Denver Catholic

DC: Where do you see Christ in all of this? KATERI: You see people of all walks of faith who are coming together in the way that I would say our Lord calls us to be there for each other. I have seen elderly people who clearly should not be out there and not even the people who were are just out there. There are people who are doing things behind the scenes as well that are not being spoken to. I see people who are praying together who maybe would have never had the opportunity to pray together. I see the fervent prayer of people across not only this nation, but across the world in regards to today that I was shocked to see. All of the other countries that are speaking out about what is going on here, and just the way people are reaching out to help each other. I also know the importance of standing strong in the midst of the storm because that's what we're called to do. The community of faith has definitely gathered and rallied during this time. But it's a time of loss. It's a time of grieving. But I think there is a phoenix that's going to come out of these ashes. JANAYE: I see it in the way that we're actually seeing change happen. For me, growing up at Cure d'Ars, I've had the opportunity to talk to a lot of folks who were around in the 1960s and 1970s and saw what progress looked like for the black race at that time. I've grown up in a setting where I've seen how far we've come and how far we have to go. Now we're seeing that progress being made and we're seeing people really stand up for what they believe in. I think the other way is that I've found a place that I can share my voice in a way that people can hear themselves and that they can actually see themselves, specifically for women of color and black women. Being able to give people that release that they're not alone going through it is one way that I would say we continue to see that hope and that grace with one another. DUSTIN: I would have to go back again to the Sacred Heart and say that I see him showing us his wounded heart that's so aflame with love for all men, since after all, it was God himself that brought up all races, including black people, and that from the thorns and the blood and things that flow out of pain and all the sacrilegious or outrageous against that Sacred Heart, he's just saying, "love me and let me love you." I really believe in that power. I really believe that if we just focus on that heart and ask that heart to heal our hearts, then those who are or who have been affected by it will find healing and comfort and be able to move to closer to him. And those who are confused and don't understand it can do the same if that's what they really want, if their heart is open to receive those graces. DC: As a member of the black community, do you feel supported by the Church? Do you see opportunities for growth? KATERI: I do think there's a growth opportunity there. I think we've seen a lot of it, obviously, in the past few days. Clearly, it comes from the top: Pope Francis has made a statement and Archbishop Gomez on behalf of the United States bishops, and that has trickled down. But it needs to happen at the grassroots level for people to really feel it because, yes, all of this is happening now. And it's got to be something that's talked about not just at the point of tragedy, but throughout the year. We're talking about issues of pro-life or talking about immigration, we're talking about all types of issues within the Church, and this just needs to be added. When you hold back any one group of people, everyone is being held back. Racism is not a black 7 DENVER CATHOLIC | JUNE 13-26, 2020

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