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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