From staff reports
Recognizing that a critical element in the ministry of evangelization involves people of all cultures working and serving together to further the mission of the Church, the Diocese of Trenton is again offering the “Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers” series to help people enhance their skills and knowledge on multicultural awareness.
The training sessions will be offered March 18 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in St. Joseph Parish, 376 Maple Place, Keyport.
The BICM program has been offered in the Diocese of Trenton since 2013 in various parishes around Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Based on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ multicultural training program, BICM is designed to give clergy, pastoral minsters and parish leaders the opportunity to achieve a basic level of awareness and proficiency for working effectively across cultures according to the five guidelines recommended by the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. Participants will learn to define culture and identify ways in which culture influences communication. They will also learn to identify effective pastoral responses, principles and practices that will contribute and shape ministry in intercultural settings.
The five modules of training will be presented include: Module 1 – Frames issues of diversity theologically in terms of the Church’s identity and mission to evangelize; Module 2 – Seeks an understanding of culture and how it works; Module 3 – Develops intercultural communication skills in pastoral settings; Module 4 – Expands one knowledge of the obstacles which impede effective intercultural relations; Module 5 – Fosters ecclesial integration rather than assimilation in Church settings with a spirituality of hospitality, reconciliation and mission.
Clergy, religious and lay ministers from the Diocese and from neighboring dioceses will present at the workshop. All are experienced, have served in multicultural ministry settings and have been trained to present BICM from the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.
Participants must register in advance and attend both sessions in order to complete the training. Registration fee is $20, which includes a workbook and lunch is provided.
For more information and to register, contact Sandra Lopez at 609-403-7138 or slopez@dioceseoftrenton.org.