Today’s Topic: Immigrant & Refugees, Part II

Former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray speaks during a celebration of World Refugee Day in Des Moines in 2003.Charlie Neibergall / AP file

Former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray speaks during a celebration of World Refugee Day in Des Moines in 2003.Charlie Neibergall / AP file

In 1975 , when the Vietnam war was ending, 3 million Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodians were force out, starved, and persecuted.  President Ford wrote every governor urging them to help resettle these Southeast Asians.  Iowa’s reputation as a welcoming state began at that point,  when Governor Ray welcomed Tai Dam refugees in Iowa.

Option #1:  Read & reflect: Iowa is home to more than 150,000 immigrants—a  population larger than the city of Cedar Rapids. These largely working-age immigrants serve as everything from meatpacking workers to college professors, making them critical  contributors to Iowa’s economic success overall.

Iowa households led by immigrants earned $4.1 billion in 2014, paying $349 million in local and state taxes. They help to fill jobs in hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and many more business sectors that need workers. New Iowans have helped to save rural communities by bringing employees, small businesses, students, places of worship, and much more to small towns.                                                                (The Contributions of New Americans in Iowa | The Role of Immigrants)

Consider how immigrants may have helped you or your family.  Have you treated them with dignity and respect as they learn & navigate a new language & society?

Option #2:  Read & Reflect: Entrepreneurs who are either immigrants or the children of immigrants have long been a critical part of Iowa’s economic success story. In 1968, Don Lamberti, the son of an Italian immigrant and one of our own parish members, purchased a gas station in the small town of Boone, Iowa. He turned that station into a large convenience store, and then went on to establish a chain of all-purpose stores serving small Iowa towns. Today the business started by Lamberti is known as Casey’s General Stores. Casey’s today is a major employer: It generated $9.35 billion in revenues and employs over 40,000 people (2019 info)

Is your reaction to this immigrant story different than ones of recent immigrants? Why or why not? If yes, reflect on why that may be.

Families: Find some examples on YouTube of the Mass being celebrated in another culture or language.   Share what they noticed about these celebrations-what was the same/different. (feel free to skim through the videos!)

Sunday Mass, Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, South Korea (excerpt)

Kumasi 10 Holy Mass Kumasi Parish, Ghana

Japanese Mass at Musashigaoka Kumamoto with Fathers Anton, SX and Denny, SX

Misa Catolica from Assumption of Mary Parish, Chihuahua, Mexico

Holy Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints, Cologne, Germany Cathedral

· Do we always recognize the diversity of God’s family? Why or why not?

· What are some examples of different ways to celebrate the diversity of God’s family?