Pathways: Fall 2003
El Paso, the doorway to unity
by S. Julie de Tarnowsky and S. Jennifer
Marxer
Just as the Mississippi River connects the regions of our
Congregation, so Interstate 10 connects the southern region
to far west Texas. As you travel west through Texas, you are
greeted with a wide variety of landscapes, from the plains,
to the beautiful high rolling hills, to the Chihuahuan desert.
El Paso sits at the westernmost edge of Texas, in a valley
made from the southern tip of the Rockies called the Franklin
mountains. New Mexico, and Juarez, Mexico surround this desert
city along with the Rio Grande River which established the
international border.
One of the most striking views when one arrives in El Paso,
is Mt. Cristo Rey. This enormous statue of Christ with arms
outstretched welcomes all who come through the pass. It is
a symbol of unity in the Americas. When we arrived in El Paso
more than thirteen years ago, the same symbol of unity welcomed
us to a new culture and a new experience of ministry. Living
the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of inclusive love
unites us to the symbol of Christ who watches over all of
the border region.
What a surprise and delight it was to have been called to
the US-Mexico border-and what a challenge! Each and every
day, our Congregational call to Stand among the pilgrim people
of God continues to be true. We have many opportunities to
stand with the poor, the undocumented, the marginalized, the
immigrant, the children, the women, the pilgrim people of
God along the border. It is always a learning experience for
us as it broadens our boundaries and extends us beyond what
is usually comfortable for us.
The main ministry which brought us to El Paso and keeps us
here is education– Catholic education. The vision statement
of St. Pius X School is EDUCATION WITH A MISSION: Academic
Excellence, Christian Values, Discipline– which stems
from the Parish Vision Statement which is COMMUNITY WITH A
MISSION. Our school and parish are closely aligned and they
both strive for inclusion in all areas. The school’s
focus is on instilling
the virtues of tolerance, acceptance, service and justice
in each student. According to a national study our parish
is known as one of the top eight outstanding parishes in the
country. One reason for this honor is the inclusion and equality
of all laity, especially women, in ministry. We have many
opportunities throughout the day to live our charism–in
dealing with the children, parents, community, parish and
the Church. We promote reconciliation, acceptance and tolerance
through many of the programs we began in the school, programs
such as peer mediation, peace patrol, and noncompetitive participation
in our Diocesan Sports Program which makes it possible for
any student to participate.Our students are able to be involved
in many service projects through our connection to the colonias
of Horizon City, Texas and Anapra, Mexico. A colonia is a
grouping of neighbors living within the city limits, who are
without electricity, running water, sewer and other basic
necessities. The school community collects money, clothing,
baby supplies, toys and invites families to come to a party
where gifts are distributed. Our school is also involved with
a small school in Juarez, Mexico for which school supplies
are collected and distributed. Also we have helped build homes
for the Tarahumara Indians who have migrated from the interior
of Mexico to Ciudad Juarez.
Through the school, our students are also involved with Annunciation
House, a shelter for undocumented immigrants. We strive to
help our students understand that they are part of a community
of many different peoples–all created in God’s
image. We reach beyond our school community to connect with
the lives of the poor to comfort those who lack education,
health care, and proper housing.
Our charism is very alive through parish and civic community.
We are part of the blending of cultures, Hispanic, Indian,
and Anglo. Sister Juli dances Danza San Pio, a Matachine dance
group from our parish. Matachine is an ancient dance form,
dating back to the 1600s. Matachine Dance Troupes dance the
rosary in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The original indigenous
people danced to give thanks to Our Lady of Guadalupe after
she appeared to a simple Indian peasant named St. Juan Diego
who lived in Mexico which was, at that time, a Spanish colony.
Today, Matachines are still predominantly indigenous Indians
and Mexicans who dance the traditional steps, moving to the
sound of the drum to pray, praise, and honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Matachines are invited to celebrations of thanksgiving,
praise, and supplication in homes, at workplaces, parish fiestas,
and civic events. S. Julie believes it is an honor to dance
with the troupe and to be invited into the homes of the very
poor, to share food with, to learn from, and to pray with
such holy people.
We see a blending of cultures in whatever ministry we undertake.
We believe that to minister and live the charism of union
in love, we must be one with other people, we must stand among
them, be they Matachines, a prayer group, school faculty,
or parish ministry group. The unity comes from entering their
lives and sharing with them the reality of us all being members
of the family of God. There is much joy, welcoming warmth,
and enrichment in our ministry in El Paso. There is a mutuality
of experience as we give to others and receive from them.
We are broadened and deepened through understanding and appreciating
diversity. As we learn what it is like to be the other, we
realize how very alike we are, and experience an understanding
of belonging which goes beyond anything we have ever experienced.
We began this reflection with the symbol of Christ welcoming
everyone from the top of Mt.Cristo Rey. We end with another
symbol of unity–Our Lady of Guadalupe. She appeared
to St. Juan Diego, on Tepeyac Hill, outside of Mexico City,
which is the geographical center of the Americas. Since that
time she has been calling all to unity from north and south,
to be one with her son. What better place for us to live our
charism of inclusive love than to journey with the pilgrim
people of God in El Paso, Texas.
Vaya con Dios –Go with God
In
1531 a Lady from Heaven appeared to Juan Diego, a poor Indian,
at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City; she identified
herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have
the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of
herself miraculously imprinted on his tilma, a garment made
from cactus-cloth.
Yearly, an estimated 10 million people visit her Basilica,
making her Mexico City home the most popular Marian shrine
in the world and, next to the Vatican, the most visited Catholic
church in the world. Twenty-four popes have officially honored
Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II has visited
her sanctuary four times.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December
12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared the date of December
the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day to be celebrated throughout
the whole continent. On July 31, 2002 he canonized Juan Diego.