Migration Mass marks Archdiocese’s legacy
of service to immigrants
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
PHILADELPHIA — The Church of Philadelphia still joyfully welcomes
the “stranger among us,” as witnessed by the annual Migration
Mass celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali in a packed Cathedral Basilica
of SS. Peter and Paul on Sunday, March 2.
“I think many people throughout the Archdiocese would be surprised
to learn how many immigrant communities reside within the Archdiocese,”
said Father Joseph Watson, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pastoral
Care for Migrants and Refugees.
“The beauty of the Migration Mass is that we celebrate the Eucharist
as one body of faith but with many different parts,” he said. “This
is most exemplified in the various ethnic dress, music, dance and customs
that fill our Cathedral on this special occasion.”
That multiplicity of ethnicities was exemplified by the colorful flags
of the various nations in the entry procession as well as the variety
of languages in the intercessions and music.
“It’s spectacular — and such a testament of faith of
so many of our different nationalities,” said Mike Kubiak, who helped
coordinate the various groups participating in the liturgy, including
Polish, Indonesian, Malankaran, Haitian, Brazilian, Mexican and Vietnamese,
among others. In all, 11 choirs of different nationalities participated
in the liturgy, and petitions were presented in nine separate languages.
Catholics of 50 nationalities attended the Mass.
Catholicism and immigration go hand-in-hand in Philadelphia. When the
diocese was established, 200 years ago next month, most Catholics in Pennsylvania
were immigrants or the children of immigrants. The first bishop, Michael
Egan, had arrived from Ireland just 10 years earlier. His three immediate
successors were also immigrants. In fact, only five of Philadelphia’s
12 bishops and archbishops were born in the United States, and only three
had American-born parents.
What is strikingly different about Catholic immigrants coming to the United
States and Philadelphia for a new life in this 21st century is their varied
ethnicities. In 1808, virtually all Catholic immigrants were either German
or Irish.
While most of those who attended the Migration Mass this year were from
countries that had little or no representation in Philadelphia when the
diocese was founded, Matilde Lucq is a native of France, a country that
did provide some of our very first Catholics.
“It was good to be at the Mass,” said Lucq, who normally worships
at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, or at St. Barbara Church, where a French
language Mass is celebrated every other Sunday. She also teaches PREP
catechism to children in French.
Lucq said she especially enjoyed the singing in various languages.
At the same time, not everyone at the Mass was born abroad. Alicia Chong,
a seventh-grader from Holy Angels Parish, was born in the United States
of Korean parents and is fluent in both English and Korean. “I speak
Korean at home and English when I’m in public,” she said.
“We mostly go to Korean Mass but sometimes to an English Mass.”
She truly enjoys both worlds, but will probably always live in America.
As for the Migration Mass? “It’s nice to see all the different
cultures,” she said.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.