From Multi-culturality to Interculturality

The multicultural aspect of the world is a feature that is evident in the intermingling of many peoples and the manifestation of different cultures. But a multicultural world is not necessarily intercultural.
Let us start from the conviction that each culture has a value that does not surpass that of the other; the two intersect and complement each other. To begin to live in interculturality, each member must first get to know his or her own culture by having a personal experience; it will help to get to know other cultures.
Interculturality seeks an exchange between members of different cultures, languages and nations that will guide towards the common good.

Interculturality is an exercise to be done and lived every day. It asks us to get out of ourselves, out of our selfishness to go towards the other who is waiting for us.
It is also the mutual welcome and respect of the other, of his culture, his language, his behaviour and his habits in order to aim at a common goal.
It needs patience, tolerance, forgiveness, understanding, acceptance of oneself and of the other. Interculturality requires openness, breaking boundaries, going out of ourselves and meeting “others”.

We see Jesus with the Samaritan woman. We see Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, a journey together like Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, a journey of dialogue, exchange, mutual listening, discovery and sharing that leads us to sit around the same table for the same purpose. Cf Luke 24:13-35

It is an experience that helps to open up to the world, to go towards other horizons, to have another view of cultures. The person is no longer quite the same, he comes out of ignorance and embraces a new reality that leads him to a common FAITH project. This dimension of interculturality invites us to say “We” rather than “I”; by saying We, the members seek and find what is the common good.

Some challenges do not fail to arise in order to be able to live with people from other cultures. The fear of losing one’s own culture, the difficulty of opening up and learning the language of the other are some expressions of this.
Advantages: openness to interculturality shows our strength to live together; being interested in the other culture and seeing the other in the image of God.
It is true and necessary to come even closer to this aspect, through life, personal and community experiences.

Marcelline Mubata
Little Sister of the Assumption