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PAGE 5 — The Georgia Bulletin, January 11, 1990 Church Spotlights Immigrant Youth BY INES PINTO ALICEA WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic churches must take ex tra steps to make the children of immigrants welcome, a U.S. Catholic Conference official said. “They take on much more responsibility than they nor mally would,” said Father Peter Zendzian, USCC director of pastoral care of migrants and refugees. “They have to be adults even though they are children. They learn English and the American ways faster than their parents. They often read the bills and explain things to their parents.” Father Zendzian was interviewed Jan. 4 by Catholic News Service in connection with National Migration Week scheduled for Jan. 8- 13. “The church needs to be sensitive to the needs of children of immigrants,” Father Zendzian said. “It can help make the immigration scene much more gentle.” Parishes can help the children feel welcome by getting volunteers to tutor the children with their English and other subject matters in school and planning activities that help the children learn “the new culture and be a part of the scene.” Pastors need to be aware of cultural differences when planning activities for the youths so the immigrant children are not excluded. For example, in some countries, it would not be acceptable for the children to go on an overnight retreat, he said. Making the children feel welcome helps make the parents feel welcome, which he said is important because churches of different religions are luring immigrants away from the Catholic Church. For example, over the last two decades, more than 1 million Hispanic Catholics have left the Catholic Church to join other churches. “Many people are going to other churches because they feel welcome there,” he said. “These folks who sound or act differently have this great thing in common with us ... our faith. We all believe in Christ. We are of the same family. We must love our family.” In 1988, more than 643,000 immigrants were admitted into the United States. Father Zendzian said he expected the numbers of immigrants from Asia and Central and South America would continue to increase in the 1990s, while the number of immigrants from Eastern Europe would decrease slightly because of strides toward democracy in those countries. Father Anthony Czarnecki, USCC special assistant for pastoral care of migrants and refugees, said that some older East European immigrants living in the United States might return to their homelands as a result of the changes in those countries. The East Europeans who do come to the United States look for a church which is sensitive, flexible and receptive to their needs. “The loneliness and alienation of the technical world (in the United States) encourages a search for higher values, belonging and personal and meaningful relationships,” Father Czarnecki said. Father Czarnecki said churches must go out to the im migrants, not expect them necessarily to come to the churches. NATIONAL MIGRATION WEEK • 1990 BILINGUAL PRAYER — Reme Rodriguez, right, chairperson of the Hispanic Youth Coun cil of the archdiocese, and Jose Montero, Jr. take part in the interfaith prayer service open- The Southeast Center for Justice has issued a special in vitation to the Catholic community to participate in the an nual parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Mon day, Jan. 15. The participation is in response to the recent increase in racial violence, according to Glenmary Father Gerry Con roy, of the center. “People are being called to make a special effort to witness. One way of doing this is through the King march.” A special invitation has gone out to parishes, institutions and organizations, he said. They are being urged to bring banners designating their own groups and to march under In 1990, it will be the tenth year that the Week of the Epiphany has been designated by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops as National Migration Week. Once again, all Catholics across the nation are called to celebrate their cultural diversity, their own immigration experience or that of their ancestors, and the American national tradi tion of extending a welcoming hand to the latest arrivals in our country. Refugees escaping oppressive political and/or economic systems, immigrants being reunited with family members already here, people on the move seeking opportunities which take them away from home — all of them are our equal partners in our pilgrim journey of faith. All of them need the attention of the Church throughout the year, but they must have it especially during National Migration Week. During this tenth anniversary year of National Migration Week, a special focus has been chosen. We celebrate and consider youth in migration. We recall the frightened children clinging to the hands of their parents as they flee through the night to cross a ing King Week in Atlanta. They gave a doxology and dedication prayer in Spanish and English at St. Philip’s Episcopal Cathedral. (Photo by Linda Schaefer) the large blue and white banner of the Southeast Center for Justice. The Catholic parade contingent will gather on Ellis Street on the east side of Peachtree no later than 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 15. Father Conroy suggests those joining the parade travel by MARTA. Ellis Street is less than a block from the Peachtree Center station. Students from St. Pius X High School and several Catholic elementary schools are expected to participate, either behind the Southeast banner or in a special youth sec tion of the parade. The Hispanic Apostolate has issued a call to members of the Hispanic community to join the march under the Southeast Center banner. border. We ponder the uncertainties and hopes of im migrant youth who come with their families to join their relatives in a strange new world. We contemplate the feelings of displacement of the children of migrant workers who must travel from place to place to find work which will put a bit of food on the family’s table, when they can borrow one. We consider the students National Migration Week January 8-13, 1990 from overseas studying here so that lessons they learn here can transform their countries of birth. We reflect on the future of all these young people because they are an important part of today’s Church as well as of the future of our Church. Great things will come from them and because of them if the Church takes care of them and their families right now. (From a statement of the U.S. Catholic Conference Migrant and Refugee Services.) Catholic Groups Urged To Join King Parade Great Things Will Come From Them
