MERRILLVILLE - Faith, family and community are some of the fundamental pillars that are at the center of any Filipino community. Each pillar holds a special significance. Still, there is much to rejoice in for this lively community at the Diocese of Gary, particularly regarding their faith, as this fall will mark their first Filipino Mass.
This first Filipino Mass within the Diocese of Gary is set to take place on Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. in Merrillville at the newly renamed parish, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, formerly Holy Martyrs.
The widely anticipated Mass is made possible through the Filipino Ministry Advisory Team, who organized the Mass with the help of the Intercultural Ministry under the Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization, who “have been very helpful to the Filipino Ministry Advisory Team from the very first time the idea was first presented,” Crescencio M. Doma Jr. “Boboy” shared.
“During the initial meeting of the four-member group on July 14, with Dr. Claudia Sadowski, coordinator of the intercultural ministry, they requested to lay down the primary objectives of having a Filipino Mass and explored the chances of having a significant number of attendees,” Doma continued.
Sadowski shared with the group that day, whom she later named the Filipino Ministry Advisory Team, how other groups of different nationalities within the Diocese of Gary were also celebrating Masses in their own native languages. This information, along with a “walk-through” of what other groups’ existing practices are, helped inspire the team in pursuing its own desire to have its own Filipino Mass.
Additional information was provided to the team, which included details of the basic protocol observed in the diocese on activities similar to the vision and goals that the team was presenting to Sadowski at the beginning of this journey. Proper coordination with concerned parties and institutions was given emphasis, as well as a meeting with Father Ted Mauch, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, who expressed support towards hosting the liturgy at the parish.
Succeeding meetings followed on at least a once-a-month basis, which helped the team provide Sadowski with updates on the progress of the preparations. This also helped the team learn how other groups, such as the Vietnamese Ministry, conducted their activities in the diocese and how they, too, could put them into practice.
For Maureen Germany, also a member of the Filipino Ministry Advisory Team, Sadowski’s support and guidance throughout this journey are something she will always be grateful for.
“We could not have done this without the support and guidance of Dr. Claudia Sadowski,” Germany said. “She helped us every step of the way. The Filipino community feels indebted to her for this milestone.”
The first Mass in Tagalog will be unlike any other Mass celebration they have attended in the past. This celebration “aims to bring the Eucharistic celebration closer to the hearts of the Filipino Catholics in Indiana.” Doma said.
“It gives the Katolikong Filipino (Filipino Catholics) in the Diocese of Gary the rare opportunity to praise and worship together as one community in one of the native languages and to be officiated by a Filipino priest (Father Dante Quidayan, RCJ),” Doma continued.
Members of the Filipino Ministry Advisory Team shared that the community is already overjoyed and feels blessed that a Filipino Mass will be celebrated in the area.
“The responses were all positive,” Germany explained. “I have faith that the Filipino community feels even more hopeful and appreciative. In fact, even some of my friends of different backgrounds were happy to lend a helping hand. Some of them offered to mention it on the radio, and some were even happy to share flyers. This momentum truly highlights the loving support from our friends and family, and most of all the diocese.”
Doma added, “Without any bias or prejudice, with the common Masses held and that they attend regularly, a Filipino Mass will definitely make the community feel at home.”
The Filipino Ministry Advisory Team is looking forward to bringing the Filipino Catholics together more in the future as a community and active parishioners. Germany hopes this accomplishment may also attract more youths and bring more participation from their end.
“I would like to see more participation from our youth – join different ministries,” she said. “I have been a member of the Music Ministry since last year, and I would be willing to assist Ms. Evelyn Banson, who serves in the Music Ministry, for as long as I have known her. She introduced me to the group, and I am forever grateful to her. I would like to be the Evelyn for our youth in the community.”
Initially, the team identified projects and activities that could aim to help nourish the Catholic faith of the Filipinos within the diocese. It hopes to identify Filipino parishioners in every parish within the diocese, and their involvement in religious and socio-cultural activities in the parishes and communities.
The goal is to initiate faith-based and culturally rooted activities that will help bring the Filipino parishioners together and conduct alternative programs that can help promote total human development among them and intercultural cooperation with other groups and organizations within and outside the diocese.
Caption: Members of the Filipino Ministry Team gathered for a photo on the day it was formed.. Pictured are Crescencio “Boboy” Doma, Maureen Germany, Dr. Claudia Sadowski, Leonora Bujna and Evelyn Banzon. The same day the group was also presented the Filipino Catholic History and Mission to Dr. Claudia Sadowski, and met with the intercultural ministry team afterwards. (Provided photo)
