Ana’s Story
I faced tough cultural challenges in the Church.
I’m married to a wonderful Anglo-American man who brought us to Louisville from Mexico 11 years ago.
My daughter was 5 years old then. We came with a resident status, and four years later we became citizens of the United States. It has been a challenge, however, to blend in to our new country and into the Church.
The first time I went to an English Mass in Louisville, I did not see Latinos. The lady at the door was greeting people as they entered, and when it was my time, she just stood looking at me.
Her smiling face disappeared, and she turned away from me without even giving me the participation sheet I was waiting for.
But this did not stop me from going to this church. I was there because of my love of God.
In this church I made friends for life, and I also heard wonderful phrases like: “We are a pilgrim people;” “United by the fire;” “We are called to serve one another;” “Sing of that great day when all will be one.” Once at the homily, the priest told us about a young lady who committed suicide in jail where she was being held for being an “illegal.” This story deeply moved my heart.
I eventually decided to attend a parish where I could be with more Latinos and work in any possible way God allowed me.
Since then, I have become involved with both the Archdiocese and with the parish as a lector, and I help plan many programs and retreats sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Ministry, as well as serving as a teacher for Spanish-speaking catechists.
I pray for people in our own communities to be ready to embrace us all and to be witnesses to people that do not go to church. I hope that “God will reign and we’ll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love.”
The Office of Multicultural Ministry (OMM) offers a variety of programs, services, and workshops designed to address racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Please see the archdiocesan calendar link under Events. The Office of Hispanic Ministry provides opportunities to invite, engage, and strengthen the participation of the Hispanic/Latino community in the life of the local Church.
The Catholic Enrichment Center (CEC) is an extension of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Multicultural Ministry. It was established to pro-vide holistic cultural enrichment, formation, and academic development. The CEC is a community gathering place where people are able to find the answers to many of their questions concerning enhancing one’s life from a holistic perspective.
A listing of Masses offered in a variety of languages within the Archdiocese of Louisville.
A listing of current events offered throughout the Archdiocese.
This short film was produced by Outside da Box https://www.outsidedabox.com in collaboration with the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
For additional information please contact Ms. M. Annette Turner, Executive Director, Office of Multicultural Ministry
(502) 636-0296
or Ms. Eva Gonzalez, Director, Office of Hispanic Ministry
(502) 290-4247
