La chiesa nel contesto interculturale. Risultati da una ricerca

The multicultural change of Italian society urgently requires that the church community is also aware of the phenomenon and adequately trained to face its opportunities and risks, in the daily encounter between faithful of different cultural, linguistic and religious origins. The Diocese of Brescia has embarked on a journey to develop “good intercultural practices”, in which to involve both lay and consecrated pastoral workers. Research carried out by the CIRMiB (Center for Initiatives and Research on Migration) of the Catholic University of Brescia, interviewing a sample of 65 representatives from various pastoral fields, investigated the idea of interculturality that springs from the presence of foreigners in the local church community, and how these perceptions fall on the different\ r\ n sectors of church activities. Maddalena Colombo and Francesca Peano Cavasola, who respectively oversaw scientific supervision and field research, present the results of the project. Essential requirements emerge, such as a true awareness of diversity, a real integration of immigrants into the life of the church, and the willingness to approach each other.