Planning meeting includes bringing back the Multicultural Mass

The Diocese of Corpus Christi Office of Multicultural Ministry is holding several meetings inviting everyone to be part of the planning of our diocesan celebration for World Day for Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). 

Director Jaime Reyna from the Office of Multicultural Ministry hosted the first of these meetings on Aug. 2 at Corpus Christi Cathedral St. Joseph Hall. The 14 people in attendance represented our deaf and Hispanic brothers and sisters.

“Every year, the WDMR is celebrated on the last Sunday of September; in 2022. This year it will be celebrated on Sept. 25,” Reyna said. “The Holy Father has chosen the theme “Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees.” 

Reyna gave each attendee Open Wide Our Hearts, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter against racism.

The group was excited about bringing back the celebration of the Multicultural Mass in honor of National Migration Week 2022. In the past, the Multicultural Mass included praying the rosary in several different languages and a procession of banners, symbolic of the diversity of our Catholic faith and the universal Catholic Church. 

“We want to form a committee and plan an exciting way to bring people to the reception, sharing different cuisines, dance and music,” Reyna said. “We had a few people who participated in the past, and many knew people who were very interested in these Multicultural Mass events.” 

“It’s about coming together and sharing our identity, gifts, culture, and food with others,” Reyna said. The committee hopes to elicit excitement even though they know families are not passing down their cultural identity to their children. 

If you would like to share your gifts, talents and culture and be part of the planning, please join us in person at our second meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Cathedral St. Joseph Hall.