BENTONVILLE — In spite of a downpour from the remnants of Hurricane Gustav Sept. 2, parishioners from various countries gathered at the parish hall of St. Stephen Church for a potluck dinner to mark the beginning of a unique organization, the International Society Group.
The parish has seen a remarkable increase in the number of different countries represented in its congregation.
The organizer of the special event, Auristela Eves, a native of Panama, said, “It started because of the increase in the number of people moving/relocating to the Bentonville area. With this growth, we recognized that the congregation was increasingly becoming multicultural in its makeup. This group will fill an increasingly important role that welcomes new parishioners and permits them to quickly become acquainted with our church and all that it has to offer.”
Eves said she recognizes the importance of helping people to become acquainted within the church community. Her husband’s work has taken her family to many places, including Japan and Korea.
“The International Society Group will provide a platform from which we can all learn more about the world we live in and the great diversity of people we share it with.”
In large part the diversity comes from Wal-Mart whose headquarters are located in Bentonville.
Pastor Father Mike Sinkler said, “As Wal-Mart is diverse, so are we because they bring all these people into our community. So the International Society Group wants to emphasize our diversity and celebrate it.”
Among the countries represented in the parish are Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, Guam, the Philippines, China, India, Argentina and Colombia.
“This group will hopefully help us to learn, understand and appreciate the different ways to look at the world and the ways we look at life,” Father Sinkler said.
The pastor said he thinks the International Society Group will help parishioners open their eyes to other cultures.
“I think Americans are basically Type A personalities. They want to get things done. They need a checklist. But not everybody does that in other cultures. They also succeed and are very happy. So it is not the only way to look at life.”
One of the guests at the dinner, Janet Doughty, is new to the parish. She, along with her husband and daughter, moved to northwest Arkansas recently from southwest Louisiana. Their decision to move was in part based on the recent hurricanes.
Two young women from Puerto Rico, Wanda Veira and Gresel Perez, attended the dinner together, along with their small children. They came to northwest Arkansas as a result of their husbands’ work with Wal-Mart.
Each participant brought a dish to the dinner from the family’s country of origin. On the potluck table Sept. 2 were Panamanian pollo guisado, Hungarian layered potatoes, Italian lasagna, Mexican guacamole and Puerto Rican white rice and black beans. Each guest was invited to share their stories about their families and countries.
The International Society Group will meet on the first Tuesday of each month.
