Evangelization in a Multicultural Parish: Building One Family in Christ
Quick answer
Many U.S. parishes are shared by several cultural communities, often English-speaking and Hispanic, and increasingly Asian, African and others. The Church calls this not a problem but a gift. A parish evangelizes well across cultures when it welcomes each community, offers prayer and formation in people's own languages, shares leadership, and creates occasions to worship and celebrate together as one family.
Key takeaways
- The goal is unity in diversity, not separate parishes under one roof, and not forced sameness.
- People pray best and share faith most deeply in their own language.
- Shared leadership and shared celebrations build trust over time.
- Popular devotions such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and Simbang Gabi are bridges to evangelization.
On Pentecost, people “of every nation under heaven” heard the apostles speaking “every man in his own tongue” (Acts 2:5-6, Douay-Rheims). From the beginning, the Church has been a family of many languages and cultures. Today many parishes live this very concretely.
A Gift, Not a Problem
Many American parishes are now shared parishes, where two or more cultural communities worship under one roof. The U.S. bishops have written about these parishes and encourage them to see the diversity as a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism teaches that the Church’s unity is not uniformity: from the beginning there has been “a great diversity” of gifts, cultures and peoples (CCC 814).
The goal is not to turn everyone into the same kind of Catholic, nor to run separate parishes that never meet. It is unity in diversity: one family in Christ.
Principles for Evangelizing Across Cultures
- Welcome first. Newcomers, especially immigrants, may have left behind family, language and home. A warm welcome is already evangelization.
- Pray in the heart language. People pray and share their faith most deeply in their own language. Offer Masses, sacramental preparation and small groups in the languages of the parish when possible.
- Honor popular devotions. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, Simbang Gabi, Santo Niño and many other traditions are powerful ways of passing on the faith. Invite the whole parish to share in them.
- Share leadership. Include every community on the pastoral council, the evangelization team and the staff.
- Celebrate together. Hold some bilingual liturgies through the year, and a parish festival with food and music from many cultures.
Practical First Steps
- Learn who is in the parish. Which languages and cultures? Where do people come from?
- Train greeters to welcome in more than one language.
- Translate key materials, such as the bulletin, website and registration forms.
- Start bilingual small groups, or parallel groups in each language that meet together once a season.
- Hold a multilingual Mass for Pentecost or the parish feast, with readings and songs in several languages.
- Hold listening sessions so each community can share its hopes and concerns.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Treating one community as “the parish” and the others as guests.
- Scheduling all events only in one language.
- Expecting newcomers to adapt while longtime members change nothing.
- Asking for volunteers only for labor, not leadership.
The Fruit of Unity
When cultures meet in Christ, each is enriched. St. John Paul II, in Ecclesia in America, called the Church in the Americas to be a sign of communion among peoples. A multicultural parish that lives this is a powerful witness in a divided world.
A Prayer for a Multicultural Parish (Original Prayer)
Holy Spirit, on Pentecost You spoke in every language. Make our parish one family in Christ. Help us welcome each other, learn from each other, and praise You together with one heart. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read re-thinking evangelization in Hispanic ministry, learn about Sts. Cyril and Methodius, who preached in the people’s own language, or plan a parish day of reflection.
Frequently asked questions
Should a multicultural parish have separate Masses in different languages?
Often yes, so that each community can pray in its own language. It also helps to hold some bilingual or multilingual liturgies through the year, such as the Easter Vigil, Pentecost or the parish feast.
What is "inculturation"?
The process by which the Gospel takes root in a culture, purifying and enriching it, while that culture enriches the Church's expression of the faith (CCC 854).
How can longtime parishioners help newcomers from other cultures?
Learn a few words of greeting, attend each other's celebrations, invite newcomers to serve in parish ministries, and listen to their stories.
Sources
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Best Practices for Shared Parishes (2014)
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Encuentro and Mission (2002)
- Pope St. John Paul II, Ecclesia in America (1999)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 814, 854, 1204
.png){kind=link}