Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers

Building Intercultural Competence for

Ministers

Modules for Training Workshop

Committee On Cultural Diversity in the ChurchUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops

A new evangelization is synonymous with mission, requiring the capacity to set out anew, go beyond boundaries and broaden horizons.

The new evangelization is the opposite of self-sufficiency, a withdrawal into oneself, a status quo mentality and an idea that pastoral programs are simply to proceed as they did in the past.

Today, a “business as usual” attitude can no longer be the case.

Some local Churches, already engaged in renewal, confirm the fact that now is the time for the Church to call upon every Christian community to evaluate their pastoral practice on the basis of the missionary character of their programs and activities. 

-Lineamenta for the XIII Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2012

Statement on new evangelization from

Lineamenta of XIII Synod of Bishops

Module 1Frame issues of

diversity theologically in terms of the

Church’s identity and mission to evangelize

The Church’s Mission is

to Evangelize

•To proclaim the Gospel message

•To dialogue with cultures

Four Pillars of

Evangelization

˚ Personal encounter with Christ Conversion

˚ Inculturation – conversion (transformation) of cultures

˚ Liberation (Transformation of the social, economic and political order) e.g. Catholic social doctrine

˚ Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue

The Church’s Very Nature is Missionary

By virtue of Baptism all Christians are missionary disciples of Christ –

“the church is in its entirety evangelizing”

Terms commonly used in reference to evangelization

˚ GUADIUM ET SPES #’S 56ff. VATICAN II

˚ EVANGELII NUNTIANDI (POPE PAUL VI)

˚ CATECHESI TRADENDAE (POPE JOHN PAUL II)

˚ REDEMPTORIS MISSIO (POPE JOHN PAUL II)

• “New Evangelization”

• The new Areopagoi

• The Court of the Gentiles

The New Evangelization in the

United States˚ The U.S. context is increasingly multicultural and pluralistic˚ Yet the U.S. is a culturally Protestant country

- How is this exemplified? (e.g. attitude toward poor)

˚ A secular culture Secularity and Secularism˚ Yet quite religious

- “Religion is okay as long as it is kept to oneself, private”

U.S. Bishops’ ‘Go and Make Disciples’

˚ Deepen faith in order to share it with others

˚ Invite all U.S. society to hear the Gospel message

˚ Foster Gospel values in society

Other Examples

˚ Regional synods of bishops leading to Jubilee Year 2000

˚ General Directory on Catechesis

˚ National Directory on Catechesis

˚ Ecclesia in America

˚ The Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization

The New Evangelization in the

United States˚ The U.S. context is increasingly multicultural and “pluralistic”˚ Yet the U.S. is a culturally Protestant country

- How is this exemplified? (e.g. attitude toward poor)

˚ A secular culture Secularity and Secularism˚ Yet quite religious

- “Religion is okay as long as it is kept to oneself, private”

The New Evangelization in the United States

˚ Church growth through immigration and birth rates dramatic demographic shift.˚ Hispanics are most numerous and youthful Catholic group.˚ Disenchanted Catholics, a huge number˚ Special challenges: Individualism, Materialism˚ Catholic vision of the human person puts individual in relationships (e.g. in the family, community, culture, ecclesial)

Challenges to the New Evangelization in a society and

church of many culturesThe teachings of the U.S. Bishops:

The Hispanic Presence in the New Evangelization˚ Native American Catholics at the Millennium˚ Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony and Faith˚ What We Have Seen and Heard˚ Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity

UNDERPINNINGS OF A THEOLOGY

FOR INTERCULTURAL

MINISTRY

UNDERPINNINGS OF A THEOLOGY

FOR INTERCULTURAL MINISTRY

˚ Christian Anthropology - (A Christian Understanding of the Human Person)

˚ Ecclesiology: The Church as Communion

˚ Catholicity: Universality, Unity in Diversity

˚ The Church as missionary

Exercises for Module 1

Exercise 1

Read one of the scriptures and discuss what strikes you about it and how it relates to evangelization today.

