Diocesan Ministry Day is a celebration of all we are as a diocese. It is a time to honor all those who live within our 16-county area and for the diocesan offices to cheer on the work being done in our parishes, schools and ministries.
As part of this year’s event, the Diocese of St. Cloud will welcome Cindy Liliana González as the guest speaker at Diocesan Ministry Day Oct. 23 at St. John’s University in Collegeville.
Cindy received a graduate theology degree from St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary, where she currently teaches courses in Spanish on family ministry through the Emmaus Institute.
Q. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.
A. I was born and raised in the “City of Angels,” Los Angeles, California. My childhood summers were spent in Tijuana, Mexico, with my maternal aunts. I had a very bicultural upbringing and am very proud to identify as Chicana. After graduating high school, I moved to St. Joseph, Minnesota, to attend the College of St. Benedict. After my undergraduate studies, I moved to San Francisco, where I married and later became a mother. I eventually came back to Stearns County to attend graduate school at St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary. I currently live in Los Angeles with my family. I am, virtually, finalizing some courses at the University of Minnesota en route to my second master’s degree, this time focused on parent and family education.
Q. WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO SPEAK AT DIOCESAN MINISTRY DAY?
A. I am honored to be invited to speak at Diocesan Ministry Day. I accepted the invitation first and foremost because of the simple yet essential message: “One Body: Gathered. Nourished. Sent.”
When we gather in authenticity and vulnerability, we are nourished by community. Being sent is an exciting time; it is a time for each of us to self-reflect on what we will practice going forward. I am looking forward to walking together on this day centered on the importance of co-creating a community that sees, listens and advocates for one another [as one body].
Q. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT BRINGING TOGETHER MULTIPLE CULTURES FOR THIS CELEBRATION?
A. Howard Thurman once said, “Community cannot for long feed on itself; it can only flourish with the coming of others from beyond, their unknown and undiscovered brothers [and sisters].” I have always thought of community as in motion, never static. This stems from my upbringing in Los Angeles, where the last 70 years alone have seen numerous waves of migration across many communities. Unknown to us does not mean undiscovered; it is a humbling reminder of how rich our world is regarding culture, language and customs. This celebration allows us to recognize and grant space to the diversity that exists in the St. Cloud Diocese. Part of our collective faith is the belief that every person is made in the image of God; we are all called to uplift each other as humans with dignity.
Q. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU PLAN TO SHARE WITH THOSE WHO ATTEND THE EVENT IN OCTOBER?
A. We live in a world that is just starting to come together after more than a year of social distancing. Social distancing looked different for each of us depending on our vocations and intersectionalities. Nevertheless, a common theme that social distancing brought many communities was loneliness from isolation.
It is important to recognize that some of us are gathering in the midst of grief from losing someone to this pandemic, and all of us are participants of the collective grief that has come from this period of time. We are social beings relearning how to gather safely, and I plan to share a message that speaks to our interconnectedness, which uplifts the theology of kinship.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE DAY?
A. My greatest hope for the day is that all feel welcome and included throughout the entire day [Rule of Benedict, 53:1]. I look forward to gathering with you all soon.
LEARN MORE: For more information and to register for this event, visit www.stcdio.org/2021-diocesan-ministry-day.