"Together
with God, we are One Happy Family"
o
reads the Chinese characters on the side arches of the newly renovated St.
Therese Chinese Catholic Mission. It
is both an acknowledgment of what has happened and a life project for the
future. And with that is “Love”
place on the capstone on the main arch above the altar, to say that only love
could have made all this possible.
On Mission Sunday, Bishop John Gorman and the Xaverian communities in Chicago joined the parish community of St. Therese to rededicate this sacred space. Three years ago, also on Mission Sunday, the St. Therese Chinese Catholic Mission Community was entrusted to the Xaverian Missionaries with the installation of Fr. Dario Maso as pastor, at the hands of the same Bishop Gorman, auxiliary bishop of Chicago. Only two days later, on October 20, Card. Francis George, OMI, himself new to Chicago, paid his first official visit and presided over the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Over this past year the interior of the Church as well as many other areas of the complex were renovated. As one parishioner said, “This Church is now the crown jewel of the neighborhood.” Over 600 persons participated, members of the Chinese community, the Santa Maria Incoronata, Club and the St. Rocco Society. In his first homily, Fr. Dario had said: “For us to continue being St. Therese Family I believe that one of the most important tasks will be to overcome all differences that may exist among us, be it our culture, nationality or maybe the past…”
The parish/church, originally built by Italian immigrants, became the “Chinese Mission” in 1940. yes"> It is located and is the only Catholic Church in Chinatown Chicago, where resides the fourth largest Chinese community in the USA. (The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Chicago in 1870’s with the completion of the transcontinental railroad which recruited Chinese as almost 80% of its work force. yes"> However, the largest influx of Chinese came in the 1950’s and 1960’s, at the time when communism took over mainland China and when more lenient immigration laws were applied. New immigrants still come to Chinatown, where they seek help, security and protection).
Today, Fr. Michael Davitti is pastor and Fr. Aniello Salicone helps out while being also Vocation Director for the Province. At the rededication, Fr. Michael Davitti said “… our commitment, our generosity, our faith have become visible signs of how much God loves this little community of His. My thoughts go to all those who were here before us, all the benefactors, past and present, of this parish, all the pastors, priests and sisters who worked so hard in this field of the Lord. Today we see the results of all these hidden sacrifices and labors.”
In preparation for this celebration, Fr. Rocco and graduate students Horacio Perez and Heri Purnomo shared their missionary stories with the students of St. Therese Grade Schools during the week previous to this Mission Sunday celebration. Fr. Rocco spoke of the situation of children in war-torn Sierra Leone. Horacio shared his experience in the Amazon region of Brazil as an intern for two years, working in the Xaverian parish of Acara’. Heri was able to engage the students in songs and stories from his country, Indonesia, and witnessed some of the work of the Xaverian missionaries there.
St. Therese offers the convenience of being within easy reach of the Xaverian International House, which is close to Catholic Theological Union (CTU), which the students attend. In the mission parish they can have pastoral experience and the context of the Xaverian community.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)