The USCCB Program of Priestly Formation (5th edit., 2006) contains the following observation regarding "cultural sensitivity":  Pastoral formation must flow from and move towards an appreciation of the multifaceted reality of the Church.  In the United States, this means a genuine appreciation of the diversity that marks the Catholic Church as well as the diversity that typifies this society generally. Seminarians need exposure to the many cultures and languages that belong to the Catholic Church in the United States.  (Paragraph 239)

Among a variety of ways in which such exposure might be facilitated within a seminary context, liturgical worship affords a particularly rich opportunity. The variety of cultural elements which distinguish the venerable liturgical families of the East, and which characterize the historical development of local Western liturgies, even within the Roman Rite itself, bears witness to a deep respect & true appreciation of diversity as an integral aspect of genuine Catholicity.

Here at this seminary, we have the custom of celebrating Mass in Latin and in Spanish on a regular basis.  We annually observe African-American heritage as well as Vietnamese Tet in liturgical settings.  Occasionally, we have invited a local Byzantine Catholic community to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in our chapel.  We have had initial experience of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and plan to provide for more.

However much such exposure contributes to "cultural sensitivity" within our own walls, it cannot serve as an adequate substitute for participating in a variety of the local parochial communities as they celebrate Sunday Eucharist with distinctive style and grace.  We are fortunate to have quite a few venues within easy accessibility.

The Board of Trustees has recently approved the program of designating two (2) Sundays each semester when there would be no scheduled Mass at the seminary; but the students, individually or in small groups, would choose to attend & participate in the principal Sunday Mass at a local parish which is characterized by its "diversity" e.g. African-American, Hispanic, Vietnamese; or Byzantine, Tridentine, Charismatic; or any other Catholic community which has a distinctive cultural or liturgical identity.  It is expected that each seminarian choose four different traditions during each year.

A tentative list of suggested parishes is available; it will be up-dated & revised as more is learned about this experience.

In order to provide a common process of reflection and feed-back, each student will be required to complete a brief written report of his experience.  A suggested guide and format for such a report is provided.  This report, to be completed within a week, is to be submitted to the Rector.  This could possibly lead to informal discussions for interested members of the community.

FORMAT FOR LITURGICAL DIVERSITY SUNDAY

1. Your name, diocese/community, class year, your own cultural identity.

2. Name & address of the parish, its cultural identity, and time of Mass.

3. Name(s) of Presider & Homilist, with brief comment on homily, if possible.

4. Comment on the musical aspects of the celebration, e.g. style & quantity.
(congregational, choir, soloists, instrumentalists, etc.)

5. Comment on the active participation of the congregation.
(responses, gestures, postures, etc.)

6. Size of the congregation, number of altar ministers/communion ministers.

7. Sense of community, hospitality, spirituality, etc.

8. Any additional observations you might choose to express.


REMINDERS ABOUT THE SEMINARY SCHEDULE ON THESE SUNDAYS:
A. There will be no scheduled Morning Prayer at the Seminary
B. There will be no scheduled Mass at the Seminary
C. There will be the regularly scheduled Evening Prayer with Exposition
    beginning at 5:15 pm (required for all)

LITURGICAL DIVERSITY SUNDAYS:  Suggested Parishes / Communities

I.                 AFRICAN-AMERICAN:

 1.      St. Leo the Great, 2916 Paris Ave., N.O., LA

     (945-8750)

      2.      Our Lady Star of the Sea, 1835 St. Roch Ave., N.O., LA

               (944-0166)      www.olss-no.com

II.                HISPANIC / LATINO:

1.      St. Jerome, 2400 33^rd Street, Kenner, LA

    (443-3174)            www.stjeromecatholic.org

2.      St. Anthony of Padua, 4640 Canal St., N.O., LA

    (488-2651)

III.               VIETNAMESE:

1.      Mary Queen of Vietnam, 5069 Willowbrook Dr., N.O., LA

    (254-5660)            www.maryqueenofvietnam.org

IV.              TRIDENTINE / EXTRAORDINARY FORM:

1.      St. Patrick, 724 Camp St., N.O., LA

    (525-4413)            www.oldstpatricks.org

2.      St. Benilde, 1901 Division St., Metairie, LA

    (834-4980)

V.               CHARISMATIC:

1.      Center of Jesus the Lord, 1236 N. Rampart., N.O., LA

    (529-1636)            www.centerofjesusthelord.org

VI.              BYZANTINE / RUTHENIAN:

1.      St. Nicholas of Myra Chapel, 2435 S. Carrollton Ave., N.O., LA

        (861-0806)

VII.              KOREAN:

1.      Hanmaum Korean Catholic Church, 4812 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, LA

        (888-8772)

N.B. Please let me know (in writing) if you wish to recommend other parishes; include name of parish, address, phone number, (website) and ethnic / cultural category.

Thanks,

Fr. Don Martin, SJ