Posted on 11/26/2005 10:24:47 AM PST by sionnsar
[Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota] When 175 Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia, formerly Roman Catholic Christians, were officially received into the Episcopal Church November 3 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Minneapolis, their congregation became the first of its kind in the Anglican Communion. Holy Apostles is the only predominantly Hmong congregation in the Anglican Communion, according to the Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, missioner for Asian American Ministries of the Episcopal Church. Vergara, whose office has provided both financial and leadership resources to Holy Apostles in recent months, was the preacher at the historic confirmation and reception service. He told the congregation that if the church is to survive and flourish in the 21st century, "we must be a reflection of the world of many colors, faces and cultures. As on the day of Pentecost, we must become a church of many languages, tribes and nations. Tonight, in this service of reception and confirmation, the Episcopal Church of Holy Apostles in the Diocese of Minnesota has become such a reflection of the beautiful, colorful world in which we find ourselves." ... Ongoing cross-cultural hospitality, ministry There comes a point in the service of confirmation and reception when the bishop says, "the candidates for confirmation (or reception) will now be presented." When Bishop James L. Jelinek of Minnesota spoke those words in Hmong, the candidates came forward and filled the crossing and main aisle, awaiting their turn to kneel before a bishop and become an Episcopalian. It took three bishops 40 minutes to lay hands upon, pray with and receive the new members. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at episcopalchurch.org ...
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Interesting item. It deals with the ceremony, naturally, but the story of their journey into the church must also be very interesting.
Perhaps you should ask the Roman Church where they were when these suffering people became refugees?
Hey Libre,
Read:
http://www.usccb.org/mrs/hmongrefugees.shtml
http://www.gbdioc.org/pg/RISHmong2004.tpl
http://www.catholiccharitiesla.org/releases/HmongRefugeesAug04.html
And closer to 1975: "The idea of helping the Hmong started at Our Lady of the Angels, the only Catholic Church in Marion, which brought a family to the area in 1976. Nobody said a word then because the resettlement was done quietly."
http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF0901/Sherman/Sherman.html
http://www.usccb.org/mrs/pcmr/ethnicities/hmong.shtml
The Hmong are brave and wonderful people. They suffered terribly, and continue to do so, because of their support for us during the Indo China war and their continuing devotion to the Lao Royal Family. I suppose its possible that these Hmong were Roman Catholics before they came here but I doubt it. Its likely they became Catholics after a fashion because Catholic Charities was so active in resettling them here in the States. I must say I wonder myself why they would leave the Roman Church for Episcopalianism. They are a very, very tribal and conservative group of people and frankly have had a tough time of it here in America, at least the older ones. One told me once that being here was like going to another planet. I doubt more than three or four in this group of converts have ever heard of that man Robinson over in NH or the trouble he has caused.
Agreed!
From what I understand, a large percentage of Hmong in the U.S., and perhaps a majority still in Southeast Asia, are Christian. They are divided between Catholic and Protestant (mainly Baptist and other evangelicals) according to their sub-tribal/language divisions from the homeland. Either White Hmong are Catholic and Green Hmong are Protestant, or the other way around :-).
It's possible that this group's change of church reflects the pre-existing denominational differences in the Hmong community.
"From what I understand, a large percentage of Hmong in the U.S., and perhaps a majority still in Southeast Asia, are Christian."
Actually less than 1% in Laos are Christians. Most of them I know and knew were animists, at least in Laos, though I did meet a few who were Catholics. The Protestants seem to have converted over here.
" Either White Hmong are Catholic and Green Hmong are Protestant, or the other way around :-)."
There's a real confusion among Westerners about White Hmong (Hmong Dlawb) and Blue (or Green) Hmong (Hmong Ntsuab). These are sub lingual and cultural groups within the Hmong people and refer to where they came from in South China and Indo China. Most of the Hmong in Laos are what are called Hmong Leeg (innocent Lao) and were among those who fled China centuries ago. They generally speak White Hmong. At any rate, I guess I wouldn't be surprised if there was a division among the Lao between Roman Catholic and Protestant along sub cultural and linguistic lines.
Perhaps the numbers I remember came from Vietnam. Statistics out of Asia are iffy at any time :-).
At any rate, I guess I wouldn't be surprised if there was a division among the Lao between Roman Catholic and Protestant along sub cultural and linguistic lines.
I don't know about the situation in Laos specifically, but a Catholic Hmong here told me that the translation of the Bible put out by Voice of the Martyrs for the Hmong recently wouldn't work for her congregation, because it's a different dialect of Hmong ... presumably the one mainly used by Protestant Hmong. The Catholic Hmong were doing translations of the lectionary locally, into the dialect used by the group they had in their area.
"Perhaps the numbers I remember came from Vietnam. Statistics out of Asia are iffy at any time :-)."
You've got that right. Its in the communists' (or however is the ruling group) interests to put out twisted numbers when it comes to tribal people.
"I don't know about the situation in Laos specifically, but a Catholic Hmong here told me that the translation of the Bible put out by Voice of the Martyrs for the Hmong recently wouldn't work for her congregation, because it's a different dialect of Hmong ... presumably the one mainly used by Protestant Hmong."
That doesn't surprise me at all. Most of the dialects are entirely different from each other. The area is very tribal. In Laos alone, before the Pathet Lao takeove,r there were something like 67 separate and distinct tribes and linguistic groups. After the takeover there are about 45...the remaining 22 having "disappeared", with a little help from the Pathet Lao butchers.
Very interesting information, thanks! You've been in Southeast Asia? When?
"Very interesting information, thanks! You've been in Southeast Asia? When?"
You're welcome; Yes; Back in the day...and since! :)
Ah. "Back in the day" is when my Dad was there, too :-).
Your Dad!!!!!!!!!!! Just how ancient do you think I am...but it was probably within a few years. :)
Dad was in his mid-30's when he went to Vietnam, so with that and the extent of the war, many vets are 20 years younger than he.
"Dad was in his mid-30's when he went to Vietnam, so with that and the extent of the war, many vets are 20 years younger than he."
Sorry for the confusion. I wasn't in Vietnam during the war.
Extremely interesting. K, you have revealed another facet to yourself.
As a total outsider, never interacting with any Hmong, I found this film to be very revealing of the the path of one family that came to the USA:
The Split Horn: Life of a Hmong Shaman in America
There's some interesting comments in the 'talkback' section from the second and third generation.
It always struck me, even before the war ended and the immigration began, that the Hmong were organized in the ancient clan/tribe manner. It's no surprise that 175 came together. And animism was their underlying belief system in 'the old country'. I imagine any Buddhist or Christian practices they adopted in the old country were veneers layed on top of and co-existing with the ancient ways which had preserved them through thousands of years of chaos and repression in Asia. America will be something else, it is indeed like another planet.
I'm just a simple Balkan peasant/old fashioned country lawyer, S!
I'll check out the link; thanks!
I remember one time sitting in a departure lounge at the Bangkok airport and talking with a Hmong family from Minnesota who were returning from a visit with the grandparents and relatives in Laos. The mother clearly was sad to be heading back to America but the kids, 12-13 years old or so and born in America couldn't;t wait to get home. They missed Pepsi, pizza, video games and their friends. It was quite clear they didn't like Laos at all. Now there's an immigrant story that's been repeated for the past 150 years in this country!
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