1.Genesis 11: 1-92.The Book of Ruth3.Matthew 15: 21-284.John 4: 5-425.Acts 10: 1-356.Acts 15: 1-337.Galatians 2: 11-16

Exercise 2

In small groups, discuss the following:

1.If someone asked you to express the central message of the Gospel in a nutshell how would you answer? What sources in the Gospels would you cite?

2. How would you express in a nutshell the values of the prevailing U.S. culture?

Exercise 3Choose one of the following questions to discuss in your small group:

1. How does the prevailing United States culture square with the Gospel?

2. How does Hispanic/Latino culture square with the Gospel?

3. Pick another culture not yet mentioned, e.g., African American, Vietnamese, Korean, and ask how it squares with the Gospel.

4. How can the Gospel be communicated to the culture of youth and young adults in the United States.

Module 2Seek an

understanding of culture and how it

works

What is Intercultural Competence?

Intercultural Competence

˚ Intercultural Competence is the capacity to communicate, relate and work across cultural boundaries.

˚ Intercultural sensitivity.

Three Key Components of Intercultural Competence

Intercultural competence involves developing capacity in three areas:

˚ Attitudes˚ Knowledge˚ Skills

Attitude

˚ Respect (valuing other cultures)

˚ Openness (withholding judgment)

˚ Curiosity & Discovery (tolerating ambiguity)

˚ Knowledge & Comprehension ˚ Cultural self-awareness

˚ Deep Cultural Knowledge

˚ Sociolinguistic Awareness

Knowledge

Skills

˚ To listen, observe & evaluate

˚ To analyze, interpret & relate

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “U. S. Religious Landscape Survey”, conducted in 2007 released in 2008. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life ,Pew Research Center a subsidiary of Pew Charitable Trusts,

September 22, 2010.http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

Two Pathways to Intercultural Competence

˚ The prevailing culture can get along to a great degree with very little knowledge of other cultures.

˚ Other cultures (which are not of the prevailing culture) have already learned a lot about intercultural communication in order to survive.

Pathways to Intercultural Competence

Paint the wall green? We’ll get

them to like red.

Everybody loves green!

Parameters of Cultures˚ Fundamental ideologies vary drastically between different cultures.

˚ Understanding cultural ideologies is important because it shapes our everyday perception of others and the world around us.

˚ Recognizing differences in cultural ideology can be difficult because our own ideologies are very intuitive.

Contrasting Ideologies between different

cultures

Collectivism Individualism

Contrasting Ideologies between different

cultures

Hierarchy Equality

Contrasting Ideologies between different

cultures

Low Tolerance High Tolerance

Contrasting Ideologies between different

cultures

Masculine Cultures

FeminineCultures

Contrasting Ideologies between different

cultures

Long Term Short Term

http://www.usccb.org/

http://twitter.com/CatholiCultures

http://www.youtube.com/usccb

http://www.facebook.com/usccb

http://www.usccb.org/scdc/

Communication Styles and Skills

Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church (CDC) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

(USCCB)

www. usccb.org

Intercultural Competence

Dimensions/Elements of Culture

Three elements/dimensions:Material

Behavior

Ideas

Iceberg Concept of Culture

Behaviors/ActionsMaterials/Objects

Values

Attitudes Beliefs

Assumptions

Thought Patterns

Perceptions

Concepts

Modern Culture means the unity of languages,custom, and territory of a particular people.

Modern Culture

Post Modern Culture is a blended way of living – traces of one’s first culture as well as borrowing from second or other cultures, and even adapting or creating new ways of living…creating a “third culture”

Learning a different beat

Empowering youth

Preparing tea the Japanese way

Learning to dance the hula

Active youth participation

Eating withChopsticks

Post Modern Culture

Classical

Culture means the highestartistic products of a people

itspoetry, literature, music, art,

architecture, etc.

What is culture?Culture is the particular way in which a human group interprets life and relates with nature, God, the world, and other peoples. Culture is not accidental, but an integral part of human life. Culture is lived and expressed through traditions, languages, relationships, food, music, and religious expressions. It embraces the totality of life of the group and the life of each individual who belongs to it; therefore, all human beings relate and respond to God and express this faith from and within their culture.

