THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL & CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH MATTHEW 28: EDGAR RAMIREZ

Transcription

1 THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL & CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH MATTHEW 28: EDGAR RAMIREZ

2 GOSPEL AND CULTURE From the time, the Gospel was first preached, the Church has known the process of encounter and engagement with cultures. Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15: from the chosen people to Catholicism. More than 2,000 years of the Gospel encountering and transforming cultures The Gospel is independent of any culture but they are compatible. The Gospel has the power to permeate any culture without becoming subject to any of them. Evangelii Nuntiandi Culture is to be subordinated to the integral perfection of the human person, to the good of the community and of the whole society. Gaudium Et Spes

3 WHAT IS EVANGELIZATION? EVANGELII NUNTIANDI PAUL VI The Church is born of the evangelizing activity of Jesus and the twelve she is the most visible fruit of the great mission The Church is an evangelizer but she begins by being evangelized herself The Church is the depositary of the Good News to be proclaimed Having been send and evangelized, the Church herself sends out evangelizers all baptized! Evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new.

4 FOUR PILLARS OF EVANGELIZATION BUILDING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE FOR MINISTERS - USCBB Conversion - Personal encounter with Christ The evangelization of cultures: the encounter between people s rituals, symbols and myths (narratives) and the Gospel, leading to the transformation of culture- Inculturation* Inculturation means the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through their integration in Christianity and the insertion of Christianity in the various human cultures. Where are the Gospel seeds? Liberation: the transformation of the social, economic and political order in light of the gospel values and the dignity of life Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue: work to bring about the unity of all peoples in pursuit of Jesus mandate.

5 WHAT IS CULTURE & HOW DOES IT WORK?

6 UNDERSTANDING MY CULTURE WHAT IS/WAS THE CULTURE WHERE I GREW UP? WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF MY PARISH? WHAT CULTURES ARE CELEBRATED IN MY CLASSROOM? WHICH ARE NOT ANN WHY? ACTIVITY

7 CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE U.S USCCB Percentage on Race and Ethnicity of the U.S. Adult Catholic Population by Generation Millennial (born 1982 or later) Post-Vatican II (born ) 39% 54% 3% 2% 1% 1% Vatican II (born ) 53% 39% 0.4% 4% 3% 1% Pre-Vatican II (born before 1943) 69% 24% 3% 1% % 75% % 90 15% 1% 1% 2% 4% 100 4% 2% 2% 2% White/Caucasian Hispanic/Latino Black/African American Asian/Pacific Islander Other Other

8 NAME ONE CHALLENGE THAT THE CURRENT USA CULTURE BRINGS TO THE MISSION OF EVANGELIZATION? NAME ONE CHALLENGE WHEN CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN YOUR PARISHES/CLASSROOMS? CONVERSACION

9 THE NEW EVANGELIZATION A respond to the current challenges the church faces in its mission to bring the Gospel to all cultures. Saint John Paul II invited all to take seriously and renew its missionary call. 1 Cor 9:16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! Redemptoris Missio St. JPII Universality of the message and mission The respect of all human life and its dignity To Bear witness will help Christianity to NOT be just a philosophy. The Holy Spirit guides this mission and God does the work, we are his testimony Charity is the primary instrument for evangelization Promotes Ecclesial Basic Communities as a way to sustain evangelization All baptized called to the mission Benedict XVI and the U.S. Conference of Bishops Go and Make Disciples -

10 THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL POPE FRANCIS Joy should be the force that drives our mission. A call to all Christians/the Church to renew their encounter with Christ. The Church should lead, take the initiative in encountering others, The Church smells like sheep, walks and supports those we encounter, no matter how difficult or long this path might be. The Church knows to be patience in the middle of the imperfection of the world. The Church bears witness and celebrate any victories, knowing that is always God who leads and who transforms through the action of the Holy Spirit The Church is like a Mother, like a hospital Challenges to our mission: our economic system, the idolatry of money, poor Christian leadership, individualism, migration, globalization, etc.

11 3 COMPETENCIES TO BETTER ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION USCCB Knowledge Knowledge of more than one prospective and of the different interpretations of the same cultural reality Knowledge of dynamics of communication and hopefully more than one language Skills To emphasize, tolerate ambiguity and to adapt communication and behaviors Attitudes Openness to others and cultures, wanting to learn and engage other cultures, understanding cultural diversity as a reality and opportunity for Catholicism rather than a problem to solve, mindfulnes.

12 BEST PRACTICES CONVERSATION