New Perspectives from Madrid

Our Lady of Mercy is not your typical parish. As Madrid´s only English-speaking parish, it draws in people from around the globe—America, of course, but also Great Britain, India, Germany, and Nigeria. Everyone is welcome here. Tourists visiting for the week. Families working for international organizations like the UN and NATO. Immigrants working in Spain, awaiting the arrival of more family members in the near future. It is a young parish composed mostly of adorable, recently wed couples with a four-year old clasping their hands, and a baby sleeping on dad´s shoulder. One parishioner, Francis Obekwu, originally from Nigeria, just got back from winning gold medals in running at the European games. Now, you can see him everyday at metro stations where a poster of him advertises Nike Pro gear. Oh, he also sings in the church choir every week!

Why, after choosing to study in Madrid to precisely learn Spanish, did I end up at an English-speaking parish? For three main reasons, actually. First, of course there is a natural comfort level worshipping in your first language. Second, I have been to Spanish-speaking parishes, one in Madrid, another in Cadiz. And, frankly, both churches seemed to rush through the mass. No chorus sang to involve the parishioners, and no priest uttered words of hope and inspiration. Moreover, the church body was astonishingly old. See, our American stereotype of “Catholic Spain” is far from the truth. Sure, her history is a tale of Catholic conquest and rule. (Although the Moors reined for 8 centuries!) But, today, her population is simply culturally Catholic. That is, Catholic or not, Spain´s people celebrate saint´s feast days, wear bracelets with Jesus´ picture on them, and support Christianity’s basic tenets. However, fewer and fewer Spanish families feel compelled to baptize their children, to marry within the church, or attend Sunday mass. Finally, I enjoy this English-speaking parish because I have been able to involve myself in a way not possible in a Spanish-speaking church. I could not have volunteered as the youth group leader in a Spanish church simply because I doubt I could command any authority or really interact with these young adults.

Now that you know a little more about the parish and religious tendencies in Spain, let me enlighten you a little more on my actually service experience, for it has been one of deep fulfilment thus far. After Sunday mass I meet with OLM´s youth group composed of both guys and girls, ages 14 to 16. As I see it, the mission of this youth group (and perhaps most similar groups in general) is to provide these teenagers with an outlet to express their opinions, without judgement, to encourage discussion on the social issues facing the Madrid teenager daily, and to prove that there are other teenagers who do their best to live life according to basic moral principles. Being a teenager is not easy in Madrid, I have come to discover. There are constant pressures to start drinking earlier and earlier. Usually, it´s botellones, alcoholic drinks to be drank in a public park, bench, or sidewalk that attract Madrid´s younger set. Peer pressure to try drugs starts in seventh grade. And so, this youth group has provided a way for these teens to spend their time wisely—debating current events, discussing ways to involve themselves positively in the community, and assisting their parish.

Our activities have been quite varied! We have discussed world religions, playing a Jeopardy game to solidify knowledge of the basic tenets of our world´s major religions. We have discussed prayer. Is it worthwhile? Does it work? Why do we prayer? And, then, wrote prayers on different topics to form a book to keep and reflect on. Last weekend, the youth group was charged with coordinating a used book sale at the church. So, after collecting books from parishioners the past month, we set everything up, sold books from murder-mysteries to the Bernstein Bears, and thus raised 500 euros for improving the catechism facilities in the parish. Next week, we begin the Giving Tree project. Typical of Catholic parishes in the States, too, we will set up a Christmas tree with paper decorations on it, describing a toy or other gift desired by an orphan in the Madrid area. Come December, we will wrap the presents and deliver them individually.

I´ve been fortunate to interact with such a wonderful group of teenagers. But, I´ll admit, I have grown to appreciate and admire Tomas the most. He is a shy boy with a Spanish father and British mom, so I practice my Spanish with him often! At first, I thought he was “too cool for school” you might say, with his skeleton designed wristbands, punk music, and shaggy hair. The second we started our discussions, however, I was amazed by what an intelligent, well-spoken and kind person he is. He has the most adorable smile and is always willing to help out without ever hesitating. I have also been lucky to interact with Christine Salm, the CCD coordinator of the parish. While her title is large and responsibilities innumerable, she is only a 23 year old from Minnesota! She is over here working for a bank, taking classes, and, somehow, managing to work for the parish incessantly. She has definitely been a support for me—offering any help at all with my transition to Madrid. I have just been impressed by how easily she has transitioned to life in Madrid. She came here to study for a semester and ended up staying for 2 years as of right now!

I feel selfish because this service work has probably helped me more than the youth group members. I rely on them to jumpstart the new week, to give me perspective, to enlighten me on youth in Madrid. Without participating in this group and learning from this bright kids, I think I would leave Spain with a highly negative attitude of Spain´s youth. At the university I attend, for example, school is not taken as seriously as in the States. Students show up 20 minutes late, don´t take notes, talk during a teacher´s lecture. The young people I see on the street are scantily clad, have 8 piercings, and enjoy uncomfortable amounts of public affection. And while I recognize the cultural differences that differentiate American kids from Spanish ones, I think that the youth group has proven to me that these differences are not so profound or irreconcilable. That is, growing up, we all face the same pressures, the same uncertainties, and the same problems. My group has helped me, then, in realizing that.

My one regret, so far, is the lack of service projects beyond the parish walls. In the past, the parish has relied on the youth group to help with all church-sponsored activities, basically serving as the janitorial staff of the church. Fortunately, I think I have been successful in making the group focused more on the needs of the group and not the sole needs of the parish. Unfortunately, there is not enough space to have our own room or real gathering area. So, I try and commandeer a table on the patio where donuts are served after mass so that at least we can all sit together (though, in the presence of everyone on the patio.) The weeks are just flying, and new church-orchestrated projects develop weekly. It is my hope, then, that before I leave in a little over a month we will have the chance to participate in a fun-bonding activity or in a service project in the greater community. ¡Hasta luego!

-Kayleigh O'Keefe, October 2006