Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, kicked off the month of February with its yearly Multicultural Celebration. The seminary community came together around a meal and other festive activities to celebrate the beauty of diversity found in the seminary. In a community of over sixty members coming from different parts of the world, differences could be a cause of aggravation or joy. We choose the latter. Sharing the Eucharist, a culturally diverse banquet, musical entertainment, and fellowship all contributed to the night’s festivities. Such a celebration deepened everyone’s understanding of what it means to be a minister of the gospel for all.
Many of the seminarians noted that being able to share a cultural dish with their brothers demonstrated how this part of their heritage contributes to making them who they are. Cultural celebrations like this one allow us to express who we are and where we come from with those around us. Over ten different cultures were represented that night by our seminary community.
This year’s celebration took on a new dimension with the inclusion of the festivities of Tê´ t, the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Our Vietnamese community members helped the rest of us learn the beautiful symbols associated with the New Year. Tê´ t is more than just marking the start of another year. It calls for all of creation to give thanks to God for blessings received in the past year and for those yet to be received, by God’s grace, in the new. This Year of the Tiger cultivates bravery, courage, and strength in time of trial. The New Year celebration was made even more festive by everyone participating in Bingo games, Vietnamese dishes, boba tea, Vietnamese coffee and lì xì, or lucky money.
Assumption Seminary instills culture in its men while in formation. We are proud of our multicultural and bi-lingual character.
Jordan Milligan
Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas
Theology III