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Submitted by Judy Silva, OP

June 5, 2018, Santa Cruz, California – For the 20th year, Dominican Hospital has set aside a day to celebrate cultural diversity. This year’s Cultural Diversity Day was April 25 in the hospital’s Education Building.

Diversity is featured in one of the four General Chapter Enactments approved by delegates to the 2016 General Chapter of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The particular Enactment reads, “Rooted in the joy of the Gospel, we will embrace and nurture our rich diversity, commit ourselves to deepening our relationships with one another, invite others to vowed and Associate life, and expand collaboration for the sake of the Mission.”

The celebration featured several tables, sponsored by hospital departments, offering cultural artifacts, traditional clothes, and food from the various countries represented: Mexican tamales, Portuguese malasalas and rice pudding; Vietnamese bunch, beef pho, and caramel chicken; and Filipino lumpia. Irish soda bread and butter could be sampled at the table set by Adrian Dominican Sisters Veronica Kelley, OP, and Maureen Keeler, OP. 

Cultural Diversity Day also included entertainment: Hawaiian and Portuguese dancers, Irish songs, and a prayer from the Sioux tribe. 

Sister Judy Silva, OP, Chair of the 20th Anniversary Cultural Diversity Day, reported the gratitude of Dominican Hospital for the cultural diversity of its employees – and the way that it was celebrated during the special day. “This was one of the best celebrations we have had,” she said. “We had a lot of participation from the many hospital departments, and that makes all the difference.”

Feature photo (top): Everado Castillo, left, of Environmental Services, and Rosemary Castillo, a social worker, take in Mexican culture.

Right: Sister Judy Silva, OP, left, and Liz Taylor learn about German culture. Liz retired last year from the Laboratory Department.