Preparing for a Multicultural Church
The Catholic Church in the United States is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of culture, race and ethnic backgrounds and age. These realities must be faced with bold and successful initiatives to invite and welcome a new generation of diverse leaders into the ministry ranks as soon as possible. The specific needs of pastoral leaders emerging from within culturally and generationally diverse communities will be the focus of research in the area of recruitment, training and formation.The reality of diversity in parish life has grown beyond expectation. The United States is in the midst of its second and largest wave of immigration. Spanish speaking immigrants as well as those from Asian and African cultures are filling American parishes. For example, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrates Sunday liturgy in more than 75 different languages each week. Newark celebrates in more than 65 languages. In the Bronx, a single parish made have upwards of two hundred language bases.
The challenges to pastoral leaders are not limited to providing liturgy in the native tongue of immigrants. They also face the question of how to minister to people in their native tongue, especially in those significant moments of life. Beyond that is learning how to empower leadership in the various communities and bring diverse cultures into communion.
These are just some of the challenges being faced in today's multcultural church. And they are not only found in border states. Every diocese in this country is now looking at how to be a multicultural church. The challenge is enormous and much research and care need to go into understanding this emerging face of parish.
Related Reports & Articles
Short Summary of Major Findings of Phase I
by
Marti Jewell, D.Min.
April 25, 2009
After five years of study and conversation with lay and ordained pastoral leaders across the country, the extensive findings, an in-depth study, can be summarized as representing a paradigmatic shift in how parish life is structured and served.
Book Review: Shaping Catholic Parishes
September 10, 2008
In a review of "Shaping Catholic Parishes" for Church Magazine, Bill Pickett names the value of this first book -- the first in the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Series -- for those dealing with change in parish leadership.
Shaping Catholic Parishes
by
Carole Ganim, Ph.D., Editor
June 2, 2008
First in the Emerging Models of Catholic Leadership Series, "Shaping Catholic Parishes" published by Loyola Press is a "must read'" and can be purchased now from any of the Project Partners or from Loyola Press.
Ministry in Multicultural and National/Ethnic Parishes
by
Kenneth Johnson-Mondragon
April 9, 2008
The growing multicultural diversity of parishes in the United States is impacting every dioceses. In order to better understand some of the implications for pastoral leadership, the Emerging Models Project asked for an evaluation of their research through the lens of diversity.
Related News
Hispanic Youth are U.S. Church's Best Investment
September 7, 2007
Despite its strategic importance, Hispanic youth and young adult ministry suffers from a chronic shortage of paid personnel, training resources, and other financial support. Among those surveyed, 65 percent completed at least high school and the majority (61 percent) is bilingual. However, these largely single lay leaders are virtually all volunteers! [Read full story.]
