Everyone seems to possess this charm and serenity. How could I ever forget the energetic and warm greetings from that veteran soldier across the street: ‘Good morning, my Catholic brother!’, or that little Filipino girl and her grandmother, who would rush out from their front garden to take my hand and ask for a blessing every time we passed each other in the street!

There is a special feeling arriving in a place where you’ve never been before, especially when things are quite different from where you are coming from. The relief of finally landing on the Prairies after a long-distance flight from the West African coast is worth the memories. I received a warm welcome, and as Father Ed Eherer, C.Ss.R., led me through from the quiet streets to the presbytery, I gazed at the imposing St. Joseph’s parish church, wondering what the next two months had in store for me.

I quickly settled into my new surroundings and made myself available to meet the pastoral needs of the parish. I presided with dedication over liturgical celebrations and moments of devotion. Active participation in Eucharistic celebrations, devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation were truly enriching moments of spiritual renewal. I had fruitful exchanges with youth groups and led enriching sessions on marriage and family life.

The promotion and support of Catholic marriage and family life must occupy a privileged place in parish pastoral care.

A striking character of St. Joseph’s Parish, Grande Prairie, is its multicultural dimension. This is particularly visible during liturgical, devotional and social gatherings. A simple observation of dress, gestures, language, food, devotional attractions and family groupings reveals a rich diversity of parishioners from diverse backgrounds. This diversity could be deliberately harnessed through intercultural parish activities and celebrations, with a view to fostering communion and fraternal bonds. My first experience of Mass in Tagalog and of the Divine Liturgy according to the Ukrainian rite were genuine occasions for promoting communion in diversity.

In St. Joseph, social ministry is actively integrated into the pastoral care. It is remarkable how parish administrative staff and volunteers receive countless homeless and less privileged persons who are treated with dignity as they walk in to assess basic needs. To foster the sense of belonging, especially among migrants and newcomers, it will be expedient to design programmes of integration and formation in small groups or Basic Christian Communities. A conscious effort could be made toward promoting bilingual parish activities as a way of bridging the language barrier and isolation that could result amid cultural diversity.

In an age when the Congregation is consciously reimagining its internationality and multicultural nature and missionary approach, this pastoral dynamism provides a suitable context for Redemptorist engagements. I am glad to have experienced the church from this new looks and gathered lasting memories from relationships with diverse individuals and groups whose lives and witness have enriched continual formation and pastoral sensibilities. Indeed, we differ, and people differ, yet my experience this summer shows that diversity can translate into communion and genuine Christian charity.