Photo: Columbans Fiji
An intercultural challenge in a parish
The crisis was looming. The two priests in the one parish reacted rather differently towards people asking about a marriage or infant baptism. Fr Hans, the parish priest from Switzerland, was highly concerned about Church law, so most people took their request to the assistant, Fr Rudy, the assistant from the Philippines. Friction and disagreement arose between the priests and these two good men tried to find a solution.
They divided the parish geographically between them. They also agreed to assess individual cases and, where warranted, each would send some individuals to the other priest. Fr Hans would refer those doing their best but, because of circumstances, were not able to fulfil the rigours of Church law, while Fr Rudy would refer those simply looking for the easy way out to Fr Hans to be challenged with the principles.
This arrangement did not just avoid a conflict situation. It actually provided an enrichment in diversity. Both accepted the need for individualist culture that values both principle and law. They also saw the importance of communal culture that prioritises human relationships. That allowed them to integrate different values and interests in pastoring the parish.
The intercultural challenge in Fiji
Fiji has two major ethnic groups with quite different cultures. Politicians have stoked ethnic tensions that boiled over in four military coups between 1987 and 2006. Things have improved since, but the indigenous Fijians, or I Taukei, and ethnic Indians, or Indo-Fijians, still live separate social lives. They are largely disinterested in each other’s history and culture. Stereotypes and prejudice can still result in discrimination and hostility.
The Catholic Church can act as a bridge. Other Christian Churches have separate ethnic worship, but Catholics of all ethnicity belong to the same parish and worship together in the same Church. Catholics have Mass in English, in Fijian and in Hindi and sometimes the three languages are heard in the same Mass. Parishioners of different ethnicities belong to the same parish sectors. These sectors lead the Sunday liturgies in turn and collect money together for the parish bazaar.
Columbans have promoted intercultural dialogue among all ethnic communities, but especially between the ethnic Fijian and ethnic Indian communities. They have organised courses for leaders, weekend workshops for parishes, and handbooks of intercultural exercises for schools. Columbans pioneered supervised immersion experiences for I Taukei (indigenous Fijians) with Indo-Fijian families during their seminary pastoral year. The goal was having diocesan priests who are with people of a different culture.
The intercultural challenge for Columbans
The Columban Society, though originally European, is now multi-cultural. Its missionaries preach an inclusive message of salvation to the people they are sent to, so they themselves must live as an intentional, intercultural community. They must witness among themselves what they preach to others.
However, all of us have blocks to genuine communion. Ethnocentrism means we believe that our way is best, and our culture is superior to other cultures. Stereotypes are the rigid black and white beliefs we have about others. Prejudices are the unchanging negative attitudes we have towards outsiders. These are natural group defences, but we have to give them up in a pluralist world if we are to live together in peace and with justice.
Columbans missionaries, along with others, struggle to get rid of these obstacles. An example from an international meeting I remember is one asking another of the same nationality why their compatriots from a country where that priest had worked behaved in a certain way. His answer was, “Why don’t you ask them?”
We need to learn to dialogue openly and respectfully with each other about our differences. We must understand and appreciate the values of the cultures of fellow members. Then we can witness to an inclusive message of salvation.
People who accept intercultural diversity change for the better. Opening to difference broadens our minds. It makes us more aware of our own cultural values and attitudes. It is exciting to discover, by empathic listening and sharing, a deep bond with people of a different culture. The enlightenment brings new perspectives to bear on situations, as the Swiss and Filipino priests discovered.
A tool for dialogue
I recently prepared a Shorter Columban Intercultural Handbook to help groups ask questions respectfully in a safe space, be open to questions themselves, and develop an ability to dialogue with others.
It has exercises that can uncover personal, family and cultural meanings. Other exercises facilitate mutual dialogue about behaviour. Some topics evoke experiences and feelings for sharing. There are checklists, which leadership teams can use to examine community structures and processes. Examination of practical aspects of life like food, control of the television, levels of noise and other commonly disputed things are also grist for the mill. The handbook ends with dialogue on prayer and scripture.
I hope that the shorter handbook may help prepare Columbans to witness to the kingdom of God. As a bit of colloquial wisdom has it: When do we know that dawn has come? When we see in our neighbour the face of a brother or sister. Until then it is still dark.
Columban Fr. Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
