SAN DIEGO — “Unity in diversity” came to a joyful, beautiful life in the diocese’s annual Pentecost Mass on June 7.
Faithful from all corners of the diocese packed into the gym at Cathedral Catholic High School where the multilingual Mass was held. Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano celebrated the Mass, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido and Bishop Michael Pham. Bishop Bejarano is the diocese’s vicar for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities.
In his introductory remarks, Bishop Bejarano acknowledged that Bishop Pham had started the Mass some eight years before to bring together the cultures present in the diocese. The Mass-goers gave Bishop Pham a standing ovation.
In what has become a tradition, a procession of 19 Catholic cultures entered the gym at the beginning of the Mass, from African to Vietnamese. The Mass-goers cheered when Bishop Bejarano recognized that the Peruvian community was participating, noting that newly elected Pope Leo XIV served in Peru for a long time. The participating communities also included African American, Brazilian, Chaldean, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Irish, Korea, Laotian, Luiseño, Mexican, Panamanian, Samoan and Tongan.
After the Mass, the faithful moved to the high school’s outdoor grounds, where they enjoyed a cultural festival, complete with traditional food tastings and cultural performances.
In the Local Church, “We must strive to build love and unity in the midst of our diversity,” Bishop Bejarano said in his homily.
Unity in diversity “involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church,” he said, quoting Pope Francis.
The text of Bishop Bejarano’s homily follows:
“We continue to celebrate our Ordinary Jubilee Year, ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’
“This weekend, the Vatican is celebrating the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities. Here, in the Diocese of San Diego, we are celebrating today our Jubilee of Cultural Diversity through this eighth annual diocesan Pentecost Mass and Festival.
“This event brings us together to be enriched by our unity in diversity.
“One of the actions that inspire me in today’s liturgy, is when the different ethnic and cultural communities place a piece of fabric that represents them. Then all the fabrics are covered with a white altar cloth representing our faith in Christ as we celebrate the Eucharist. When I see the fabric that represents my background, I think to myself, ‘I’m there! I’m part of that fabric.’ Then I feel the joy of being united with everyone else and enriched by their own culture.
“For me, personally, this action is beautiful and invites me to see how beautiful our Church is.
“Years ago, when I was transferred from one parish to another, one of the parishioners made this beautiful quilt with many squares of different colors and signed by parishioners’ names. I have that quilt in my living room, and when I see it, I see beauty. But also, I see love and unity.
“Pope Leo, in his inaugural homily said that love and unity are the two dimensions of the mission that Jesus entrusted to Peter. The Pope then expressed that he wants ‘that our first great desire to be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.’
“Pentecost speaks to us of that unity-love relationship. In the Gospel we hear that all the disciples were together for one reason, ‘fear.’ Then, by the time Pentecost happened, they were also in one place together. Were they still afraid? Not anymore. They had seen the risen Christ who gave them his love and peace. Love takes away fear and brings peace.
“On the day of Pentecost, they all received the Holy Spirit which made them speak in many different languages, but, did you pay attention? The text says that they had one single message. They all spoke about the mighty acts of God.
“In the second reading, St. Paul proclaims that each one of us has received the same spirit, the same Lord, the same God, and that since we all have been baptized by the one Spirit, we all belong to one Body, the Body of Christ. Jesus himself prayed for unity in the Gospel of John, ‘that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you’ (John, 17: 21).
“As the Church in the Diocese of San Diego, we must strive to build love and unity in the midst of our diversity. Pope Francis explains that, ‘Unity does not imply uniformity; it does not necessarily mean doing everything together or thinking in the same way. Nor does it signify a loss of identity. Unity in diversity is actually the opposite: it involves the joyful recognition and acceptance of the various gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to each one and the placing of these gifts at the service of all members of the Church. It means knowing how to listen, to accept differences, and having the freedom to think differently and express oneself with complete respect towards the other who is my brother or sister.’ He then concluded, ‘Do not be afraid of differences!’ (Address to Catholic Fraternity of the Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowship, Oct. 31, 2014.)
“However, unity and love require humility. One of the first disruptions in building unity is believing that I’m better or superior to others, or the Pharisaic mentality that ‘I’m not a sinner like that other one.’ Jesus taught that the greatest is the one who serves (Luke, 22:27), and St. Paul says that we must consider others more important than ourselves (Phil, 2:3)
“Our Bishop, Michael Pham, continuing the labor of Cardinal McElroy, is working to build this culture of synodality, where we listen to each other with an open heart and respect, where we listen to the Holy Spirit, and in communion, then walk together. As a Church, we are called to sow unity and acceptance, not division.
“We are celebrating now the Sacrament of unity, the Eucharist. The Eucharist makes the Church! The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that one of the main fruits of Holy Communion is union. ‘Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it, Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body — the Church.’
“Our response to the words ‘The Body of Christ,’ must instill in us that desire to strive for unity. Now that we have an Augustinian Pope, I better use more quotes from St. Augustine. He has this beautiful one about our act of receiving Holy Communion. ‘If you are the body and members of Christ, then it is your sacrament that is placed on the table of the Lord; it is your sacrament that you receive. To that which you are you respond “Amen” (“yes, it is true!”) and by responding to it you assent to it. For you hear the words, “the Body of Christ” and respond “Amen.” Be then a member of the Body of Christ that your ‘“Amen” may be true.
“May our ‘Amen’ today be a witness to unity and love.”
