Welcome!

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. - St. Paul

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The Catholic Church is universal. The saving message of Jesus Christ is a message for everyone: God created the world from nothing, made us in his image and likeness, and while we were still sinners, became one of us, died, and rose from the dead, to reconcile our relationship and bring us home to him. St. Augustine famously said, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." Even if we look different, speak different languages, and have different traditions, we have the same Father in heaven who loves all his children.

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The diversity of cultures in the world is beautiful. Different peoples bring different experiences and perspectives to the faith and help the Church understand it and live it more fully.

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But sometimes, differences in culture and language can be a barrier. Catholics who move to another country may find it difficult to follow the Mass, go to confession, receive other sacraments, benefit from catechesis, or otherwise participate in parish life. ESL Catholic was founded by Mary C. Tillotson, MA, as a way to help international Catholics pray, worship, and live their Catholic faith in the United States, where English is the predominant language.

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God understands every language, and there is no requirement to pray in English. But many immigrants to the U.S. want to be able to live their faith, or parts of it, in English. They may want to fully integrate into the community, or they may prefer to use their first language but find limited options for sacraments in that language. Or perhaps they have other reasons.

 

That's where ESL Catholic comes in. Our goal is to partner with parishes around the country to provide on-site ESL programs, as well as offer online tutorials for learners wishing to practice on their own. This site contains resources for learners and tutors who can work with learners one-on-one or in classroom settings. In addition, we offer resources for international priests to practice offering Mass, celebrating the other sacraments, and otherwise doing their priestly work in English with an accent that's easier for Americans to understand.

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About Mary

Mary C. Tillotson completed her MA in TESOL (teaching ESL) at Eastern Michigan University in 2019. Her thesis was entitled, “‘But how could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?’: An ESL/ESP class for Catholic immigrants.” She has taught ESL in a variety of contexts, including university classes, parish-based classes, and private tutoring. She is a candidate for an MA in theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Mich. She lives in Michigan with her family. She can be reached at mary.c.tillotson@gmail.com.