Next weekend we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Growing up I had very fond and clear memories of St. Patrick's Day. For the Peters family growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, this was one of the best times of the entire year. We took our Irish heritage very seriously growing up. My father, Tom, was a member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is America's oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization founded in May 1836. Every St. Patrick's Day brought the Peters family a trip to church for a special Mass, followed by a visit to The Five Sullivan Brothers Monument, and finally to the Knights of Columbus Hall where we would have Irish stew followed by sharing of stories and Irish music.
When I look back on the times we were together as a family, I can do nothing but smile. The love of our Irish heritage continues today; we gather together during the first weekend of August to participate in the Iowa Irish Fest. A three-day event of music, food, fun and most important, family. In August 2017, we honored the memory of our dad with a special table in his name. He loved Irish Fest, he loved being Irish and most importantly, he loved his family.
I think both our cultural and spiritual heritages are pretty fascinating things, but I guess I always took both for granted. Growing up I assumed everyone was Irish and Catholic, at least everyone I knew was. I had a pretty narrow perspective on life. That narrowness had continued into my adult life, until I moved to Monroe.
You may think, how does living in a town of 10,820 people expand or broaden your perspective on life? It's pretty simple. Monroe is a great melting pot of some pretty special people. Monroe is filled with vibrant faith communities that include but are not limited to (in no particular order): Monroe Methodist Church, St. John's UCC, Grace Lutheran, Crossroads Community Church, Hope Evangelical Free Church, Monroe Bible Church, Potter's House, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Union Presbyterian, First Baptist Church and, of course, St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church (I also apologize if I forgot to mention any other churches or faith communities). These faith communities do some pretty wonderful work for our town.
Not only have I grown in my knowledge of differing faith heritages but also have been exposed to the diversity of our cultural heritages as well. When you think of Monroe, you automatically think of the Swiss. During my time here, I have learned so much about the Swiss culture: food, songs, clothing and language. I own a pair of suspenders, I have yodeled, tasted limburger cheese, blown an alphorn and milked a cow. These are all things I would never have experienced had I not had the opportunity to live in this community. I have also attended several fiestas, had authentic Mexican cuisine, grown in my knowledge of the Spanish culture and language through many students and families who have attended St. Victor School. Students in our school have weekly Spanish class that has carried over into other curriculum areas, such as music, religion and art. All of that in a town of 10,820. That is pretty cool!
So as you raise your glass to St. Patrick this March 17, be thankful for your own cultural and spiritual heritage, and also be thankful in this day and age we are able to be part of an amazing melting pot that is Monroe and the United States of America. I thank my mom and dad for making me proud to be Irish, but more importantly for allowing me to realize that every culture we encounter is important and to be treated with respect and dignity. It is by meeting and engaging in diversity that we grow and appreciate who we are as humans. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
- Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. His column appears on the second Saturday of each month. He can be reached at joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
When I look back on the times we were together as a family, I can do nothing but smile. The love of our Irish heritage continues today; we gather together during the first weekend of August to participate in the Iowa Irish Fest. A three-day event of music, food, fun and most important, family. In August 2017, we honored the memory of our dad with a special table in his name. He loved Irish Fest, he loved being Irish and most importantly, he loved his family.
I think both our cultural and spiritual heritages are pretty fascinating things, but I guess I always took both for granted. Growing up I assumed everyone was Irish and Catholic, at least everyone I knew was. I had a pretty narrow perspective on life. That narrowness had continued into my adult life, until I moved to Monroe.
You may think, how does living in a town of 10,820 people expand or broaden your perspective on life? It's pretty simple. Monroe is a great melting pot of some pretty special people. Monroe is filled with vibrant faith communities that include but are not limited to (in no particular order): Monroe Methodist Church, St. John's UCC, Grace Lutheran, Crossroads Community Church, Hope Evangelical Free Church, Monroe Bible Church, Potter's House, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Union Presbyterian, First Baptist Church and, of course, St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church (I also apologize if I forgot to mention any other churches or faith communities). These faith communities do some pretty wonderful work for our town.
Not only have I grown in my knowledge of differing faith heritages but also have been exposed to the diversity of our cultural heritages as well. When you think of Monroe, you automatically think of the Swiss. During my time here, I have learned so much about the Swiss culture: food, songs, clothing and language. I own a pair of suspenders, I have yodeled, tasted limburger cheese, blown an alphorn and milked a cow. These are all things I would never have experienced had I not had the opportunity to live in this community. I have also attended several fiestas, had authentic Mexican cuisine, grown in my knowledge of the Spanish culture and language through many students and families who have attended St. Victor School. Students in our school have weekly Spanish class that has carried over into other curriculum areas, such as music, religion and art. All of that in a town of 10,820. That is pretty cool!
So as you raise your glass to St. Patrick this March 17, be thankful for your own cultural and spiritual heritage, and also be thankful in this day and age we are able to be part of an amazing melting pot that is Monroe and the United States of America. I thank my mom and dad for making me proud to be Irish, but more importantly for allowing me to realize that every culture we encounter is important and to be treated with respect and dignity. It is by meeting and engaging in diversity that we grow and appreciate who we are as humans. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
- Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. His column appears on the second Saturday of each month. He can be reached at joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
