Originally posted March 29, 2021 and updated April 1, 2021 – The original statement incorrectly stated Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month was April. It was an oversight on the part of the diocesan staff, and it has been corrected below. Our apologies for this error. The Diocese of San Jose will begin our celebration of AAPI Month early with two events in late April and continue the celebration through May.

 

Download Bishop’s Statement (pdf) English, Spanish, Vietnamese

Join me in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May. The Asian community has been on my mind and in my prayers recently, given the disturbing rise of anti-Asian animus, prejudice, aggression and violence. It is disgraceful to see this in our American society in our modern times. We have come so far in our country since the eras of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Japanese Internment Camps of generations past. And yet, we manage to take steps backward into prejudice, discrimination, and even violence. This is sad and disgraceful. Anti-Asian hatred not only hurts Asian Americans; it tarnishes the dignity of all Americans.

As Christians enter Holy Week, we recall how the crowd turned against Jesus, calling for his violent execution. Jesus stands with our Asian community. The Church stands with our Asian communities. We are brothers and sisters to one another, members of a common human family, with dignity and worth. Asians and Pacific Islanders bring tremendous gifts that enrich American culture and society, and our Church. Let us embrace them, celebrate them, and love them as brothers and sisters!

Most Reverend Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San José