-Principles for Inculturation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Department of Education, USCCB

Module 3Develop intercultural communication skills in pastoral settings

Working With Groups in Intercultural/Interracial

Settings

Competencies in Intercultural Group Communications

Dealing with Conflict

Communication Styles Based on Face Management

Meeting and Decision Making

Leadership

Working with Groups in Intercultural/Interracial

SettingsCommunication Styles Based on

Face Management

Meeting and Decision-Making

Leadership

Dealing With Conflict

Face is the public image of a group- how it wants to be perceived by others

Autonomy Face: independence, self-sufficiency

Moral Face: sense of dignity, honor,

integrity, likeability, reliability, reputation

Competence Face: expertise, skills,

intelligence, leadership,

appearance, material worth

Individualistic Culture

Facework - what we do – “specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors - to maintain or restore face loss and to uphold and honor face gain. Face loss occurs when we are being treated in such a way that our expected identity claims are challenged or ignored.”

Facework

Communications StylesIndividualist Collectivist

Equality

Language code - verbal

Context – low

DirectYes means a yes

Hierarchy

More body language

High context

Indirect

Yes can be yes or no

Communications Styles

Individualist˚ Silence means absence of communication or “Silence means consent”˚ Emotions – PDE˚ Body language –

-Eye contact means respect and sincerity-Proximity means intimacy

Communications Styles

Collectivist˚ Silence means respectful listening

˚ Emotions: stoic, no PDE˚ Body language:

-Eye contact means disrespect and challenge-Proximity means seriousness of intentions

Body Language

Body movements – facial expressions, gestures,

posture

Spatial relationships – distance between yourself

and the other person

7 percent38

percent55

percent

Verbal: wordsVocal: volume,

pitch, speed, etc.

Body Language: facial expressions

Meetings and Decision-Making

Individualist – equality, low context/long time-orientation

˚ Plan purpose and agenda.˚ Time-bound.˚ Clear rules of order or process of participation.˚ Everyone is encouraged to speak.˚ Open discussion and debate.˚ Decision is made.

Meetings and Decision-MakingCollectivist – hierarchy,

high context, short-term time orientation

˚ Establish and maintain harmony and good relations˚ Establish and maintain face.˚ Elders/status speak first.˚ Young members may not speak at all and will not contradict.˚ Group caucus used to raise issues and questions and to make decisions.˚ Spokesperson speaks for group so decision is group voice.

Mutual Invitation Process(Eric H.F. Law)

• Objective: To facilitate sharing and discussion in a multicultural group.

• How to Proceed:• Let participants know how much time is

set aside for this process.• Introduce the topic to be discussed or

questions to be answered.

Mutual Invitation Process(Eric H.F. Law)

˚ Explain the process – In order to ensure that everyone who wants to share has the opportunity to speak –

- The leader will share first. - After the leader has spoken, she/he then invites another to share. Whom you invite does not need to be the person next to you. - After the next person has spoken, that person invites another to share.- If you don’t want to say anything, simply say “pass” and proceed to invite another to share. We will do this until everyone has been invited.

Keep in Mind…Group Communication

Individualists

˚ Learn to get out of the ‘doing ’mode and enter a ‘being’ mode.˚ Invite others to speak. Do not monopolize.˚ Speak slowly, clearly, not louder.˚ Attentively listen to others. Develop an ear for different language accents. ˚ Develop mutual respect and sufficient curiosity as you teach and learn from others.˚ Develop intercultural communication fluency.

Keep in Mind…Group Communication

Collectivists˚ Plan to participate. Write down points you wish to bring up. Practice to gain self-confidence.˚ Don’t always wait to be invited to speak. Volunteer to speak and share from your experience.˚ Speak clearly, confidently, loudly. ˚ Focus talking points. Do not monopolize.˚ Attentively listen to others. Develop an ear for different language accents.˚ Develop linguistic competence and intercultural communication fluency

Leadership in intercultural/interracial

settingsIndividualist – Task Collectivist -

HarmonyPrefer leaders who :

˚ Lead competently to accomplish task˚ Skilled planners, set goals. ˚ Skilled facilitators that enable contribution of all talents ˚ Earned credentials from education or training˚ Keep track of time

Prefer leaders who:

˚ Hold high rank and status in the community˚ Trustworthy and highly respected˚ Skilled at maintaining sense of community, good relations and harmony in the group

Dealing with Conflict: Conflict is a natural part of human interaction.

Conflict can be an opportunity. Strategy depends on external context, issues, and

relationships.Individualist

˚ Issues are at stake˚ Concern is to resolve the issues˚ Mode of communication is direct˚ Strategies - aggressive, up front , dominating in order to win in conflict situations

Collectivist˚ Relationship is at stake˚ Concern is to maintain face˚ Mode is indirect style ˚ Strategies - sometimes avoidance (eluding the conflict topic, the conflict party, or the conflict situations), obliging or accommodating the other party’s concern above one’s own, use intermediaries to resolve conflictual situations

Module 4Expand one’s

knowledge of the obstacles which impede effective

intercultural relations

Prejudice and Stereotypes

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination

Prejudice is a hostile or negative attitude toward a distinguishable group of people, based solely on their membership in that group.

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination

A Stereotype is a generalization about a group of people in which identical characteristics are assigned to virtually all members of the group, regardless of actual variation among the members.

Prejudice, Stereotyping and Discrimination

Discrimination is an unjustified negative or harmful action towards a member of a group, simply because of his or her membership in that group.

What Causes Prejudice?

The Way We Think

The first step in prejudice is the creation of groups.

The Way We Think

In-Group bias is the especially positive feelings and special treatment we reserve for people we have defined as part of our in-group.

What Causes Prejudice?

What Causes Prejudice?

The Way We Think

Another categorization is out-group bias. Usually, the perception of the out-group is negative.

Ways We Judge the “Other”

˚ We generalize about them

˚ We demonize them

˚ We see them as helpless children

˚ We trivialize painful differences

˚ We make them invisible

Study Question

What can we do to eliminate prejudice?

Dealing with Racism

Intercultural Leaders with Voices That Capture the Reality of Racism

The challenge before us to deal with racisms of various kinds is as old as the Church.

• Racism, as used in this context, is a social dysfunction in which people do not see others as their brothers and sisters in the same human family.

• Racism denotes the fact that there is not one means of depersonalizing people as the “others,” but many ways.

• There is the “otherness” of race, gender, class, religion, ethnicity, and culture.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Chapter 2:1-13,

3:27-29˚ The challenge of cultural diversity in the Church is to not deny that those of us who are framing the question are also influenced by the unperceived racism around us.

˚ We effectively deny this challenge by simply imposing a “Don‘t Talk Rule,” which directs us as members of our cultures to:

• Not talk about race.

• Deny any feelings that we have in regard to race.

• Not trust ourselves with the subject.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Chapter 2:1-13,

3:27-29˚ How do we as leaders in the Church break the “Don‘t Talk” rule and transform the elephant in the room into a house pet?

˚ We begin by developing the cultural competence to find our voice in a racialized culture.

˚ We begin by practicing the “Do Talk” rule:

• Talk about race.

• Express our feelings about race.

• Trust our own efforts to express the reality to guide our journey.

St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Chapter 2:1-13,

3:27-29˚ To begin our journey and growth in competency we have to find our voice.

˚ Our first exercise to find our voice in the area of racism calls for us to identify the obstacles.

˚ The FIG term was developed by Fr. Boniface Hardin, OSB to assist those seeking to free themselves from racial anxiety when discussing racial issues.

˚ Hardin sees that our racial anxiety arises from three areas: fear, ignorance and guilt, thus the FIG Complex.

The FIG Complex

˚ Fear when speaking about race or racisms (discrimination).

