Happy new year, from your fellow parishioners who serve on St. Dominic’s Racial Equity Task Force. Our task force’s theme for the year is “Who is my neighbor?” – in keeping with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this familiar story, Jesus makes it clear that everyone around us qualifies as our neighbor, regardless of race, creed or economic status. During 2023, we’ve asked members of our Task Force to record short videos where they introduce themselves and reflect on the “Who is my neighbor” theme. We look forward to sharing these videos with you and allowing our members to tell you in their own words why they feel called to be champions of diversity, equity and inclusion at St. Dominic Church.
Our Racial Equity Task Force works to make St. Dominic Church an inclusive, welcoming space for all members of our community. We believe that “if racial justice and peace will ever be attained, it must begin in the church,” in the words of University of Dayton history professor Shannen Dee Williams. We seek to live our faith out loud, by building an anti-racist Catholic community at St. Dominic and increasing dialogue among parishioners about the realities of systemic racism.
Travel Experience of Salvadoran Friends Underscores Our Need to Improve
As many know, there are several trips annually to El Salvador where St. Dominic Parish not only provides for the needs of many, but also supports a crew of dedicated community leaders to carry out the good work in Chitiupan. I was fortunate to travel along with the most recent delegation to view progress made in our sister parish. As an added benefit, on our return, we travelled alongside our dedicated Salvadorian crew for a visit to Cleveland. While a couple of our El Salvador friends had travelled to Cleveland before, most had not. Four of the five travelers speak very good English. One, Raul, speaks no English, had never been on a plane but very much looked forward to his first visit outside his native land.
To say the least, the culinary experience in Chiltiupan is something to appreciate. The main dish usually involves some version of a pupusa-often referred to as a Spanish pierogi. Stewed chickens and rice and beans provide most of the remaining sustenance. To our visitors, the chance to try American cuisine is a much-anticipated adventure. In this case, the first chance for the same was presented at a non-descript BBQ joint at the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport.
The name of the joint is not important. But it is what the well-travelled would expect. You order at the front end, pay outrageous prices, and then collect what is often less than satisfying food at the end of the counter. The team was excited and voiced a friendly Spanish chant as they approached to make their selections. I stood back so as not to interfere with their enjoyment, but close by to offer assistance. Excitement was evident - their first order on American soil after a long flight was finally here.
Then came the look. The look from behind the counter. Who are these guys all speaking Spanish ordering to their hearts’ delight? The look became a frown as a few did not understand the menu selections which quickly turned to a cold and unwelcoming stare when Raul approached for his order. He could not read the board or order for himself. And he was not sure what he really wanted. It was literally his first meal outside El Salvador, and he wanted it to be perfect. Then it came - the voice. “Why can’t you people just be like us. And do you Mexicans have money?” More than confrontational, it was completely derisive. As one might expect I interceded and asked why the frown, negative emotion, and racist comment. Oh yes, payment would be forthcoming from me, but I regret that they chose this location. That said, I suspect that attitude was generally the norm. While personally disappointed with the experience, the team felt no worse and enjoyed the simple meal with no comment on the interaction. No doubt, I was grateful our friends were so forgiving.
This experience caused me to reflect on where we are in the U.S. and where we are going. Our Salvadoran friends were confronted with the same attitudes, comments and racism faced by Black Americans. Not long ago four Black students were refused service at a Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro, NC resulting in one of the most remarkable civil rights protests. That event was preceded by only a few years in the Supreme Court decision striking down segregated schools. It was followed a few years later with the Civil Rights Act. Progress. Progress long overdue.
Bit by bit racial exclusion seemingly chipped away. The following decades saw progress on many fronts, even the fundamental right to vote in a district where a Black candidate could win an election was becoming a reality. There was some progress, but the attitudes seemed to stay the same. Or perhaps even harden.
Unfortunately today, that progress stands still. Some even rightfully suggest we are regressing - at warp speed. No, it still remains illegal to deny a seat at a counter, or to prohibit admittance to public schools, or refuse to accommodate a Black traveler. But that is how it is written in a book, not practiced.
Today, there is a growing trend to prohibit studies of the Black experience in America. This growing trend is not only frightening but clearly racist in intent and practice. Perhaps even worse, in many states unnecessary requirements are imposed on voters with the sole practical intent of stymying the Black vote. Under the guise of voter fraud, restrictions on ballot initiatives, limits to voter registration, unnecessary limits on pre-election day voting and the absurd decision to permit only one box for ballot collection in some of the largest cities in the US have blossomed in many states. Decades of progress in voter rights flushed with the bath water. As a lawyer with four decades of experience on many fronts including Constitutional Law, this is more than disappointing to witness.
