e came to Chicago in 1973, and live about 10 minutes walk from our School. We had in the past up to 19 people studying at our house, and presently we have
3 formators and 8 students from four nationalities. A few minutes away there is a large park on the shore of Lake Michigan. Many buildings that serve the different theologies and the University at Chicago Campus surround us. And a few blocks away there are many Afro-American people who work and live in poor areas.
Chicago is a very diverse city, a city of immigrants, with a population of about 3 million people, coming from all parts of the world. The schools serve the children coming from 60 different language backgrounds. Chicago is also a great cultural center, with some 40+ museums and music and art theaters. It is the home of Blues and Gospel.
An International Training Center
Chicago provides a great place for dialogue among world religions. We live in an area where there are two Catholic Churches, two synagogues, one mosque, a Buddhist and a Hindu temple, and many other Churches of other Christian denominations. There are over 350,000 Muslims here, who come from the Middle East and Asia.
The Catholics are from Irish, Polish, Italian, Eastern European and Chinese origin. Many are also the families who came from Mexico, Asia and Latin America. Today’s Catholics in Chicago are comprised by 1/3 of Hispanic background, then Polish and European, then Afro-American. On a regular Sunday, you can hear some 21 languages spoken at Mass, while many are the Masses for Oriental Churches, such as Melkhite, Chaldean, Maronite and Sirian-Malabaric rites.
Apostolic studies and ministry
The Xaverian theology students are in Chicago in order to prepare themselves for missionary priesthood, and the school environment lends itself to an open and universal formation amidst these varied faith communities, cultures, religions and diverse situations.
Yet, the school is not enough. The formation studies are coupled with an apostolic commitment which goes beyond ordinary pastoral service in parishes. We are involved with ministry to the mentally handicapped, the troubled youth, women who abandoned the streets, the sick in the hospitals, Chinese youth in Chinatown, interreligious dialogue with Muslims and Buddhists.
The young Xaverian students shared their life and ministry experiences each month, sharing both the positive and the challenging aspects of the realities they face. It is almost an ideal situation in Chicago, for we can test and train our abilities to work among various nations, an aspect that will guide the students for the rest of their missionary lives.
(From "Missionari Saveriani" - Xaverian News)