USCCB - (MRS) - Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity

Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity

On November 15, 2000 the Bishops of the United States unanimously approved a Pastoral Statement titled: Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity. Designed for pastors, lay ministers and Catholic faithful at the diocesan and parish levels, this document from the U.S. bishops challenges us to prepare to receive newcomers with a genuine spirit of welcome.

Since that time, as mandated by the Bishops, the Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees (PCMR) has been spearheading a national program of implementation for the Pastoral Statement. This implementation program has included the development of a number of accompanying educational materials and aides in multiple languages (as listed below); a regional training program on the message of the pastoral for bishops and diocesan leaders, and a grant program to assist dioceses in their own action plans to implement the statement. PCMR completed the "Unity in Diversity" regional training program in June of 2003 and is now focused upon the "replicating of best practices" that have been developed in the dioceses as a result of their participation in the training and their subsequent local planning and implementation efforts.

Best Practices
"Unity in Diversity"
Implementation Efforts

Pastoral Statement and Accompanying Materials

Bishops' Statements

Called to Welcome the Stranger brochures (in pdf format)

Unity in Diversity Parish Resource Kit

Entire Parish Kit in pdf format
English (text only)
Spanish (text only)
Unity in Diversity Graphics (in pdf format)

Order Information for Pastoral Statement and Accompanying Materials

Implementation Programs

Replicating Best Practices

Diocesan Action Plan Implementation and Grant Program

Regional Training Program for Bishops and Diocesan Leaders [Completed June 2003]