˚ Ignorance that I have when speaking about race or racism (discrimination).

˚ Guilt when talking about race or racism (discrimination).

Finding Our Voice

˚ Intercultural leaders are called to move beyond fear and anxiety as they lead the Body of Christ into the beloved community of the Fatherhood of God.

˚ This is the work of the Gospel that all disciples of Jesus are called to in our day.

˚ When we find our voice for expressing the reality of racism, we fulfill the prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John: “…so that they all may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11).

Framing Our Terms as We Find Our Voice

˚ The term multicultural frames the conversation with terms supplied by the Anglo-Saxon Protestant context of the racial “other.”

˚“Multicultural” became the umbrella to collect “non-white” realities and avoid the four letter ‘r-a-c-e’ word for whites and non-whites alike in our “Don‘t Talk” culture.

A Pluricultural Frame for the Intercultural

Conversation

˚ A conversation about diversity begins with the assumption that one‘s social representation in the cultures of the Americas begins with racial framing in a culture strongly influenced by white privilege.

˚ The leader in the field is one who has a dual awareness of his or her own cultural description provided by white privilege and is also aware of how he or she participates simultaneously in a number of diverse cultures which are described within the larger context.

Some Main Points Regarding Galatians

˚ In the 2nd chapter of Galatians, St. Paul criticizes St. Peter for his ethnocentrism against the Gentile converts and his hypocrisy in regarding them as the “other.”

˚ He reminds Peter that we are reborn in Christ not as Jews and Gentiles, but as people of a new creation.

˚ This early conflict which threatened the future existence of the Church can and does do the same damage if left unchecked by leaders.

˚ The plurality of racial groups in U.S. society will require a pluricultural lens to build the bridges of interculturality.

˚ Leaders who have found their voice have assisted the Church in playing its proper role and in overcoming cultural, racial, and ethnic barriers.

˚ Intercultural leaders of the 21st century will find St. Paul to be a role model for identifying and naming the reality of racism and building bridges between all of God‘s children.

Module 5Foster ecclesial integration with

a spirituality or reconciliation and mission

Pastoral Issues, Responses, and Principles

in Shared/Inter-cultural Parishes

Spirituality for Intercultural

Ministry/Reconciliation

The Methodology of The Church in America

Encounter with the living Jesus Christ

Conversion: to “turn one’s mind and heart around.”

Communion: The communion of the Church, rooted in God’s love, is called to offer all people the sense of identity, purpose and community

they seek.

Solidarity: A firm and persevering determination to commit one-self and a whole faith

community to the common good”

Cycle for Reconciliation

Hospitality

Reconciliation

Hospitality

Reconciliation

Conversion

Encounter

Solidarity

MissionCommunion

“GOING FISHING”The same old…

Discouraged by the loss of their Master the disciples try to go back to what they did before they met Jesus

Daylight breaks. A stranger appears on the shore and asks them about their fishing in a

caring and familiar tone. By doing this Jesus helps them break the

cycle of their obsession

“LOWERING THE NETS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT”

Breaking with old patterns - Encounter

“IT IS THE LORD”Recognizing Him in others -

Conversion

It is only when they lower the nets on the other side, when

they are free from their obsession that they are able to

recognize who has been standing on the shore

Jesus becomes the gracious host cooking for them, and inviting them to contribute their own newly caught fish

JESUS PREPARES A MEAL FOR THEMCreating trust and safety -

Communion

RECONNECTING“Do you love me?” - Solidarity

Jesus asks Simon, son of John, “Do you love me?”

COMISSIONING Mission“Feed my sheep!”

Jesus commissions Simon Peter by telling him to feed His sheep. Once again Peter is the Rock upon which the community is built. Peter’s vocation to care for Jesus’ flock allows him to remember his own past in a different way, and to help create a community where trust is nurtured so that denial will never happen again.

