March 29th 2009

Five minutes with the Pastor of St. Therese Chinatown, Chicago

He is: Xaverian missionary Father Michael Davitti, pastor of St. Therese Parish in Chinatown since Dec. 14th, 1999.

Growing up: He was born in Fiesole, Italy – “Fiesole is a very old city was founded by the Etruscans, and it could be considered “the mother” of Florence. On the top of the hills is a place a rich spirituality: Monte Senario (Servites), Vallombrosa (Vallombrosian Benedictin), Camaldoli (Camaldolese), La Verna, Loppiano (Focolare), Campiglione (Carmeliates), Castelfranco (St. Philip Neri) are nestled on its hills.

Life in Fiesole: “My Tuscan roots played a very important role in my life and character. I came to realize when I got in contact with other Italians from different regions. Tuscans use a rich vocabulary that other Italians since the Italian Language is Tuscan. Tuscan have a very strange sense of humor and they tend witty and to “talk tongue in cheek”. Italian is the language of the Tuscans that other people had to learn. In each Tuscan there is a real sain and a potential mystic. These two aspects blend together; my appreciation for esthetical beauty in general, and specifically for Asia and China  stem from this in-born trait that make Tuscan potential artists”

Childhood: “I learned my Christian faith in the family and from my people through their many proverbs, stories and folkloristic celebrations. When somebody feels overwhelmed by the burden of life and tends to be discouraged we quote the proverb: ‘God sends the cold according to the kind of clothing his people are wearing.’ Meaning with this that  God will not send you a “cross” that you cannot carry. My grandmother used to tell me, “Look at the basil, you pick it and instead of crying or cursing you, it perfumes your fingers.’  By this she meant: “Win over in kindness”

Mentors: Our parish priests were very dedicated to their people. During World War II they forged documents for Jewish people and sheltered them in seminaries. The Second World War saw all men and young boys in the army. The old, the women and the kids were left behind. The Pastors and the clergy were left behind they acted as mediators with the invading armies and speakers for the people.
Stories about the heroism of these priests and their deeds were circulating in the families during 1943-1945 when I was two years old. After the war the Diocese published a “Red Book” of the martyrdom of the many priests that had given their life for their people. Next to my village the city of Meleto and its clergy were shot dead and burned by the Nazi. The remains of the priests were identified by the buttons of their long black cassocks   

Typical teen: “As a teenager I was attracted by Christ, He was my hero, but I found it difficult to accept the church and her strict discipline. As a teenager I soon found out that the majority of the things I liked were forbidden and the things I disliked were commanded.  We have to remember that that the liturgy was still in Latin which nobody understood. I used to question  my mother and grandmother (she shaped me a lot), who were urging me to keep the beloved tradition of the “First Fridays of the month” with the previous “Confession”: ‘Why should I go to confession every week and tell my sins to the priest? He never tells me his.’ What I got in return was a slap on the head.”

Vocation:
While a teenager I used to hike the mountains around my village and I liked the thick forests. In the silence and majesty of those places I used to ask God so many questions: ‘Do you exist?’ ‘Is it possible to meet you?’  “How do I know it is you and not my illusion”? He never answered, until the day of my Priestly Silver jubilee. While entering the Sacristy to get ready for Mass  in my hometown and saw the Sacred Heart statue I used to pray before, on a little stool in the corner. I smiled remembering the times I used to pray in front of it while it was exposed in church. I though in my heart: “Well times change, don’t they Jesus? You are lucky you didn’t land into and antique store or in a church attic”! He too seemed to smile and say: ‘Michael, have I answered all your questions?’ And for an instant, at 55, I could see my life in retrospect it looked like a long up-hill road with lot of curves and crosses but it was clear and those bends had a meaning.. I understood in a flash the meaning of my life and of those crosses and I exclaimed, ‘Yes Lord, beyond all expectations.’”

Priesthood: “Vatican II seemed to ratify what the missionaries were already living given their unique experience in different cultures. After ordination in 1970 as a Xaverian, I studied in Rome at the Gregorian because I wanted to know the real teaching of the church getting a BA and MA in Missiology and Comparative Religions. I continued my studies a the University of London where I got an MA in Cultural Anthropology. Since Sierra Leone had 90%  of Muslim, I felt I had to know also Islam and I went to Cairo and I studied Islam. In the Holy Land I did Biblical Archeology. I believed I was now equipped for the missions but life proves I was wrong! There was too much of myself.

What he really learned:  Experience showed me that God is not a problem, the real problem is people. Europe thought me that intelligence is very important and that faith begins where reason ends. At times we tend to smuggled under “faith” ignorance”  Africa though me that I was a monster: I had a “big” brain on a small body. Africa thought me to appreciate colors, dance, music, touching smelling, dancing ,friendship, reminding me strongly that I had a body to cherish and to love. Now while in Chinatown I realize that I have also a mind to develop and that happiness is an inner job, a state of the mind. Whoever is able to control the mind has the control of happiness. The circle is now closed: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your body and with all your strength”. And God? God is always there under our noses: to meet Him is the easiest thing in life, but it requires to you accept to play with him the game “hide and seek” since he likes to come to us in disguise.

Years in Africa: In all, he spent 22 years serving in Africa, first as pastor of the cathedral in Makeni Sierra Leone. Then as “Secretary General  of the Episcopal Conference for Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone.” . I was also appointed National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies. It was a very rich experience that made me realize the much the Church is doing for the developing countries and how important is for the church the training of African leaders both for the State and the Church. The future of Africa rests on these two pillars.

Life in Chinatown:  It is “harvest time” for me in Chinatown. All my past experiences were a providential preparation to Chinatown.  Here I also learned that an “Asian leader”, be it political or religious, has to have specific characteristics: He has to be visible, speak with soft tones, never lose his temper, never ask straight forward questions, never challenges people directly, to be a compromiser, never make people “lose face”, be above criticism and gossips, give and ask for respect.  Asia seems to appreciate not “democracy”, but a kind “benevolent dictatorship” rule.

Still learning:  I learned to appreciate difference looking at them not as  a precious Gift. Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam are the foundations laid by God on which to build. Christianity begins were other religions ends since it is not man looking and searching for God, but God searching for human beings: “Adam where are you”? Is the first question in the Bible and with it the long search begins.

Cultural ‘tastes’: I like Chicago because here I can travel the whole world and have a taste of Asia without leaving the city. Obviously I choose Asian communities to learn more about the community of Chinatown,

Wish list: I’d like to put at the service of the Archdiocese the richness of the Chinese traditions and culture. I’d like this community to become a magnet for the other Catolic Asian Communities present in the Archdiocese. Considering how the Sleeping Dragon which is Asia is now wide awake I’d like this community to become the head of a bridge to Asia and especially China

Lent: “Be still and know that I am God”. “Michael, would you like to play hide and seek with me”?