Two sides of the Border....

[Vincent Karl Schwahn Ryckman]

I had two special experiences this week that I thought I would share for discussion.  One was driving to Tijuana to celebrate a home funeral mass "MIsa de cuerpo presente", for a family from San Clemente CA who live in Tijuana for their father.  The other was trying to find an Episcopal Church where one of my Mexican Parishioners could go to a spanish eucharist in LA while she was visiting her family.  My experience in Tijuana was an eye opener after having lived fifteen years in Mexico City.  Tijuana compared to Mexico City seemed...very "third world, underdeveloped, and even oppresive".  The streets were unpaved and many people were living in living conditions that were truly depressing.  I understood quickly the attraction to find a life that would be more rewarding on the other side of the border, especially for the unnumbered Mexicans who live in hostile, poor, depressing environments in many areas of Mexico.  The cost is high to leave that environment.  Again, as I was looking for a "church" for this parishioner to spend her Holy Week that was Episcopal, I was surprized that the Cathedral had no Spanish Eucharist, and many other churches in the region also did not offer one.  Where might I send her?  There are many discussions we could have about language, cultural sensitivity, legal or illegal immigration, that continues to be ongoing in our circles.  But on a very human level, it just reminded me that we must all work harder to be citizens of the world.  To be more sensitive of the "immigrant" in our midst wherever he or she is from, for St. Pauls tells us we are all "strangers in a strange land".  And to reach out, where ever we are planted to that "stranger in our midst".  A blessed Holy Week...may our communities continue to be enriched by their diversity in all forms and in all maner of living!  Pax  Vincent+