Dialog Editor
Building Intercultural Connections aims to unite diverse groups in parishes with sharing, fellowship
Catholics might assume that the Building Intercultural Connections (BIC) conferences that have been held in the diocese for the last several years are all about connecting Spanish-speaking parishioners with their English-speaking neighbors.
The connections the program aims to forge are between every different culture in the church, says Brother Chris Posch, the Franciscan priest who spearheads the diocesan BIC programs.
Two BIC programs are scheduled on Saturdays during the next two months. There will be a conference on March 7 at Holy Rosary Parish in Claymont and a May 16 program at St. Michael the Archangel in Georgetown.
Because Brother Chris heads the diocesan office for Hispanic Ministry, the impression that BIC is aims at “Anglo” and Hispanic Catholics can be prevalent, but BIC aims cast a wider net to integrate all parish cultures.
BIC is “trying to encourage intercultural competency in terms of racial and ethnic groups, teen-agers, 12-step recover groups, and students in parishes,” Brother Chris says
He’s talking about both teenage girls in parishes and a subgroup of those girls, such as “Beliebers,” fans of Justine Bieber. And BIC aims to integrate varied economic levels of parishioners as well as married, single or widowed.
BIC sessions aren’t just lectures, Brother Chris said. The conferences are “engaged learning” where everyone comes to share their wisdom and experience, as well as sharing a covered dish for lunch.
BIC programs want to add openness to church cultures, “ecclesial cultures.”
The stories of participants at the conference are meant to show “there’s more than one way to experience Catholicism,” Brother Chris said. Parishioners describing their experiences in their culture or group “makes us more complete. Each group becomes edified by the other.”
Father Roger DiBuo, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bear, and a BIC presenter, said BIC “allows us to worship together…where God’s people are nourished, one table and one family. There is room enough for all.”
David Bulindah, a parishioner at Seton, said he first attended a BIC program at the parish two years ago.
“I am on board,” he said. “I just jumped on the train right away. It brought the reality of the church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic. We are one in Christ.”
Bulindah, who is originally from Kenya, said BIC, “brings awareness for us to appreciate other people who are different. Knowing different cultures’ experiences and how they contribute to one’s faith opens my eyes to see the wealth that is in diversity.”
Making intercultural connections can include ethnic discussions about racism.
“There are challenges with that,” Bulindah said. “People are carrying a lot of pain. We need to talk about that. To be ‘one body’ we are called upon to listen to each other.”
BIC “shows the future of the church coming together,” he added.
At St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Glasgow, Rafael Pagan, who grew up in Ohio as the son of parents born in Puerto Rico, said he got involved in BIC because “I’ve seen diversity has changed the church. A BIC session at St. Catherine of Siena caught my interest. I’ve always wanted to bring up the subject” of diversity.
“BIC was a great experience,” said Pagan, who works for Accenture Consulting.
“The ultimate purpose” of BIC is “to make people feel comfortable with the way they feel and worship.
“Are we making people feel comfortable?” he asked.
BIC aims to see each parish welcomes everyone. It’s an extension of the New Evangelization first proclaimed by St. John Paul II.
The connections BIC seeks is among Catholic ethnic groups, age groups, non-practicing Catholics and others.
“I’m hoping intercultural activities will make us a closer community,” Pagan said.
For more information on the BIC conferences in March and May, contact Brother Chris Posch, OFM, at 302-655-0518 or at chrisposch@gmail.com.
• • •
Building Intercultural Connections Team
• Theresa Moschelle, Holy Rosary, Claymont
• Rafael Pagan, St. Margaret of Scotland, Glasgow
• Lois Rubinsohn, St. Ann, Bethany Beach
• Miguel Tapia, Salesianum senior, St. Paul, Wilmington
• Lynne Betts, Our Lady of Lourdes, Seaford
• David Bulindah, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bear
• Chrissie Cruz, St. Catherine of Siena, Wilmington
• Miguelina Cruz, Holy Cross, Dover,
• Father Roger DiBuo, pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bear
• Arline Dosman, Holy Cross and Immaculate Conception, Dover and Marydel
• Jeannie Flemin,: St. Ann, Bethany Beach
• Mary Jo Frohlich, Sacred Heart, Chestertown
• Rose Henderson, St. Joseph, Wilmington
• Eva Lyons, St. Catherine of Siena, Wilmington
• Br. Chris Posch, OFM, director, Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office
• Myrna Rivera, St. John-Holy Angels, Newark
• Meg Kane Smith, St. Margaret of Scotland, Newark
• Anita Wood; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bear
