by Antonina Zielinska

After months of hard work, the Asian apostolate in Brooklyn finally has a place to call home.
Last Sunday, Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros blessed and cut the ceremonial ribbon at the entrance of St. Rosalia church, Bensonhurst, the new diocesan Asian center. He did so in the presence of people from different parts of Asia and Catholics from St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis parish.

Father Vincentius T. Do, diocesan coordinator of Chinese ministry, thanked the congregation for supporting his apostolate and expressed  amazement at how quickly the center has come to life. A little over a year ago, Chinese Catholics in the area dedicated their community to Our Lady of the Rosary and within a couple of month were able to raise enough funds to buy a statue honoring their patroness.

The opening celebrations began at Regina Pacis Shrine church, where the bishop blessed a painting of Our Lady of China and a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. He also blessed the young men and women from the Knights and Ladies of the Rosary, who came from St. Patrick’s parish, Chinatown, Manhattan, to share in the Brooklyn celebration.

The congregation then processed in prayer and song to St. Rosalia church.

Chung-Joe Calderon, this year’s Shining Star award recipient for the Chinese apostolate, said the congregation united in the Rosary prayer as they processed along the streets of the neighborhood, which has seen an increase in Chinese inhabitants.

The first decade of the Rosary was said in English to honor the adopted country of the apostolate, she said.  The second decade was recited in Italian to honor the people who built the parish.  The third decade was recited in Spanish to recognize the effort and influence of the large Spanish-speaking population. The fourth and fifth decades were recited in Chinese, Mandarin, and Cantonese, respectively, because these are the main languages of the Asian apostolate in Bensonhurst.

The various ethnic communities of the parish came to show their support for the growing apostolate and processed with banners identifying themselves. Calderon said the efforts of the entire parish made the new center possible.

“We are thankful to all the people who help build us,” she said.

Father Do said the procession also served the purpose of inviting the people of the neighborhood into the church. The participants held up red banners with the Apostles Creed written in Mandarin to let the people of the neighborhood know what Catholicism is about and invite them into the new center, he said.

Father Do said the most pressing need in the area is evangelization. He plans to work with Father Peter Bai, parochial vicar at St. Agatha parish, Sunset Park, at the center to provide needed services in the community.

“Right now, people are in the pre-evangelization stage,” Father Do said. “We have to reach to them through cultural activities.  And hopefully, after they feel welcome in the church, we will introduce them to the faith.”

To start its operations, Regina Pacis will be open Tuesday and Thursday and will provide services targeted at Chinese immigrants.  These will include:  ESL classes, after- school classes which help children cope with school, and immigration services. Father Do, who is a Vietnamese immigrant, said he will also try to extend the services to people of other Asian nationalities and cultures.

The outreach in the neighborhood has already begun. Frances Ho, who was on the procession committee, said that on the morning of the celebration two people came to the church to ask about the center and its services and asked to join the procession.  She also said she would actively reach out to the community that same evening by visiting the local businesses and asking for donations and support.

The diocesan Alive in Hope Foiundation donated $3,000 to jump-start the center. However, Father Do said the center will be financially independent, relying on the support of the community.

Msgr. Ronald Marino, pastor of St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis and Vicar for Migrant and Ethnic apostolates, said the parish will continue to support St. Rosalia church. The English and Italian Mases will continue as scheduled. He said this center will enrich the parish and the Chinese apostolate.

“It’s another part of the strategic planning of the diocese,” he said. “Ministry to the Chinese people cannot be done by any one parish.”