The Afro-Afro-Brazilian tradition of his grandmother came to Santos through stories and rituals that he found hard to reconcile with his strict conception of Roman Catholic norms. As he begins to better understand his grandmother, he finds himself finally able to embrace the vibrant, moving religious tradition she can bequeath him.
As a committed Protestant, Kim wasn’t sure what kept drawing her to the Catholic mass on campus. This essay reflects on what it means to find a spiritual home, and the many paths a spiritual search can take.
Growing up with her grandparents in Guinea, Toure learned how to pray as a communal act. This community changed dramatically when she moved back to the U.S. Years later, she revisits her childhood home, and reflects on her evolving relationship to faith, community, and prayer.