A Better Life

by: friar Angel Garcia, OFM Conv.

As we move forward in our journey from Maryland to North Carolina, we are seeing more people and having more experiences on the way that, as Franciscans, we need to give attention to in order to respond with a better approach in ministry. I would like to speak about immigration in this country, that I see is moving in a different direction, even though this country has been an immigrant since its foundation. The new immigrant people (especially from Mexico and Central and South America) are moving to the United States because they are fleeing from their countries due to the increase of violence, poverty, and (in many cases) government repression. 

 As a result, we have the presence of the Latino community at St. Julia parish in the small town of Siler City, N. C. They represent different taste from Latino America: Guatemalans, Salvadorians, Nicaraguans, and Mexicans. This reality represents a richness of life, rather than a failure or reduction of values in the community.  

As friars, we had an opportunity to attend a Quinceañera party at the request of one of the parishioners and I could see how the dynamic somehow changed: our attending gave the people more empowerment in the way they organize, how they try to live the values of the gospel in the midst of their own community and with their families. 

Both of these references of empowerment are necessary and healthy for the community because, as Christians, we cannot see life separate from the concrete dignity and actions of the people. As I observed very clearly, I can see that these represent the presence of people who suffer or have been suffering, but I also can see the presence of joy in the parties and in the sharing with the rest of the community whether they are Latino or not. 

This is hope and also a recognition that Latinos are also human beings and are entitled to respect, even though reality often seems very far from that. It is necessary to be open to dialogue and to see a better view of the Latino community, similar to this parish in North Carolina, to see them as part of humanity and not that they are part of something else, still foreign. Only in that way may we see better results in more communities with increasing relationships of respect.