Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the USA

II underscores the particular responsibility of those who serve in cultures other than their own, when he states: “Missionaries, who come from other Churches and countries, must immerse themselves in the cul tural milieu of those to whom they are sent, mov ing beyond their own cultural limitations. Hence they must learn the language of the place in which they work, become familiar with the most important expressions of the local culture, and discover its val ues through direct experience. Only if they have this kind of awareness will they be able to bring people to the knowledge of the hidden mystery . . . in a credi ble and fruitful way.” 11 When pastoral ministers cross over cultures to serve in a new context, as they do when they come to the United States, their arrival signals many bless ings. Their arrival also means a set of challenges for them and the communities that receive them. Both graces and challenges need to be named. In this pro cess, the particular Churches and the ministers them selves must resist identifying challenges as problems. A problem is something negative that needs to be solved or, at least, contained. A challenge, on the other hand, represents an invitation to change and an opportunity for growth, which through grace may lead to a positive outcome. While the exchange of international pastoral ministers poses genuine chal lenges for the ministers themselves and for particular Churches that receive them, in the end, these chal lenges can bring additional blessings to all. Graces for the Receiving Churches The graces for the receiving Churches are many. Among others, they include the following: • International pastoral ministers provide ministe rial and pastoral assistance in places and to com munities that are in need. • Because of their experience in receiving interna tional pastoral ministers, the particular Churches can claim a deeper sense of their identity in their communion with other particular Churches, in their own call to share their gifts with others, and especially in their catholicity or universality. • Receiving international pastoral ministers con tributes to the formation of more hospitable local communities that learn the ways of welcome and receptivity. • The arrival of international pastoral ministers gives local communities exposure to new and

in need.” [ Propositio , 67] For the particular Churches of the American continent, this is the source of a commitment to reciprocal solidarity and the sharing of the spiritual gifts and material goods with which God has blessed them . . . 8 These elements of the Magisterium of St. John Paul II help us to understand more deeply the ratio nale for receiving international pastoral ministers in the United States. These ministers do not just repre sent a pragmatic response to a deficit of US-born clergy and religious, although the initial invitation may begin with an urgently felt need for more personnel. These ministers embody what ought to be the ongoing and ordinary “exchange of gifts” among the particular Churches as a sure sign of solidarity and communion. Both the receiving Churches and the international pastoral ministers themselves experience graces and challenges in the exchange of gifts of service, many of which are related to culture. It may be helpful to reflect briefly on the reality of faith in relationship to culture and to the many cultures of humanity. St. John Paul II observed: “Cultural context per meates the living of Christian faith, which contrib utes in turn little by little to shaping that context. To every culture Christians bring the unchanging truth of God which he reveals in the history and culture of a people.” 9 Culture represents the ways that people live and work together and are able to communicate with each other, because they share common symbols and common values. Recently, Pope Francis linked the Church’s wide embrace of cultures with her universality. He writes, “In the diversity of peoples who experience the gift of God, each in accordance with its own culture, the Church expresses her genuine catholicity and shows forth the ‘beauty of her varied face.’” 10 These understandings of the relationship of the Church and culture have a direct bearing on those who serve in multicultural milieus. St. John Paul 8 Ecclesia in America , no. 52. 9 Fides et Ratio , no. 71. 10 Evangelii Gaudium , no. 116 with a citation from St. John Paul II’s Novo Millennio Ineunte , no. 40. III. Grace and Challenge Understanding the Graces and Challenges in the Exchange of International Pastoral Ministers

11 Redemptoris Missio , no. 53.

Introduction | A-3