Bridging the gap
Subtitle: the opportunities and challenges of international priests ministering in the United States
By: Mary L. Gautier, Melissa A. Cidade, Paul M. Perl, Mark M. Gray
Contributors: Cidade, Melissa A., author; Perl, Paul M., author; Gray, Mark M., author; Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (U.S.)
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Huntington, Indiana
Language: eng
Number of pages: 155
ISBN-13: 9781612787367; 9781612783376
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: Clergy; Immigrants; Clergé; Catholic Church; Église catholique
Description: "International priests bring their unique enthusiasm, talents, and pastoral care to parishioners all over the United States. Essential to the pastoral ministry of the Church, they find great joy in their work. But these joys come with challenges, ranging from language barriers to homesickness to cultural misunderstandings, and more. Through in-depth research and data from a variety of sources, researchers from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) provide insight into: the history of international priests serving the United States, the current situation and emerging trends, how and why these decisions are made about bringing priests from outside the United States to serve in parishes here, the highs and lows of their acculturation and ministry, how to welcome and ease the transition for these men and the parishes they serve. The research presented in this one-of-a-kind book will help everyone--bishops, priests, Church leaders, and all laity--to understand and appreciate the ministry of these men and learn how to work together even more effectively"--Back cover.
Notes: Includes foreword by Rev. Ronald Rolheiser and Rev. Ronald N. Carignan.

"Inventory no. T1446"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 143-147) and index.
Table of contents: title: History of international priests serving in the United States; title: Contemporary trends in the use of international priests in the United States; title: Characteristics of international priests and acculturation in the United States; title: Parish life and the international priest : two perspectives; title: Satisfaction with ministry and challenges in ministry; title: Lessons and implications from the research.