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Anti-Racism Initiative
The first step in dealing with the sin of racism is to summon the courage to face our own insecurities and fears and to be open to Jesus’ call to deeper conversion which we receive through scripture and the teachings of our Church. I invite you to join with me in that process.”
From “Created in God’s Image: A Pastoral Letter on the sin of Racism and a Call to Conversion” by the Most Reverend Dale J. Melczek, Bishop of the Diocese of Gary
Mission Statement
The Anti-Racism Committee of the Diocese of Gary consists of women and men, created in the image and likeness of God, who gather from varied backgrounds, geographies and histories, to promote racial unity and celebrate cultural diversity in order to foster human justice.
Goals & Objectives
Goal #1 Promote Racial Unity
Objective #1 Education/Evangelization
Objective #2 Advocacy
Objective #3 Awareness
Goal #2 Celebrate Racial Diversity
- History
- Committee Members
- Committee Contact Information
- Racial Sobriety Facilitators
- Committee Resources
- Books
- Brothers and Sisters to Us
- Reconciled in Christ
- Love thy Neighbor As Thyself
- Recovery from Everyday Racisms
- Racial Sobriety: a journey from hurts to healing
- People of the Pyramids: The Dialogue Between the African American and the Hispanic/Latino Communities
- DVD
- Prayer Cards
- Celebrating Our Diversity
- Prayer for the Decade of Nonviolence
- Prayer for Dismantling Racism
- Videos
- The Cypress will Grow
- Race: the power of an illusion
- Current Projects
- Building Bridges between Black and Brown
- Dismantling Institutional
- Racism
Racial Sobriety
- Study Circles
History
The Diocese of Gary, Anti-Racism Initiative is presently in its fifth year in existence. What began as a need to address why the Catholic faithful were fearful of coming to the Cathedral in the Jubilee Year (2000) has expanded into a diocesan-wide effort of inclusiveness. The initiative began with a Conference on Racism for the clergy in 2001, Bishop Melczek Pastoral Letter on Diversity and parish small group faith-sharing discussions - 2002, Pastoral Letter on Racism and cross-parish-boundary faith-sharing discussions - 2003, listening sessions and atonement service – 2004, Racial Sobriety Facilitator Training – 2005, and Racial Sobriety presentations in parishes – 2006.
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Committee Members
Diocesan Offices
Lake County
LaPorte County
Porter County
Carol Bodie
St. John the Evangelist, St. John
Lynda Bodie-Fernandez
Ss. Peter & Paul Parish – Merrillville
lyndadrexel@hotmail.com
Martin Brown
Holy Angels Cathedral – Gary
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
Phillip Cantrell
Ss. Monica & Luke Parish – Gary
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
"The only way to be part of change is to actually be an instrument for change. I find that my life experiences shared may help others see racial farces."
Renuka Choo-Kang
Sacred Heart - Wanatah
Fr. Jim Dixon, SJ
Diocesan Office of Peace & Social Justice
Heartland Center
6819 Indianapolis Blvd.
Hammond, IN 46324
219.844.7515
jdixon@heartlandctr.org
“Bishop Melczek suggested that I join the committee and because Fr. Gannon and I and the staff at the Heartland/Office of Peace and Justice felt the office should have a presence on the committee.”
Mike Essling
Sacred Heart – LaPorte
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
“I’ve always been interested in Ecumenism. Our parish (Sacred Heart/LaPorte, IN) began some discussion groups on diversity and ultimately the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter. This sparked my interest and one thing led to another. I see all of these areas being part of an effort to understand and appreciate other people and reach out to them so as to make them welcome and comfortable. I feel we can and need to learn from each other in order to better understand the culture and history that tends to divide us into disparate groups without mechanisms to communicate with each other. The experience has been very worthwhile!”