Models for Ministry in Shared/Intercultural

Parishes

Models for Ministry Shared/Intercultural

ParishesAmericanizing parish

˚ Newcomers are expected to adapt

˚ Parish staff need not gain language and intercultural communication skills

˚ Newcomers, however, do not feel welcome and experience alienation

Models for Ministry Shared/Intercultural

ParishesPersonal/Ethnic Parish

˚ Community is served in this particular cultural context and language

˚ Leadership and parish staff reflect the culture of the parish

˚ People from other cultural groups do not participate in these parishes for the most part

Models for Ministry Shared/Intercultural Parishes

Integrated parish

˚ In the integrated parish, all cultural groups are equitably and suitably served

˚ There will be residual resentment on the part of the various groups

˚ Some groups will need help embracing integration/inclusion

Models for Ministry Shared/Intercultural Parishes

˚ In a recent study CARA shows that 33 percent of parishes in the U.S. celebrate Mass in a language other than English, compared with 22 percent in 2000

˚ The great majority of these parishes are ‘shared’ by two or more distinct cultural/ethnic communities.

˚ The shared parish model strives to achieve a high level of ecclesial integration/inclusion among its diverse members in a spirit of unity in diversity

Ecclesial Integration/Inclusion vs. Assimilation

Integration is not to be confused with assimilation. Through the policy of assimilation, new immigrants are forced to give up their language, culture, values, and traditions… By [ecclesial] integration we mean that all [cultural/ethnic communities] are to be welcomed to our church institutions at all levels. They are to be served in their language when possible, and their cultural values and religious traditions are to be respected. Beyond that, we must work toward mutual enrichment through interaction among all our cultures.

(National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry #4)

From Newcomers to Stewards of the Faith Community

Integ

ratio

n/In

clusio

n

CatholicIdentity

Belonging

Ownership

Stewardship

Cycle for Ecclesial Integration/Inclusion

Sense of belonging

Communion

Hospitality

Catholic Identity

Stewardship

Conversion

Encounter

Solidarity

Mission

Ownership

Movement 1 - Reaching Out: Meeting People where they are at

˚ Mission: visit them with good news

˚ Affirmation: affirm their gifts and contributions

˚ Invitation: invite them to the faith community to be at home away from home

Movement 1 - Reaching Out: Meeting People where they are at

Movement 2 - Hospitality: MakePeople Feel At Home

˚ Welcoming: have the ecclesial space to be themselves

˚ Identity: have room to develop their own sense of identity

˚ Trust and Safety: adapt to a different culture from a position of strength

Movement 2 - Hospitality: MakePeople Feel At Home

Parish Territory

˚ Opportunity: they provide for their own ministerial needs and aspirations˚ Support: parish staff and leaders work with them to develop a comprehensive ministry˚ Room to grow: ministries include the four dimensions of Christian life modeled in the first Christian communities (Acts 2: 42-47) and included in Encuentro and Mission

Movement 3 - Organizing: DevelopMinistries And Ministers

Movement 3 - Organizing: DevelopMinistries And Ministers

Parish Territory

Movement 4: Build Relationships Across Cultures and Ministries

˚ Community: share their stories, religious traditions and cultural richness

˚ Celebration: celebrate faith and life together with other ministries and cultures

˚ Relationships: build relationships, community and unity between different cultural communities and ministries of the parish

Parish Territory

Movement 4: Build Relationships Across Cultures and Ministries

˚ Mentoring: learn and seek opportunities for ongoing faith formation and training for ministry

˚ Access: invest time and talent in certificates and degree programs that are accessible

˚ Recognition: be recognized and supported as ministers by the entire parish community

Movement 5: Champion Leadership Development and Formation

Parish Territory

Movement 5: Champion Leadership Development and Formation

˚ Decisions: space at the table where decisions are made on culturally specific ministries˚ Leadership: an active voice on the life and direction of the faith community as a whole˚ Representation: a place in ministry leadership, parish staff and other decision making groups

