The Parish Pastoral Care and the Immigrants

Abstract

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs more and more people come to Poland in order to settle here. Although Poland is considered to be one of the least attractive countries in the European Union for incomers, many of them marry Polish citizens, find a job, study or start their own business in Poland. Such people live in big cities as well as in towns, becoming the members of local communities. Some of them are Catholics of various denominations, others are Christians from other Churches, some are non-believers or remain indifferent to any religion. They all, however, constitute a challenge for pastoral care of the family which aims at bringing them closer to Christ. Parish pastoral care priests, as it is indicated in the teaching of the Church, can undertake various initiatives according to the religious or denominational affiliation of the immigrants and their needs. The forms of assistance of pastoral care priests involve satisfying spiritual, psychological and material needs of incomers. However, the main aim of pastoral care is to integrate the newcomers with the local community.