In our state in the last weeks, the effort to restrain voter rights in the name of fraud prevention is quickly gaining ground. Indeed, most recently, the Ohio Secretary of State noted that the use of a state of the art third-party electronic voting system seems likely to be eliminated because the system sends automatic reminders to voters of upcoming elections. Of course, the reminders might help Black candidates. It should be evident that much like the blatantly unconstitutional redistricting fiasco recently witnessed in Ohio, racism lies at the base of any justification. And similar to the other ballot restrictions justified under guise of anti-fraud efforts, the program will likely be eliminated.
These are but a few areas where we have regressed in the last few years. Much like the experience of our Salvadoran team, for Black Americans, racism in our society today seems prevalent - and growing. But much like my encounter with the servers in Dallas, it is incumbent on many of us who usually stay on the fringes to interject and change that path.
The very purpose of the St. Dominic DEI committee is to heighten parish awareness and improve the thought process relating to diversity and inclusion in our community. We can make life better in our community and for all people and races. We should, we must.
As many know, there are several trips annually to El Salvador where St. Dominic Parish not only provides for the needs of many, but also supports a crew of dedicated community leaders to carry out the good work in Chitiupan. I was fortunate to travel along with the most recent delegation to view progress made in our sister parish. As an added benefit, on our return, we travelled alongside our dedicated Salvadorian crew for a visit to Cleveland. While a couple of our El Salvador friends had travelled to Cleveland before, most had not. Four of the five travelers speak very good English. One, Raul, speaks no English, had never been on a plane but very much looked forward to his first visit outside his native land.
To say the least, the culinary experience in Chiltiupan is something to appreciate. The main dish usually involves some version of a pupusa-often referred to as a Spanish pierogi. Stewed chickens and rice and beans provide most of the remaining sustenance. To our visitors, the chance to try American cuisine is a much-anticipated adventure. In this case, the first chance for the same was presented at a non-descript BBQ joint at the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport.
The name of the joint is not important. But it is what the well-travelled would expect. You order at the front end, pay outrageous prices, and then collect what is often less than satisfying food at the end of the counter. The team was excited and voiced a friendly Spanish chant as they approached to make their selections. I stood back so as not to interfere with their enjoyment, but close by to offer assistance. Excitement was evident - their first order on American soil after a long flight was finally here.
Then came the look. The look from behind the counter. Who are these guys all speaking Spanish ordering to their hearts’ delight? The look became a frown as a few did not understand the menu selections which quickly turned to a cold and unwelcoming stare when Raul approached for his order. He could not read the board or order for himself. And he was not sure what he really wanted. It was literally his first meal outside El Salvador, and he wanted it to be perfect. Then it came - the voice. “Why can’t you people just be like us. And do you Mexicans have money?” More than confrontational, it was completely derisive. As one might expect I interceded and asked why the frown, negative emotion, and racist comment. Oh yes, payment would be forthcoming from me, but I regret that they chose this location. That said, I suspect that attitude was generally the norm. While personally disappointed with the experience, the team felt no worse and enjoyed the simple meal with no comment on the interaction. No doubt, I was grateful our friends were so forgiving.
This experience caused me to reflect on where we are in the U.S. and where we are going. Our Salvadoran friends were confronted with the same attitudes, comments and racism faced by Black Americans. Not long ago four Black students were refused service at a Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro, NC resulting in one of the most remarkable civil rights protests. That event was preceded by only a few years in the Supreme Court decision striking down segregated schools. It was followed a few years later with the Civil Rights Act. Progress. Progress long overdue.
Bit by bit racial exclusion seemingly chipped away. The following decades saw progress on many fronts, even the fundamental right to vote in a district where a Black candidate could win an election was becoming a reality. There was some progress, but the attitudes seemed to stay the same. Or perhaps even harden.
Unfortunately today, that progress stands still. Some even rightfully suggest we are regressing - at warp speed. No, it still remains illegal to deny a seat at a counter, or to prohibit admittance to public schools, or refuse to accommodate a Black traveler. But that is how it is written in a book, not practiced.
Today, there is a growing trend to prohibit studies of the Black experience in America. This growing trend is not only frightening but clearly racist in intent and practice. Perhaps even worse, in many states unnecessary requirements are imposed on voters with the sole practical intent of stymying the Black vote. Under the guise of voter fraud, restrictions on ballot initiatives, limits to voter registration, unnecessary limits on pre-election day voting and the absurd decision to permit only one box for ballot collection in some of the largest cities in the US have blossomed in many states. Decades of progress in voter rights flushed with the bath water. As a lawyer with four decades of experience on many fronts including Constitutional Law, this is more than disappointing to witness.
