Marian Dionne stood in the ambo at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church last month and disclosed her longing for a place to share her experience of racism.
“I’ve waited for eight years and look what God gave me. He gave me all of you,” said Dionne to a diverse audience of approximately 70 participants.
The gathering was the kick-off of “Sacred Conversations on Race + Action,” at the north side Springfield parish. Initiated by the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, it is one of the first congregation-based efforts in the diocese to respond to racial violence and is modelled after a program created by a Gamaliel affiliate in St. Louis, Metropolitan Congregations United, following the violence last year in Ferguson, Mo.
The goal of the program is to bring worshippers together across color lines to talk about experiences of race and racism and to take common action that will begin to dismantle structural racism in our community.
Dionne’s story was one of several presentations that gave shape to the gathering. Growing up in Chicago, her African-American family never discussed race and she was sheltered from most of the turmoil many others experienced. When she left home to study at then Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois Springfield) she found a diverse student body and faculty more than ready to embrace one another’s differences and learn from them.
“God unveiled my eyes and let me see,” said Dionne.
Her blinders came off, she said, one day when she was driving in Springfield, a woman in another car “shouted something vulgar.” Even in the face of that insult, “I knew how to behave because I know who I represent. I represent Christ,” Dionne continued. The troubling incident was the beginning of a soul-searching journey for Dionne that led her to the Faith Coalition.
In addition to St. Cabrini, participating congregations include Calvary Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church and Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, all of Springfield. They plan to meet throughout the spring, together and separately, in preparation for a future commitment to action. The participants came to St. Cabrini ready to join what is becoming a national movement: recognizing racism as what some refer to as “America’s original sin.”
“It was an honor for our parish to host this historic event,” said Sister Mary Jean Traeger, OP, pastoral facilitator, St. Cabrini Parish and Faith Coalition board member. “We have a core team at St. Cabrini that is deeply committed to understanding and dismantling racism. They worked together diligently with the Faith Coalition board to assure the success of this opening event.
“I believe that if structural change regarding racism is going to come, it will be because of the commitment of people of color and white allies who partner with them to transform hearts and minds,” continued Sister Mary Jean.
An orientation was held March 14 to prepare St. Cabrini parishioners wishing to participate in the conversations. Later this spring, other participating congregations with join the conversations.
Area parishes wanting more information should contact Faith Coalition Executive Director Shelly Heideman at (217) 544-2297.
Sister Mary Beth Murphy, OP, contributed to this report.