Objective: To promote knowledge, mutual acceptance, and collaboration among the diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups that form the faith community.


Introduction
As young adults in today's Catholic Church, we do not need anyone to tell us that we belong to a church that includes many diverse people and cultures. We grew up in a church that prayed in the language of the people, that was more culturally aware of the diverse people who made up the praying community, and here in the United States, was aware of the influx of Catholics from around the globe. In one diocese for instance, Mass is celebrated every Sunday in at least six different languages. Young adults must continue, in the spirit of jubilee, to "open wide the doors" of our churches and our hearts to all those who are different from us.


Welcome and Prayer (15 minutes)
Welcome the participants and ask them to briefly introduce themselves. Start with a simple prayer thanking God for the gift of our diversity and asking for Christian unity amidst the diversity of cultures and peoples. Create a welcoming environment, including the use of religious symbols of different cultures, and use a song such as Jaime Cortés's "Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo/We are the body of Christ" (Breaking Bread, #416, Oregon Catholic Press, 1998) or other music appropriate to the culture and language of the gathered community.


Sharing Our Experiences (40 minutes)
Young adults are in many cases trying to find their own place in our parishes. We have a special affinity for helping all people feel welcome and become integral parts of our parish communities. Cultural, ethnic, linguistic diversity, and age is changing the face of our neighborhoods and communities of faith. This diversity enriches the communities in marvelous ways, but it can also create tension. To strike a balance among the needs and aspirations of groups that are so diverse is no easy task. Adequate scheduling of Masses in different languages, representation on the parish council by young adults and people of diverse cultural backgrounds, equal access to parish facilities, and contributions and use of economic resources are some of the areas of frequent tension within the faith community. In the social arena, racism, poverty, and violence are a source of great preoccupation. To know the culture and to be aware of the aspirations and the challenges faced by the different members of the community creates opportunities for understanding and mutual acceptance. Open dialogue lessens tensions, overcomes fears, and helps to build a strong and united community. We are all called to form a single Church, nourished by the same Spirit (Tertio Millennio Adveniente, no. 34). We strive to create a place where all are welcome, with no regard to race, color, or age. This call has a special importance at the dawn of the third millennium. To adequately respond to this call, we must open the doors, both to Christ and to his message of unity that comes to us through the Holy Spirit (Tertio Millennio Adveniente, no. 44).

Discussion questions:

• What positive experiences have you had in relation to persons of different ethnic or cultural groups?
  
• What attitudes, behaviors, and activities create unity and harmony amidst diversity?
  
• What attitudes or behaviors create tensions among the different groups of the community?

The Son of God, by taking upon himself our human nature, became incarnate within a particular people, even though his redemptive death brought salvation to all people....the gift of his Spirit and his love are meant for each and every people and culture, in order to bring them all into unity....For this to happen, it is necessary to inculturate preaching in such a way that the Gospel is proclaimed in the language and in the culture of its hearers (Ecclesia in America, no. 70).

• What are some cultural expressions or ways in which the various groups in your parish express their Catholic faith tradition?
  
• What were some cultural expressions or traditions that you grew up with as a child?
  
• How are these similar or different from the way you are accustomed to expressing your faith tradition?
  
• How does the Spirit of Pentecost bring Christian unity to the diverse cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups in the different areas of parish life?
  
• To what extent are different cultural and ethnic groups actively involved in the decision-making process of your faith community and in civic society?

• Brainstorm actions and projects that promote collaboration and Christian unity among different cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups in your community. (One example of such an action is to participate in the diocesan eucharistic celebration of the jubilee year.) It is important to identify at least one action in each of the following areas of Christian life:
  
  • Liturgy
    
  • Religious education and catechesis
    
  • Building community and leadership development
    
  • Service and advocacy
    
  • Decision-making process
• Organize actions according to their priority and identify lead agents for each action that the community decides to take.

• What helped you participate in this session and what made it difficult?
  
• What did you learn and accept about others?
  
• What did you learn about your faith?
  
• How did people make a commitment to implement a course of action?

• Opening hymn/song
  
• Invocation or invitation to prayer
  
• Scriptural reading
  
• Prayer of thanksgiving or petition
  
• The Lord's Prayer
  
• Final prayer and sign of peace
  
• Closing hymn

• How will you prepare for your pilgrimage before you ever leave home?
  
• Are there aspects of the trip that make you nervous? Where is there anxiety from the group?
  
• How can you challenge yourself to grow closer to God and the Church through this experience?

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