In our state in the last weeks, the effort to restrain voter rights in the name of fraud prevention is quickly gaining ground. Indeed, most recently, the Ohio Secretary of State noted that the use of a state of the art third-party electronic voting system seems likely to be eliminated because the system sends automatic reminders to voters of upcoming elections. Of course, the reminders might help Black candidates. It should be evident that much like the blatantly unconstitutional redistricting fiasco recently witnessed in Ohio, racism lies at the base of any justification. And similar to the other ballot restrictions justified under guise of anti-fraud efforts, the program will likely be eliminated.
These are but a few areas where we have regressed in the last few years. Much like the experience of our Salvadoran team, for Black Americans, racism in our society today seems prevalent - and growing. But much like my encounter with the servers in Dallas, it is incumbent on many of us who usually stay on the fringes to interject and change that path.
The very purpose of the St. Dominic DEI committee is to heighten parish awareness and improve the thought process relating to diversity and inclusion in our community. We can make life better in our community and for all people and races. We should, we must.
A reflection on Black History Month, from Margaret Bernstein, a member of our church’s Racial Equity Task Force.
Black History Month is evolving. In the years since George Floyd died, I’ve watched it move beyond an annual recitation of facts about African American achievers, and widen into a bigger discussion of struggle and survival. I’m fascinated by a new social media trend --the #MyBlackHistory hashtag. It’s democratizing February and making it clear that every black family has a story of overcoming. On Facebook this month, I’ve seen a tribute posted to a great-grandfather who was a South Carolina sharecropper and railroad worker, while someone else shared a picture of their great-aunt, a pianist and teacher who attended Juilliard and performed with Count Basie.
Another person paid homage to an ancestor named James Robert Sands Jr. “Born a slave but eventually became a free man. A husband, father, educator and appointed Justice of the Peace in Monroe County, Ark., in 1916. I salute you Great-great-grandpa Sands! #MYBLACKHISTORY”
This grassroots trend recognizes the fact that black Americans share a history of triumphing over racist laws and systems, and that our tenacious forebears are achievers, even if they’re not famous.
I think it's good to see Black History Month getting freshened up, especially considering that some critics of the month are asking when will we be done with rehashing the past. In my opinion, our nation is only beginning to acknowledge all the roadblocks that African Americans faced, in order to vote, to be educated, to live free. For African-Americans, it’s been a challenge just to learn about our own heritage: The U.S. Census didn’t count blacks until 1870. Before that, we were possessions, enumerated like cows and horses. No names -- just ages and genders on slave lists. Like many African-Americans, I know the names of my relatives born in the past century but I can’t go back much further. As a race, our history hasn’t been passed down, because slaves weren’t allowed to read or write, they weren’t given last names and their families were often split up.
As a nation, we're just starting to excavate the history of black Americans. To wrap our minds around how America enriched itself through black bondage, and to grapple with the repercussions that still endure. I would like to recommend to my fellow parishioners a soon-to-be-published book about how Catholic priests relied on slave labor, and sold slaves to finance the creation of Georgetown University. The book is "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build The American Catholic Church " by New York University journalism professor Rachel Swarns.
For most of us, this is an untold chapter of our church's history. I say ... let the history out, and let it inform new conversations.
Black History Month is evolving. In the years since George Floyd died, I’ve watched it move beyond an annual recitation of facts about African American achievers, and widen into a bigger discussion of struggle and survival. I’m fascinated by a new social media trend --the #MyBlackHistory hashtag. It’s democratizing February and making it clear that every black family has a story of overcoming. On Facebook this month, I’ve seen a tribute posted to a great-grandfather who was a South Carolina sharecropper and railroad worker, while someone else shared a picture of their great-aunt, a pianist and teacher who attended Juilliard and performed with Count Basie.
Another person paid homage to an ancestor named James Robert Sands Jr. “Born a slave but eventually became a free man. A husband, father, educator and appointed Justice of the Peace in Monroe County, Ark., in 1916. I salute you Great-great-grandpa Sands! #MYBLACKHISTORY”
This grassroots trend recognizes the fact that black Americans share a history of triumphing over racist laws and systems, and that our tenacious forebears are achievers, even if they’re not famous.
