Mass offers spiritual bridge between cultures St. Philip the Apostle offers a weekly Mass in Spanish, for which worshipers give thanks By Monique Balas News-Chronicle It seems like any other Sunday Mass, with restless children squirming and squealing in the pews and afternoon sun glinting through the stained glass windows. But a close listen to the choir's lilting voices makes it obvious what is different about St. Philip the Apostle's 12:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. It is all in Spanish, from the introductory phrases of the choir to the greetings of peace at the end of the service. St. Philip began offering Spanish Mass as an extension of the church's El Primer Paso, a pre-school program for Spanish-speaking children in the community which started about five years ago. With the burgeoning Hispanic population flowing into the community came young children, and Father Larry Canavera of St. Philip thought those children could use some help and support. "They needed to have some bridging before they entered the community," Canavera said. So with the help of Encompass Child Care, St. Philip began El Primer Paso. It didn't take long to realize that a Spanish Mass would be the next step. "The (Hispanic) population continued to grow," Canavera said, "and people in our area are in need of ministry. Then it's the question, 'Are we going to be responsible? Are we going to be inclusive?'" Canavera feels the service fulfills the church's responsibility to reach out. "Catholic means 'universal,'" he said. "If we're going to be the people we say we are, then let's journey together." Being able to worship in one's native language is a valuable thing, said Sister Marlita Henseler, who lived in Peru for 12 years and continued to pray in English long after she became fluent in Spanish. "People go to their first language with something so close to their heart," said Henseler, who teaches Spanish at the Parish school. Thanks to Spanish-speaking priests Bill Ribbens and Joe Polakowski, the Diocese of Green Bay, Catholic Charities (then Catholic Social Services) and Green Bay's St. Willebrord's Parish, which also offers Spanish Masses, St. Philip became one of eight churches in the diocese's 16-county realm to offer the Sunday service. "When we started, we were having some reading in English and some in Spanish," Canavera said. "That was not helpful to either. We're not a bilingual people. So then we had to back up and decide to have worship in Spanish and English." The Sunday Masses have grown tenfold in the year-and-a-half they have been offered; Canavera said they began with only 20 people but now it is common to see at least 200 people attend the Spanish Mass. There is no mystery to that growth; the Hispanics who attend expressed gratitude they have the chance to worship in their native language. "It helps me spiritually and mentally, and I feel better," said Roberto Flor, who is from Cañada, Mexico. "I prefer church in Spanish because that's my first language. It reminds me of when I was in church in Mexico." His wife, Maria Flor, grew up in Chicago and speaks fluent English. Still, she likes to attend the Mass to maintain her language and heritage and pass those on to her children. "I want my children to understand both (English and Spanish)," Maria Flor said. "I don't want my kids to forget the Spanish language." Lucia Perez and her husband Salvador have been worshiping at St. Philip for about a year. "We actually used to go to an English-speaking church, and it's not the same, because you don't get the whole message. You can follow along, but you can't really understand what's going on in church that day," Lucia Perez said. She said she appreciates the effort the church makes to have traditional Hispanic celebrations and ceremonies, such as the celebration of the Day of the Virgin Mary and the Quinceanos ceremony, a sort of debutante party for 15-year-old girls. The Mass is enriching for non-Hispanics as well. "It's interesting, because I'm always learning new stuff," said 11-year-old Savannah Saldaña, who sings in Spanish. Her mother Judith Saldaña also sings Spanish in the choir, but her blond hair gives away her Anglo roots. Her husband is Hispanic, though, and she feels that she is truly carrying out God's message by embracing another culture. She encourages others to put aside their differences. "You make yourself vulnerable, but what you get out of it is so much greater," Saldaña said. "It might be intimidating or scary to get involved with another culture, but the rewards outweigh any kinds of worries you have. I think for us to say, 'All people are equal in God's sight,' we can tell our children the words that all people are equal, but when you show it, it makes a big difference." FYI: St. Philip the Apostle Parish offers various outreach programs for the Hispanic community. These include an all-Spanish Mass, 12:30 p.m. Sundays; preparation classes for sacraments such as Baptism, First Communion and Marriage; St. Vincent de Paul outreach, which provides area Hispanics with financial assistance, translators, furniture and food supplies; English classes; a women's support group; El Primer Paso, a pre-school program for Spanish-speaking children; and general advocacy counseling.