Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

APPENDIX C: CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ONGOING FORMATION | 115

basic sounds that serve as the foundation for pronunciation in the target language. 221

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY OBSERVATIONS

296. Food and Hospitality: The diversity of the US presbyterate has intensified. Whereas nineteenth-century US clergy might have come from a variety of European cultures, twenty-first–century priests come from every part of the world. In rectories, food can be a source of cultural conflict; missionary priests might find US cuisine unappetizing or unhealthy, and US-born clergy might object to the smells or flavors of foods from other places. The conflict points to the centrality of food tastes in culture. Most human beings have deep associations between food and home that form an important part of a sense of well-being. In addition, many cultures have strong ideas about the role of hospitality in acknowledging affection or the dignity of the other. If ongoing formation leaders wish to express their commitment to honoring the various cultures among a given presbyterate, then shaping the hospitality and menu to acknowledge and honor those cultures communicates a powerful sense of respect and belonging. Language: Although the diocese may not be able to offer program ming in all the languages of a given presbyterate, if a significant number of the clergy come from one or more language groups, planners will find it useful to somehow acknowledge their presence. This might take the simple form of offering greetings in more than one language or including the language in the liturgy. In some instances, inclusion may mean developing an entire educational program or priest’s retreat in a language other than English. Even those priests from other cultures who have worked in the US setting for years will appreciate the opportunity to pray and reflect in their first language, if it is not English. Program Topics: Listening is a key component of intercultural competency. Any effective program will listen to its constituency in seeking presenters and selecting topics for programming. In a culturally diverse 297. 298.

221 Speech pathologists who work with English speakers are widely available in the United States. US-based priests who study a language other than English may find it more difficult to identify a speech pathologist to assist them. In such cases, they may find it advisable to seek long-distance assistance using video tech nology. Accent modification assistance can be costly for a diocese and/or parish; the bishop will have to use his best judgment in helping his priests within his means.