Unity in Diversity
Churches have tremendous opportunities to be the first to welcome strangers. Of course, with each opportunity there is also a challenge. Sometimes the focus is on the challenge to the expense of the opportunity—
| • | What if we don’t understand their language? [a smile works wonders] | |
| • | How will our parishioners react? [mustn’t underestimate people or think for them] | |
| • | Will this overburden the parish budget? [it could require re-prioritizing] | |
| • | Will we need to make changes in our liturgy? [change is good if done well and to good purpose] |
LITURGY AND CATECHESIS
A multicultural celebration involving members of a growing ethnicity or cultural group in your parish area will be welcoming and promote unity within the parish. Be sure to involve members of the new group and to keep the liturgy simple.
In today’s parishes, not everyone will have a shared context—a form of liturgy familiar to some may seem almost foreign to others. When experimenting with change in the liturgy, instructions must be clear and straightforward. Part of the liturgy will be experiential, expressed by feeling and movement, and will not require explanation. It just takes care to provide a balance.
Seeing a cultural group respond differently to God’s word may decrease the comfort level for some at first. There is a need to recognize that God is open to all forms of worship. There is value in new and different perspectives as well as old, familiar ones.
PLANNING AHEAD
Encourage study and discussion sessions.
| • | Perhaps a parishioner could lead an introductory language/culture series. | |
| • | Share positive experiences in interacting with people of different ethnic or cultural groups. | |
| • | Discuss attitudes, behaviors, and activities that might encourage a spirit of unity. | |
| • | Analyze those attitudes, behaviors and activities that hinder a sense of unity, creating tension. | |
| • | Invite members of other cultures to share their stories at small group gatherings. | |
| • | Share Scripture stories from different perspectives. |
Additional Materials
Books
Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Compendium is a perfect companion to the Bible, spiritual reading, or textbook. It has a four-part structure following the Catechism of the Catholic Church, with a section on common prayers and Catholic doctrinal formulas. It is in a question-and-answer format.
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57455-720-3 English
Compendio: Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57455-920-6 Spanish
Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: A Resource for Parishes
Available from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops at www.usccb.org.
Many Faces in God’s House: A Catholic Vision for the Third Millennium
Available from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops at www.usccb.org.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES:
A Pastor and the Sacraments
Leadership
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy