SAN DIEGO — Bishop Robert W. McElroy has said that it’s important to identify the ways racism undermines people’s lives in many arenas, and be “willing to take the hard steps to combat them.”
In October, the San Diego Diocese is continuing its virtual conversation about racism in the faith, called “My Church, My Story.” The goal is to provide a platform where Catholics can share their experiences, learn from their fellow faithful through dialogue and propose ways that parishes and the greater Church can tackle racism. The insights gleaned from the sessions will be presented to the diocese’s leadership and priests.
Around 100 faithful participated in each of the initial three forums held in August, organized by the Office of Ethnic and Intercultural Communities. Held via Zoom, they were focused on the African American community.
On Oct. 7, the office will hold the second of two bilingual forums focused on the Latino experience. (The first was held on Sept. 30.) The featured speaker will be Monserrat Ramírez, a member of the Parish Council at Christ the King Church and a columnist for The Southern Cross. The session will be facilitated by Jesuit Father Eduardo Samaniego, the director of the diocesan Office for the Permanent Diaconate.
The focus of the forums on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 is the Native American experience. The speakers include Patricia Dixon, a member of the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians and chair of the American Indian Studies Department at Palomar College.
All races and ethnicities are invited to participate in the forums, held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Registration is required.
More information is available at (858) 490-8306 or online at www.sdcatholic.org/mystory, which presents videos of previous speakers.