I think it's good to see Black History Month getting freshened up, especially considering that some critics of the month are asking when will we be done with rehashing the past. In my opinion, our nation is only beginning to acknowledge all the roadblocks that African Americans faced, in order to vote, to be educated, to live free. For African-Americans, it’s been a challenge just to learn about our own heritage: The U.S. Census didn’t count blacks until 1870. Before that, we were possessions, enumerated like cows and horses. No names -- just ages and genders on slave lists. Like many African-Americans, I know the names of my relatives born in the past century but I can’t go back much further. As a race, our history hasn’t been passed down, because slaves weren’t allowed to read or write, they weren’t given last names and their families were often split up.
As a nation, we're just starting to excavate the history of black Americans. To wrap our minds around how America enriched itself through black bondage, and to grapple with the repercussions that still endure. I would like to recommend to my fellow parishioners a soon-to-be-published book about how Catholic priests relied on slave labor, and sold slaves to finance the creation of Georgetown University. The book is "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build The American Catholic Church " by New York University journalism professor Rachel Swarns.
For most of us, this is an untold chapter of our church's history. I say ... let the history out, and let it inform new conversations.
Saint of the Month
Saint of the Month: February 2023
Venerable John Augustus Tolton
Venerable John Augustus Tolton was the first African-American priest in the United States. He has been recommended for sainthood. Watch the video above to hear Janetta Hammock, co-chair of our Racial Equity Task Force, give a fascinating summary of Fr. Tolton’s life.
Saint of the Month: January 2023
Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez
January’s Saint of the Month was Blessed Carlos, or Blessed Charlie, the first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean lay person to be beatified. In this video clip, parishioner Marivil Rivera tells us the story of Brother Charlie and his profound love for Christ, and she encourages church members to “learn more about his beautiful life.” Click above to watch her presentation.
Saint of the Month: DECEMBER 2022
Blessed Kasui Kibe
Faye Forney is a parish member, St Dominic School parent, and member of the Racial Equity Task Force. She was tasked with introducing Blessed Father Kibe as December's "Saint of the Month" -- and in the process, she learned a great deal about his life and his circumstances in Medieval Japan. As Faye explains: "My studies of Blessed Father Kibe could not have come at a better time in my life. As I navigate this world as a Christian and try to teach my children Christian values, I have often felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Contemplating his life's work and his responses to his adversity was very humbling and also eerily similar to what my own family had to overcome from secular persecution and racial inequity from surrounding society. At times, his life choices were humbling because I cannot be as dedicated to my love of fellow human beings as to forfeit my life as he did. And other times I am greatly inspired because no matter how dark my despair, I look to his example of how his dignity through his dedication sustained him, and I realize that maybe I'm not alone no matter how unsafe I feel."Our task force wanted to share the fascinating research paper that Faye prepared about Blessed Fr. Kibe.
Saint of the Month: NOVEMBER 2022
Nicholas Black Elk Documentary
"This Thanksgiving, as a way to honor the Native American peoples who so often find this time of year painful, please take some time to watch this documentary about Nicholas Black Elk with your family. As you watch, reflect upon the following questions:
What were some painful moments discussed in the video around the Catholic Church's or the white settlers' disregard for Native culture and traditions?
In what ways did Black Elk show himself to be open to God's spirit, wherever it led?
What were some aspects of Black Elk's Lakota culture that made him such a compassionate and effective catechist?
What qualities of Black Elk's strike you the most?
What are some ways that we can support Native peoples in our everyday life or educate ourselves about Native American history?"
What were some painful moments discussed in the video around the Catholic Church's or the white settlers' disregard for Native culture and traditions?
In what ways did Black Elk show himself to be open to God's spirit, wherever it led?
What were some aspects of Black Elk's Lakota culture that made him such a compassionate and effective catechist?
What qualities of Black Elk's strike you the most?
What are some ways that we can support Native peoples in our everyday life or educate ourselves about Native American history?"
Who is My Neighbor Series
FEBRUARY 2023
In this month's "Who is my neighbor" video, we are profiling Bill Scanlon, another member of our church's Racial Equity Task Force. Bill teaches science at Shaker Heights High School and is treasurer of the teachers union. He is married to Jackie Conway Scanlon and they have 3 children who all attended Shaker schools. He loves being a part of the St. Dominic/Shaker community. Watch Bill's video to learn about the "what would Jesus do" moment that catapulted him to action in the racial equity space.
JANUARY 2023
Our first “Who is my neighbor” video profile is of parishioner Lorna Askew. Lorna is a retired Cleveland Heights-University Heights 8th-grade Special Education teacher. She currently spends time enjoying virtual art classes, looking after her 1-year-old grandson, and visiting with her large extended family and close friends. She lives in Beachwood and her adult children attended the Ohio University.
St. Dominic Advent Prayer Service 2021
The St. Dominic Advent Prayer Service