Masses in 3 Foreign Languages Are Celebrated by Summer Workers
By Bernie Nguyen

The Spanish mass on Tuesdays at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church is upbeat and the highlight of the week for many workers. From left, Enriquetta Anaya, Lydia Rendon, and Salud Saucido prepare for the service.

Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. are busy at Ste. Anne's Catholic Church. Clapping, singing, and enthusiastic prayer are the order of the night during the weekly Spanish mass, followed by a fiesta in the church basement.

Island workers from foreign countries have found Ste. Anne's Catholic Church to be a place of welcome and community. It offers weekly masses in Spanish and Tagalog, the Filipino language, and also a prayer service for Jamaican workers. After each service, attendees socialize and enjoy ethnic meals cooked by other members of the parish.

Father Jim Williams, the former pastor at Ste. Anne's, started the services more than 15 years ago, said Val Porter, who assists with the Spanish mass and also works at the church. The Jamaican mass was the first introduced. The Spanish mass was started about 13 years ago and the Filipino mass has been a ministry at Ste. Anne's for about six years. Recently, Ste. Anne's received mass prayer books in Tagalog from the Filipino Jesuits, said Brother Jim Boynton, who has been a long-time summer helper at the church.

Attendance at the services fluctuates over the summer owing mainly to scheduling conflicts and other work-related issues. On a good night, the Jamaican prayer service can attract up to 200 worshippers.

"Sometimes it's standing room only," Brother Jim said.

The Jamaican service, which is non-denominational, is run by Brother Glen Bulgin, one of the head waiters at Grand Hotel and a deacon at a church near Montego Bay in Jamaica.

The Spanish and Filipino masses are both conducted by Father Rey Garcia, S.J., the pastor at Ste. Anne's. Both Father Rey and Brother Jim feel that the masses are all about hospitality.

"It lets them know they have a home here," Brother Jim said. "Our faith is not just by country."

Father Rey said he feels the services help to keep the workers grounded and provide a support system for people who are far away from their families. The church also provides English-as-a-secondlanguage (ESL) classes for Spanish-speaking workers in the employee lounge at Grand Hotel. The classes help provide education and exposure to English. By giving workers a link to the English-speaking community, Father Rey believes the programs are helping them apply their own knowledge in their outward actions, in "thoughts, words, and deeds."

"I think in my experience, it's still education," Fr. Rey said. "Education is the thing that draws them out."

Brother Jim agrees. He feels that by helping the workers learn the language, the church is providing life skills as well as support during the working season.

"I'd love to see them become more fluent, because in that way they can better their position in jobs," he said.

The meals that are cooked afterward and the social interaction is also an important part of the ministry, Father Rey said.

"It's forming a community," he explained. "It's really a celebration."

Both Father Rey and Brother Jim express admiration for the workers who attend the masses.

"What they want from the church is their priority," Brother Jim said. "We want to let people learn that this is their home away from home."

"I think it's one of the most important things that the church should be doing," said Mrs. Porter. "It makes you feel like the church is really doing what it's supposed to be doing when these programs work."

The volunteers are not alone in their appreciation of the program.

"I feel it's necessary to come here and be part of the church and the community," said Lydia Rendon, as translated by Brother Jim. Ms. Rendon attends the Spanish mass and also helps cook the food for the fiesta.

"It's something that puts me at peace," she said. "It strengthens me to be here."

The Spanish mass is held at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, and the Filipino and Jamaican services are held at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively, on Wednesdays.