Jeff Fox
St. John the Evangelist Parish – St. John (co-chair)
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
ivoryfox@yahoo.com 219.613.4083
Ivory Fox
St. John the Evangelist Parish – St. John
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
ivoryfox@yahoo.com
Perla Garcia
St. John the Evangelist Parish – St. John
Fr. Robert Gehring, Pastor
Holy Angels Cathedral - Gary
640 Tyler St.
Gary, IN 46402
219.882.6079
Kathy Goudy
Ss. Monica & Luke Parish – Gary
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
kgoudy@webtv.net
219.939.2397 or 773.251.3194
Martha Gonzalez
St. Patrick – East Chicago
Rev. Kevin Huber
Diocesan Office of Vocation/Priestly Life
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
Diocese of Gary Pastoral Center
9292 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410
219.769.9292
khuber@dcgary.org
"I decided to serve on the Anti-Racism committee because I want to make a contribution to the effort to address racisms in Northwest Indiana and to participate in the conversation between racial groups in the area."
Portia Johnson
St. Mary of the Lake – Gary
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
Fr. Kevin McCarthy
St. Teresa of Avila Student Center - Valparaiso
1511 LaPorte Ave.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
219.464.4042
Richard Morrisroe
St. Patrick – East Chicago
(Racial Sobriety Facilitator)
morrisroe@att.net
219.398.3834 or 219.391.8205
"I have spent much of my life addressing race discrimination and hostility. I offered to help to the extent I can make a contribution and have time to serve."
Fr. Charles Mosley
Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Hammond
7132 Arizona St.
Hammond, IN 46323
219.844.3438
Paul Mulligan
Ss. Monica & Luke – Gary
(co-chair)
“I became a member of the anti racism committee in hopes that sharing my experience with human beings would somehow translate into opening the minds and hearts of individuals who are still hung up on the belief that one race is superior to another, and that what God wants us to do (in terms of loving one anther) does not apply to their reality. I believe wholeheartly that God blessed me with his heart, his vision, his way of looking at all people. That is the way I see people, Like Christ. It is my hope that I can share the gift of colorblind love and make a difference starting here in NW Indiana.”
Lucia Navarro-Walsh
St. John the Evangelist – St. John
Brother Terry Nufer, CPPS
(Racial Sobriety Advisor)
“I am working on the Anti-Racism Committee because it is a matter of basic Christian justice. As Americans, we need to be aware that there is a profound difference in the living situations and educational & job opportunites that are available to different segments of the population simply because of the color of their skin. This fact of life has been with us for such a long time historically (from the founding of our country) that we can take it for granted and presume that nothing can be one. And that is exactly why we need to do something! Even if that something is simply raising awareness and consciousness of the situation and inviting people to examine their lives to honestly evaluate how they might be the victims or perpretrators of cultural racism. Simply to talk about it is an important first step!”
Michael Simpkins
St. Mary of the Lake – Gary
Pearlette Springer
Diocesan Office of AfricanAmerican Ministries
Diocese of Gary Pastoral Center
9292 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410
219.769.9292
pspringe@dcgary.org
"Bishop Dale Melczek appointed me to this committee in fall of 2000. Over the years I have come to a deeper understanding of what is ’racism’ and how I and others feed into and continue to perpetuate racism. I pray that through the efforts of this committee that I can help create a metanoia – a change in hearts and minds – in others."
Adeline Torres
Diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministries
Hispanic Ministries
1709 E. 138th St.
East Chicago, IN 46312-8027
219.397.2125
atorres@dcgary.org
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Committee Contact Information
E-mail Address
antiracism@dcgary.org
Web Address
www.dcgary.org
Office Phone
(219) 769-9292 ext. 238
Office Address
9292 Broadway Merrillville IN 46410
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Racial Sobriety Facilitators
Lake County
Lynda Bodie-Fernandez – certified since 09/05
Martin Brown – certified since 09/05
Phillip Cantrell – certified since 09/05
Jeff Fox – certified since 09/05
Ivory Fox – certified since 09/05
Kathy Goudy – certified since 09/05
Rev. Kevin Huber – certified since 09/05
Richard Morrisroe – certified since 09/05
Pearlette E. Springer. – certified since 08/01
La Porte County
Mike Essling – certified since 09/05
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Return to Office of African American Ministry Main Page
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