Abstract
This essay is a refl ection on returning to the lessons my mom tried to share with me when I was a kid and on my process of coming to understand the radical, resilient, and life-giving nature of religion and spirituality, particularly for marginalized communities. I share my experience of entering the fi eld of Chicanx studies and discuss some of the challenges and tensions I have encountered, tensions that refl ect the growing pains of a fi eld struggling to accept its religious identity and history. I include my research on Church of the Epiphany, an Episcopal church that became a center of organizing during the Chicano movement in Los Angeles. I show that by overlooking the contributions of religion, we lose sight of the ordinary people, places, and spaces that have contributed to Chicanx self-determination throughout history. I end my refl ection by explaining why I am encouraged about current trends in Chicanx studies and offering my perspective about opportunities for continued research.