Commission on Evangelization

Many Languages—One Community: A Proposal for Sunday Eucharist.

Glenmary Father George Mathis presented "Evangelizing Through the Arts" at a Spring 2002 meeting of the Glenmary Commission on Evangelization. He suggested the following strategy as a way of living within the tension of many cultures and languages in a small church community. In his proposal, an attempt is made to “level the playing field” so that all groups get most of their needs met, especially when the community gathers for Sunday Mass.

He offers this as a “beginning point” for your consideration and dialogue:

1. In the “Children’s Liturgy of the Word,” youth are allowed to study and learn God’s Word in a language they can understand, i.e. a language adapted to young minds. This is the precedent and structure for the following ideas.

2. In a multicultural parish have each ethnic group meet in their own “ethnic classroom” for Liturgy of the Word. The leader would be a liaison/catechist commissioned by the pastoral staff. This person is responsible for keeping that ethnic group together—in community. See that they are on time. Check on them when they are absent. Relay their personal needs and problems to the pastoral staff, etc.

3. Each ethnic classroom would be appropriately decorated according to custom. This would include shrines, statues, pictures, candles and incense—whatever encourages private devotions. In effect, these classrooms would be mini-chapels where the individual group would feel comfortable and where they break open the Word each Sunday. These “ethnic classrooms” would also be used for the usual children’s religious education classes. Meeting in the atmosphere of these mini-chapels would allow the children to assimilate an appreciation for each other’s ethnic background.

4. The first part of Sunday Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, and including the prayer for that Sunday and the homily would be led by the liaison/catechist. The pastor/pastoral coordinator would provide beforehand an outline of his/her homily for the liaison/catechist to translate and deliver.

5. Then, the different groups come together in the main worship area for the rest of the Mas–Offertory, Eucharist Prayer, Communion, etc. The presider would use the English language, or alternate different languages on alternate Sundays. Translation cards in the pews would allow the different language groups to follow the Ordinary of the Mass in their own language.

Rather than scheduling separate Eucharist celebrations for the different ethnic groups, which only emphasizes each group’s “differentness,” this approach brings all groups together—in community with one another—which is actually what the Eucharist celebrates.

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