An immigrant who transformed a nation
By
Father William Ayres
Special to the CS&T
Friday March 17th, was a school day for students at Holy Redeemer Catholic
School, just as it is each Friday. This particular Friday, though, was
St. Patrick’s Day.
The children had learned some Irish dancing, and even the Gaelic names
of some parts of their bodies. All wore paper shamrocks around their necks,
with the Irish equivalents of their names.
Scenes like that were probably common throughout the Archdiocese. The
difference, though, is that Holy Redeemer is the mission church, founded
by Cardinal Dougherty to care for the spiritual needs of Chinese Catholics.
The names on the shamrocks included “Mc”Wong and “O”Chin.
Among the children were no freckles, and there was definitely no red hair,
in the lot.
The celebration of the feast of Saint Patrick is an incredible phenomenon.
Unfortunately the day is more about green beer (or green milkshakes, for
the younger crowd), and ‘wearing the green’ than about the
life of that holy bishop. No other saint’s day attracts so much
attention in our culture — and it can be argued that more emphasis
is put on St. Patrick’s Day in the United States than in Ireland.
The impact of Irish immigrants on the United States has been profound.
In the 2000 U.S. Census, 34.5 million Americans claimed Irish ancestry.
(That is not the nation’s most common ancestry, however. That title
belongs to those whose families came from Germany.)
Before the Great Hunger in Ireland in the latter half of the 19th century,
there were few Irish in the United States. And most of them were not well-received
when they arrived, largely because they brought their Catholic faith with
them.
The influence of Irish culture on American life is a reminder of the contributions
that immigrants make to our life, and how our culture joyfully adapts
and is transformed for the good by newcomers to our land.
Other cultures have also brought their own contributions, which have become
part of “American” life — spaghetti with sauce (or is
it “gravy?”), sausages, even Chinese take-out. All are contributions
from immigrant Americans.
In fact, except for those elements that are of American Indian heritage,
all of our culture is made up of parts that have come to us from foreign
cultures at different stages of American history — because nearly
all of us are descendants of foreigners.
It is sad that, today, new immigrants coming to our country are not always
welcomed and recognized for their gifts.
Although many immigrants in the past experienced the same poor welcome,
we should have learned from those mistakes. In our laws and in our daily
actions, we do not always recognize that we are enriched culturally and
spiritually — and even economically — by newcomers to our
land.
Much of our news media and many politicians have created an anti-immigrant
rhetoric in our country, often equating immigrants with terrorists.
A terribly punitive, anti-immigrant bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives
in December. Fortunately there is a bill that appears poised for the Senate
floor that is much more humane and realistic, preserving our identity
as a welcoming country.
It remains important that we let our politicians know that we support
comprehensive immigration reform that is both just and merciful.
Ironically, Saint Patrick, himself, was not Irish. Most likely he was
from Britain, and taken to Ireland as a captive. The contribution he made
to Irish culture, however, was transformative. Ultimately that contribution
would lead Chinese students on a third continent to learn some Gaelic.
That is the kind of contribution immigrants can make — if we allow
it.
Father Ayres is Director of the Office for Pastoral Care for Migrants
and Refugees of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.