Enid parish welcomes families from Micronesia

ENID – Parishioners at Saint Gregory the Great in Enid noticed a group of new families attending the parish. Recently, a committee formally welcomed the group from the Micronesian Pacific Islands of Chuuk and Pohnpei.

Most of the new parishioners work at a local meat packing company and were recruited to move to Enid from their country to provide a labor force.

There are now 20 new families that include about 65 people attending the parish. Since English is the second language of the group, they were not accessing sacramental preparation for their children. A Saint Gregory parishioner, Carole Goodwin, who is retired from diocesan ministry in Kentucky, agreed to use her experience in multi-cultural ministry to explore how to assist these families with their faith needs.

Thanks to this work, on July 1, 15 children were baptized at Saint Gregory. In addition, a team of 12 adults met with 20 children ages 7-15 three days a week for seven weeks this summer to prepare them for their First Holy Communion.

Members of the group said they treasure the bond they’ve created through their Catholic faith and that this experience is witness to the universality of the Church.