May 8, 2009
Oyaya
There are only two black children in Evansville
And maybe twenty Hispanic youth.
After seven months in my position as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, I have attended a number of youth events, retreats, talks and other functions. During this time, I have only seen two black children and roughly twenty Hispanics. This certainly makes me glad that I have not instituted any initiatives to work toward diversity in youth and young adult ministry; after all, imagine how red my Polish face would have been had I begun such discussions only to learn they would merely reach twenty-two people! Yep, I sure am glad to know there are no ethnic youth in our diocese. Now I can forget all about diversity.
I hope that angered you a bit: It was intended to.
According to the most recent census, Evansville’s African-American population is 25 percent higher than the Indiana average (10.9 percent for Evansville; 8.4 percent for the entire state). Another 1.1 percent of Evansville reports an Hispanic origin, and the actual number is likely much higher. So, if just these two groups together comprise at least 12 percent of our city’s population, why have I seen only two African-American and twenty Hispanic kids at youth events?
Why are those who make up such a considerable part of our community uninvolved in our parishes and other diocesan programs? In the case of the Hispanic community, many of us fear the language barrier, which is understandable. However, during the two youth group nights I spent at Nativity Parish, I found the kids to be just like the youth to whom I ministered years ago in Jasper, and language wasn’t much of a barrier at all. The youth were eager to teach me things, and happy to laugh with me when I tried my best to communicate in Spanish. No one shunned me, no one gave me an awkward look, and everyone invited me back. I left with a deep desire to help them grow their youth group, and Abraham Brown, Nativity Youth Minister, and I have spent some time brainstorming how to do this. In the end, no great effort was required. All I had to do was ask them to participate.
We know there are more than two black and twenty Hispanic youth in this diocese. And whether we want to admit it or not, it is our fault they are not active in our parish and diocesan groups. Are we truly Catholic? Do we really believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone? If so, let’s start evangelizing and inviting kids from these communities to join us. It is that simple: Let’s talk to them! Will you help do this? If so, our Church will receive some beautiful gifts from these wonderfully talented kids.
If not, ah, don’t worry. We’ll just tell everyone that there are only two black kids in the whole diocese. Maybe they’ll believe that . . . even as our faces turn red.