This past funding year, the Alive in Hope Foundation awarded a grant to St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis through the Bishop Loughlin Fund for its "One Step at a Time" grant, whose focus was to welcome and bring together different cultures in the community, namely the newly emigrated Hispanic and Chinese communities, and to enhance its youth ministry program.
In mid-December, the parish began its second Project 30-Hope, a 30 hour fast and reflection to raise awareness on poverty among the youth of the parish. A week later, parishioners volunteered to distribute free rice and clothing to the needy in the community – they posted signs in English, Spanish, and Chinese so that all in need could receive the blessings of their generosity.
The parish also held an Easter concert with traditional Chinese musical instruments; the concert was a musical interpretation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The concert, which also included a meal and children performing customary Chinese dances, introduced other parishioners to the Chinese culture, while allowing all to celebrate together the joys of the Easter season.
Ongoing programs, such as the bilingual faith formation program that offered instruction in both English and Spanish, became part of the larger effort to welcome their new neighbors. The programs assisted children having difficulty with the English language. In the proposal, the parish presented its impetus for beginning these different programs, saying “As a parish, we believe that we should be instrumental in providing pastoral support to these families through Christian acts of kindness and service that would make our brethren feel welcome to this country and parish”.
Through spreading their Christian love to the Chinese, Hispanic, youth and other communities, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, this program continues to be a true example of our call to be a universal Church open to all God’s people.
