Pastor's Letter Addressing Racism and Affirming the Dignity of the Human Person

Our parish wishes in this letter to address the current outcry against racial discrimination that is arising around the world the past weeks since the most recent event of the tragic death of George Floyd. While we were able to speak against the evil of racism in the bulletin and homily last weekend, it is important also to look towards how our parish contributes to the common good of our society, which also is something that we individually should be asking ourselves in prayer before Almighty God.

There are some Eucharistic prayers that we usually aren’t able to hear on Sundays but are for use on special days and occasions. One of them is titled “Jesus, the Way to the Father,” and it has some words that speak clearly to the mission of the Church, showing how we must engage in the current events of our day because it is only in the present of our lived experience where the Gospel and our lives of discipleship can be lived. After the Lord’s Body and Blood are consecrated on the altar, the priest’s prayers include the following:

By our partaking of this mystery, almighty Father, give us life through your spirit, grant that we may be conformed to the image of your son, and confirm us in the bond of communion, together with Francis our Pope and Kevin our Bishop, with all other Bishops, with Priests and Deacons, and with your entire people.

Grant that all the faithful of the Church, looking into the signs of the times by the light of faith, may constantly devote themselves to the service of the Gospel.

Keep us attentive to the needs of all that, sharing their grief and pain, their joy and hope, we may faithfully bring them the good news of salvation and go forward with them along the way of your Kingdom.

Given the signs of our times, we feel the need to make the message clear once again: Racism, indeed all forms of discrimination and prejudicial treatment, have no place in the Church or among Christians. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is abundantly clear in #’s 1934 and 1935: Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity… The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design. (Vatican II Council, Gaudium et Spes, par. 29) This is why Saint Paul can say in Galatians 3:27-8 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no distinction. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The parish of St. Thérèse, Little Flower affirms this dignity of every person. We want every member of color in our parish to know that they are valued and loved as a member of our parish community. We are happy to worship God as a united family of faith. It is a treasure of our parish that we are a diverse community even as we have a majority of Anglo parishioners. This is a sign of God’s unity at work. Although we certainly do not do this perfectly, it is a blessing to see the fingerprints of God at work in our parish.

Secondly, it is important to do what we can to hear and follow what God is asking us - to use our lives for the building up of His Kingdom. We must be people of prayer who allow God to speak and then courageously follow. Our mantra in this moment as in all moments must be a posture of being led by the Spirit of God: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” (1 Sam. 3:9)

Thirdly, that prayer should lead to action. All of us have unique gifts and talents. Ask God how you are called to use these for the sake of the common good. Ask, “how should I give of myself for others in need, Lord?”

Finally, our parish has a Social Justice Commission that does some important work for our parish and local community. In fact, they had been publishing bulletin testimonies on racism that you may have seen earlier this year before the stay-athome order. These beautiful testimonies now are more timely than ever. They have also worked with Faith in Indiana, a grassroots group of local church communities (Christian and non-Christian) that unite to create a more powerful voice for change or development in our local community. Faith in Indiana is a vehicle for members and institutional partners to act collectively for racial and economic justice. The agenda and programs of the organization are co-created collectively and rooted in the membership and constituencies of the organization. Faith in Indiana is organized through county chapters that anchor our membership structure. The Saint Joseph county chapter has been on the forefront of pushing the city police for a matrix system that fosters healthy relationships between the police and the residents. I highly recommend our parish group or the local chapter of Faith in Indiana as ways to get involved. 

The Social Justice Commission wants to hold an online meeting (through Zoom) to allow people to learn about the group, to hear more about Faith in Indiana, and to share ideas on how we can work for the good of our community (both individually and collectively). If you would like to join in this meeting, please visit our website for the information.

As Christians, we are called to be heralds of the Gospel. Do not be afraid to proclaim the Good News that God has made us all one in Christ Jesus! Perhaps reading this passage from Ephesians is a good place to start.

Ephesians 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
~Father Terry Coonan and the parish staff of St. Thérèse Little Flower