Community
by Mary-Margaret Zindren, EVP/Executive Director
The term “community” first entered the English language meaning people living in the same geography. But the Latin roots and derivation of “community” speak more to what it feels like to be in community.
Communitas: Fellowship. Communis: Shared by all.
From both news reports and what I know from family friends, the Annunciation Catholic Church community embodies all of these meanings. Annunciation has been like a village within the bigger city, a sort of geography of its own with the church as its spiritual, architectural, and communal hub. Generations of families have gathered at Annunciation for services throughout the school year, weekend services, and celebrations of religious holidays and life milestones. The people of the Annunciation community have described a feeling of connection and care that has long surrounded them and made them feel at home.
The mass shooting on August 27th has forever changed what it will feel like to be a member of the Annunciation community and to be in the sacred space of Annunciation Church. The feelings of grief and loss that now bind this community even closer together have also deepened the connection and care they feel for each other.
Members of the local and state chapters and of the AIA in Minnesota could simply be thought of as people living in the same geography who share the same profession. But I’ve seen and experienced a deeper community here, too. The connection and care I have witnessed over my decade of service to you all has often been profound. You gather to share knowledge and experiences related to architecture, but you also connect around the human experience – joy and celebration, sickness and setbacks, and dealing with professional and personal loss.
There are members of this Minnesota architecture community who were directly impacted by the tragedy at Annunciation Church. And there are many more members who were indirectly impacted, in various ways. As you deal with a range of emotions in the days to come, I expect that your firms and colleagues will support you. Know that our staff team and the broader architecture community are here for you, too, holding you in fellowship. Know that your aspirations for healing and hope are shared by all.