Living as Missionary Disciples

In particular, the Church teaches that social justice is an integral part of evangelization, a constitutive dimension of preaching the Gospel, and an essential part of the Church’s mission. The center of the Church’s social teaching is the life and intrinsic dignity of the human person created in the image and likeness of God. Creating an Atmosphere of Invitation, Hospitality, and Trust As noted previously, the pastoral ministry of the Church cannot be a “one size fits all” approach. We are called to follow the footsteps of Jesus by engaging, accompanying, and relating to our brothers and sisters where they are. The entire parish community, especially the parish leadership, must foster a spirit of hospitality and welcome. This spirit of hospitality must be extended to those on the peripheries, as well as to Catholics who approach the Church at key “teachable moments,” such as couples seeking the Sacrament of Matrimony, parents interested in enrolling their children in Catholic schools and/or parish-based religious education or sacramental preparation programs, and Catholics seeking assistance from parish social ministry programs. Building Collaborative Relationships, Teamwork, and Commitment Being a collaborative member of a ministry team means working to secure cooperation, promoting teamwork, and resolving conflicts. Pastoral leaders recognize the potential value of differing ideas, opinions, and competing needs and are able to affirm and accept challenging situations as oppor tunities to make effective changes to fulfill the mission of the Church. Developing missionary disciples builds co-responsibility for the mission of Christ among all of the baptized. Welcoming and Embracing Ethnically Diverse Communities Pastoral leaders, now more than ever, must welcome and be open to eth nically diverse families in order to effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and promote the life and dignity of every human being. Stronger intercultural competence will promote integration of ethnically diverse families in the ministry and mission of the parish. Engagement and Current Pastoral Practice In summary, when assessing and developing the details of a parish’s unique plan for evangelization, pastoral leaders should consider ways to integrate

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