Multiethnic churches in Bloomington-Normal serve their congregants more than spiritual nourishment.
Spanish Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington has been a staple since the 1980s. Criselda Joaquin is a longtime parishioner. Her family settled in the area 40 years ago while working as migrant workers.
“My family would come from Texas, go through here [Bloomington], go to Ohio, Indiana — pick strawberries, and whatever — and they ended up settling here back in the 1970s,” recalls Joaquin when asked about the history of Hispanic families in Bloomington. “My family was one of the original [Hispanic] families here.”
As a child, Joaquin thought it was unnecessary for the priest to officiate Spanish Mass to a small crowd. “Today, we have over 300 people attend Mass on Sundays,” she said, and attendance jumps significantly during celebrations for the Virgin of Guadalupe.
“We get up to 1,000 people. It gets packed here," Joaquin said.
Community engagement and resource services evolved as the attendance at Spanish services expanded. They include a three-day-spiritual retreat called Cursillo, Spanish Bible study, and translation and notary services, said Joaquin.
But due to President Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, Joaquin said they’ve pivoted to advocacy.
“We started working on information for immigrants. We hosted a ‘Know Your Rights’ workshop," she said.
Fear of deportations and misinformation on social media about immigration raids had kept some parishioners out of church, but they’ve slowly trickled back, said Joaquin.
“I see my role within the church, and outside of it, is to defend the defenseless," she said.
Studies suggest immigrants suffer increased rates of depression and anxiety.
Korean Church of Bloomington
Jin Jo was once an international student. Today he is a professor of technology at Illinois State University and the music director at Korean Church of Bloomington. He says his church strives to create a welcoming environment for immigrant students.
“After the service we get together, have fellowship, talk, and try to understand each other,” Jo said, adding the small congregation feels like a family.
Difficulties like language barriers and visa work restrictions can weigh down immigrant students, along with differences in career paths in the U.S. versus their home country, explained Jo.
His mission is to buffer some of those difficulties with mentorship.
“Every Friday we have a Bible study, and that helps a lot with guiding in the right path," Jo said.
The Korean church provides an opportunity for community members to join them outside of religious services through Korean language and cultural studies. The fall semester at the Korean Academy of Language and Culture begins Aug. 23. Classes are at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays.
Baha’i faith
What if you’re not a Christian?
Javiera Monardez is from Chile. She said this is the first time her family has lived in a community without religious diversity. She is a member of the Baha’i faith. She said the Baha’i believe in God and messengers from every Age, including Jesus and Bahá’u’lláh, an Iranian religious leader.
Their meetings are interfaith and — thanks to Monardez — in Spanish.
“It’s a way that we have to contribute to the community. Well, the mission of the Baha’i is for all of us to live in diversity. That there’s communion, and that we create a better world," Monardez said.
Monardez established the only Baha’i Spanish group in the Twin Cities in May. She said the goal during devotionals is to connect with God through songs and prayers and a discussion.
The Spanish Baha'i group is small but that does not bother Monardez. She said the Baha'i faith entered her life while attending medical school.
“It became something I looked forward to during a time in my life when there were many things going on. I want to share with other families the peace I encountered during devotionals," she said.
Her family also attends the Unitarian Universalist church because, she said, their values align with Baha'i's creed of inclusion.
Monardez leads a support group for Hispanic mothers through the nonprofit Brightpoint. Her expertise is promoting healthy lifestyles for Latino families. She believes faith is a healthy integration for building community.
Other non-Christian worship centers in McLean County include the BAPS Hindu Temple and the Islamic Center of McLean County in Bloomington.