Movement 6: Open Wide The Doors To The Decision Making Process

FC = Finance CouncilS = StaffPC = Pastoral Council

Parish Territory

Movement 6: Open Wide The Doors To The Decision Making Process

˚ Discernment: meaningful ways to be involved in the life of the faith community˚ Solidarity: responsiveness from all parish staff on the needs and aspirations of their families and communities˚ Authority: recognition by parish leadership and structure as members on equal terms

Movement 7: Strengthen A Senseof Ownership

Parish Territory

Movement 7: Strengthen A Senseof Ownership

˚ Shared responsibility: contribute time, talent and treasure

˚ Inclusivity: build a culturally diverse faith community that is their own

˚ Discipleship: be active participants of a community of faith in which all cultures are constantly transformed by Gospel values in order to be leaven for the kingdom of God in society

Movement 8: Sow And Reap Full Ownership and Stewardship

Parish Territory

Movement 8: Sow And Reap Full Ownership and Stewardship

˚ Unity: strengthen the unity of the parish while honoring its diversity

˚ Mission: be alert and ready to invite and welcome newcomers in their midst

˚ Universality: become gente-puente by ministering with Catholics of all cultural backgrounds

Movement 9: Achieve Full CommitmentTo The Mission Of The Parish

Parish Territory

Movement 9: Achieve Full CommitmentTo The Mission Of The Parish

Small Group Discussions:

˚ In what movement is your parish?

˚ What are some steps you feel will help your parish achieve a higher movement of ecclesial integration/inclusion?

˚ What intercultural competencies are required?

Exercise

Five Principles to Achieve Ecclesial

Integration/Inclusion

2nd Generation Challenges:

˚ Pose important issues for youth and young adult ministries and the catholic educational systems in immigrant settings

˚ Effects of this are sometimes seen in the third generation, the children of the second generation, especially when the second generation has tried to jettison the cultural identity of their immigrant parents

Generational Differences in Immigrant Communities

˚ Recognize and affirm cultural, linguistic and racial differences as a gift from God not a problem to be solved

˚ Promote the formation of culturally specific ministries, parish groups and apostolic movements as means for conversion and community building

˚ Avoid the temptation to expect others to assimilate into a one-size- fits-all youth group, program or activity

Generational Differences in Immigrant Communities

˚ Be aware of your own cultural heritage˚ Use the concept of enculturation of the Gospel˚ Be willing to be a bridge builder rather than a gate-keeper˚ Avoid the tendency to see your culture as better or more valuable than the cultures of others, and the we—they language˚ Commit to the spirit of mission of the New Evangelization and its ongoing transformation of all cultures by the Gospel values

Foster the enculturation of the Gospel in all cultures

˚ First listen and welcome the unique perspectives of diverse parishioners you are trying to reach

˚ Include them, from the beginning, in the development of plans, programs and activities

˚ Avoid planning for others and judging them when they don’t show up to your activity

Plan with the people,not for the people

˚ Recognize the unique experiences, needs, and aspirations of each cultural/ethnic community in your parish˚ Understand that the existence of more than one cultural group in your parish as a blessing˚ Promote the formation of culturally specific groups and apostolic movements˚ Avoid the perception that allowing the formation of culturally specific groups creates division or separation˚ Commit to creating welcoming spaces for all Catholic people living in your parish

Cast a bigger net by broadening understanding of ministry groups, programs and structures

Empower people from the different cultures/ethnicities

into leadership positions

˚Understand the way in which people from different cultures view leadership, organize themselves and make decisions

˚ Identify indigenous leaders and mentor them into leadership positions in ministry within their own cultural/ethnic community and in the parish as a whole

˚ Avoid a mentality of scarcity- ‘there is not enough for everyone’- and foster a vision of mission and growth that generates more resources

CreditsContent & ResearchAlejandro Aguilera–TitusKenneth Johnson MondragonRev. Robert Schreiter, CPPS

Layout, Design and EditingIsaac E. GoveaMelisa A. RiveraMatthew Manopoli

Territorial Parish GraphicsMichael TheisenIsaac E. Govea

Illustrations and Art WorkMaximino Cerezo BarredoEncuentro 2000 Logo, USCCBUSCCB Logo