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Engagement #7

We give care to minister appropriately to those from different cultures

Context

The Church's ministry seeks to... promote an understanding of and respect for people who are different from the young people—different cultures, different languages, different faiths, different ages—and develop the attitudes and skills for overcoming racial and ethnic prejudices as individuals and members of society. (Renewing the Vision)

Goal

Effective and comprehensive pastoral ministry with young people calls for care to be given to minister to those from different ethnic or language groups appropriately while avoiding a “one size fits all” approach or “Parallel Church” configuration.

Suggested Implementation

• Survey: Research and understand the diverse ethnicities within your parish community as well as within and around your parish boundaries.  Is your parish community presently serving these groups? How? Where do they gather, shop, and go to eat?
• Recognize, value, and respond to the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and experiences that exist among young people. A fully multicultural approach to pastoral ministry with young people views ethnicity and culture as core features of identity and behavior. It helps youth identify and explore their own ethnic roots and cultural expressions in order to understand their own and others' ethnic practices. It recognizes that the specific content of tasks and competencies varies by culture, such as the way young people attain individual autonomy. It also recognizes the impact that family ethnicity has on the development of young people in areas such as decision making and social relationships.
• Develops culturally responsive and inclusive programming to address these needs. Pastoral ministry with young people helps develop their identity by affirming and utilizing the values and traditions of their ethnic cultures. Specifically, it welcomes and empowers all young people; it develops leaders who reflect the ethnic characteristics of participants; it prepares all staff to be competent culturally; it includes young people and their families on advisory councils; and it develops program content that is culturally appropriate and relevant to the needs of participants. In stressing with our young Catholics the importance of multicultural awareness, and awareness of difference and diversity, we should take care to balance this awareness with the concept of their belonging to a universal Church, that is, with the concept of unity in diversity that characterizes the universal Church.
• Incorporate: Second, all ministry with young people needs to incorporate ethnic traditions, values, and rituals into ministerial programming; teach about the variety of ethnic cultures in the Catholic Church; provide opportunities for cross-cultural experiences; and foster acceptance and respect for cultural diversity.

Methods for Evaluation

Within the same calendar year as you attempt to address this concern, delegate individuals, both young and old, to ask:

• Has your participation grown more diverse?
• How are our young people more aware of the variety of cultures around them?