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From the Editor
Jean Bach
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The Catholic Church in the United States is a church founded and populated by immigrants. Brought to the colonies by Spanish and French, Catholicism accounted for only 1 percent of the population in 1776 according to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In the subsequent centuries the Church grew rapidly as waves of Catholics from Ireland, eastern and western Europe and Mexico arrived. By 1920, three out of four U.S. Catholics were immigrants, many of whom faced prejudice, were portrayed as a threat to the nation’s security and worked in low-paying, dangerous jobs.
As a way to meet the needs of the newly arrived, the network of Catholic institutions we have today—parishes, schools, hospitals, religious communities and social service agencies—was established. As Father Neil Pezzulo says in our cover story: “Sometimes, I think, the Catholic Church is the only friend the immigrant has.”
Today, waves of immigrants are still arriving in the United States. The Church—and Glenmary—remain committed to helping meet their needs, following the biblical mandate to “welcome the stranger.” Church leaders from Pope Pius XII to Pope Benedict XVI have called all Christians to respond to this mandate and welcome all newcomers as “brothers and sisters.”
Meeting the ever-changing needs and the diversity found in the home missions today has meant a gradual change in Glenmary’s ministry approach.
Whatever the approach, Glenmary priests, brothers and lay coworkers are ensuring that all Catholics find a Church home in mission counties and have the opportunity to participate in the universal rituals of liturgy and the sacraments. While native languages may divide, the Church unites all in the Body of Christ.
The story above first appeared in the Summer 2008 Glenmary Challenge.
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