expressions and warns us not to ignore or mitigate their importance in the spiritual lives of people.  We can no longer hold them, as Pope Paul VI reminded us, as something "secondary" to the faith, but as a treasure of the people of God. These expressions of faith are opportunities to exercise the New Evangelization that we have been called to by our Holy Father.  As we get to know our communities more and more, may we be open to allowing them to evangelize us and to respect the richness that they have to offer us.  Peace. Please take time to read church documents that speak about Popular religiosity.