"The face of our church is changing. The face of our nation is changing. The face of this parish is changing," says Msgr. Edward Deliman. He's trying to help bring people together after a Philadelphia Archdiocese merger that combined Our Lady of Fatima, a largely Latino church, with Saint Charles Borromeo, a parish that had been mostly white.
"The face of our church is changing. The face of our nation is changing. The face of this parish is changing," says Msgr. Edward Deliman. He's trying to help bring people together after a Philadelphia Archdiocese merger that combined Our Lady of Fatima, a largely Latino church, with Saint Charles Borromeo, a parish that had been mostly white.
Evelio Contreras/CNN
Sister Sonia Avi, a fluent speaker of Spanish and English who hails from Lima, Peru, is trying to be a bridge between two cultures as Saint Charles Borromeo and Our Lady of Fatima merge. "I hear them say, 'We've done this for so long,' and I see and hear a little differently than everybody else," she says. "I want them to feel that God is a little more inclusive."
Sister Sonia Avi, a fluent speaker of Spanish and English who hails from Lima, Peru, is trying to be a bridge between two cultures as Saint Charles Borromeo and Our Lady of Fatima merge. "I hear them say, 'We've done this for so long,' and I see and hear a little differently than everybody else," she says. "I want them to feel that God is a little more inclusive."
Evelio Contreras/CNN
Long before Saint Charles Borromeo celebrated its first Mass entirely in Spanish, Msgr. Edward Deliman ordered bilingual books for the pews. "We introduced it as just something for the people to see," he says.
Long before Saint Charles Borromeo celebrated its first Mass entirely in Spanish, Msgr. Edward Deliman ordered bilingual books for the pews. "We introduced it as just something for the people to see," he says.
Evelio Contreras/CNN
Rene Segundo, 27, says he's hoping parishioners at St. Charles will learn to accept the changes in their church. "I'm praying for my brothers there," he says. "We should be brothers, just one family."
Rene Segundo, 27, says he's hoping parishioners at St. Charles will learn to accept the changes in their church. "I'm praying for my brothers there," he says. "We should be brothers, just one family."
Evelio Contreras/CNN
A tapestry depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe, revered by many Mexicans, remains inside the sanctuary at Our Lady of Fatima. Msgr. Edward Deliman says he's found a place where it could go inside Saint Charles Borromeo, but he's waiting for parishioners to decide when it should move.
A tapestry depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe, revered by many Mexicans, remains inside the sanctuary at Our Lady of Fatima. Msgr. Edward Deliman says he's found a place where it could go inside Saint Charles Borromeo, but he's waiting for parishioners to decide when it should move.
Evelio Contreras/CNN
At Saint Charles Borromeo, enthusiasm for the Pope's upcoming visit has been growing. A cardboard cutout of the smiling pontiff stands near an entrance to the church.
At Saint Charles Borromeo, enthusiasm for the Pope's upcoming visit has been growing. A cardboard cutout of the smiling pontiff stands near an entrance to the church.
Evelio Contreras/CNN
Outside Our Lady of Fatima, a soccer league plays on Sunday afternoons. Most of the players are immigrant youth, and Deliman says he's glad they're on the grounds, even though some of them don't regularly attend Mass. "They know the church smiles upon them," he says. And before every game, they pray.
Outside Our Lady of Fatima, a soccer league plays on Sunday afternoons. Most of the players are immigrant youth, and Deliman says he's glad they're on the grounds, even though some of them don't regularly attend Mass. "They know the church smiles upon them," he says. And before every game, they pray.
Evelio Contreras/CNN