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The Southwest Kansas Register MOST REV. RONALD M. GILMORE January 30, 2011 Page 13 ‘You must welcome the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves’ Inviting unity; celebrating cultural diversity ultural diversity, Bishop gles. He encouraged a special CEmeritus Ronald M. Gilm- series in the SKR, in which sev- ore has said, is something to be eral area families shared stories of embraced, to be celebrated, and pain and joy in their efforts to call not to be feared. this country home. In his pastoral vision he wrote, At a Feb. 3, 2006 gathering at “The concerted effort that is the cathedral, several immigrants needed is that we allow ourselves spoke tearfully of how and why to live life filled not with fear but they came to be here. with trust that comes from God Priests from other countries came inviting us all to feast at the one to the diocese at the invitation of table as brothers and sisters.” the bishop -- from the Philippines, And it was this example that he Mexico, Africa, and other nations. brought to the diocese. The bishop put his words of In an effort to both bridge the embracing cultural diversity into cultural divide and bring needed action. Soon after Sept. 11, 2001, attention to the issue of immi- he allowed several Muslims to gration reform, Bishop Gilmore speak at the cathedral, where they introduced the Rev. Eric Law shared their form of prayer with to the Diocese of Dodge City. those in attendance – an effort to He taught that accepting people understand a culture made all the of other cultures doesn’t mean more alien during those months a complete meshing of cultures after the 9-11 attack. into one mixing pot, but instead “In Old Testament terms you appreciating and celebrating how must welcome the alien, for you we are similar, and how we are were once aliens yourselves,” the different. bishop has said. “In New Testa- Through various gatherings, ment terms, it is the shepherd articles and columns, the bishop searching for his lost sheep: that urged all of us to listen to the all-consuming desire that all stories of immigrants, to open our might be one in Him.” hearts and minds to their strug- In recognition of your wonderful work on behalf of the Diocese of Dodge City, and in thanksgiving for your life and legacy, Heartland Ministries and the worldwide community of the Dominican Sisters of Peace honor Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore and pledge our prayerful support as you embark on a new chapter of life. Dominican Sisters of Peace Page 14 January 30, 2011 MOST REV. RONALD M. GILMORE The Southwest Kansas Register Above and left, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located on north 14th Street in Dodge City, undergoes construction. Photos by David Myers “This will be a place of music, a place of poetry. This will be a place of magic, even. A kind of concave mirror wherein God draws all human corners to the center. All the human corners into unity. This will be a place of prayer.” -- Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, at the ground breaking for the cathedral heartfelt gratitude TO BISHOP RONALD GILMORE BILL TRENKLE AND KARL HESSE, ATTORNEYS AT FOULSTON SIEFKIN, EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE TO BISHOP RONALD GILMORE FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO THE DIOCESES OF DODGE CITY AND WICHITA, AND BEYOND. “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.” MATTHEW 25:23 WICHITA OVERLAND PARK TOPEKA WWW.FOULSTON.COM BILL TRENKLEWWWAT [email protected] | KARL HESSE.COMAT [email protected] The Southwest Kansas Register MOST REV. RONALD M. GILMORE January 30, 2011 Page 15 ‘This will be a place of prayer’ A cathedral rises from the prairie t would be a unique challenge for the relatively to the hilt in colorful costumes, their beads Inew bishop, not only building a cathedral, but clacking together in rhythm to the pounding of in doing so, combining two culturally diverse the drums. Catholic faith groups into one. The cathedral has seen within its walls the There were the parishioners of the former celebration of the Chinese New Year, with an Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, many of authentic Chinese dragon traipsing around the whom -- or their parents or grandparents -- gathering area giving out “funny money,” two helped carry the bricks that built their beloved dollar bills to excited children and a few excited church; and there were the parishioners of the adults, as well. historic Sacred Heart Cathedral in the heart Bishop Emeritus Gilmore, in his hope to bridge of Dodge City. cultural divides, brought representatives of the They were two diverse groups brought together Muslim and Jewish faiths into the cathedral for in what would prove to be a central heartfelt informative workshops. Numerous interreli- concern of Bishop Gilmore’s, the acceptance, gious dialogues took place, with representatives embracing and unifying of a diverse diocese. from religious denominations across southwest “This will be a privileged place,” Bishop Kansas. Gilmore said 10 years ago as he stood on the The cathedral has hosted innumerable dusty ground that would soon hold the new ca- youth gatherings and even concerts, with thedral, “where God can dwell with his people the internationally reknowned guitarist for years and years to come. Tony Melendez most recently providing an “This will be a place of music, a place of po- inspiring performance. etry. This will be a place of magic, even. A kind It has seen couples married anywhere from of concave mirror wherein God draws all human five years to 65 years celebrate their wedding corners to the center. All the human corners into anniversaries and renew their wedding vows. unity. As light Kansas winds whipped up the dirt “This will be a place of prayer.” May 20, 2000, Bishop Gilmore blessed the land In the 10 years since the Cathedral of Our Lady on which the new cathedral would sit. He urged those in attendance to challenge. ... Let us resolve to of Guadalupe was dedicated, the bishop’s words “And this will be such a place only if we, you use the 18 months in which the permit God to enter more deeply have proved prophetic. and I, in the next 18 months, make this such a cathedral would be constructed into our lives ... to convert us from In the last decade, the cathedral has seen mul- time. ...” he said to those gathered for the ground- as a time to “move down the path within. In that way, we can watch ticultural festivals with Aztec dancers dressed breaking. of conversion, down the path of in amazement this building rise.” .

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