Pastoral Ministry with Migrant Workers: A Challenge Within the Croatian Context

Within the space and time in which it exists and acts, the Church in Croatia is called to discern the signs of the times. One of the visible signs of the times presented to it for discernment are migrant workers. Migration is a defining reality of the contemporary world, and within this world the Church, at universal and local levels, carries out the mission entrusted to it by Jesus Christ. Today we are seeing a phenomenon of migration that is unprecedented in scale. It is a matter that affects all continents and is becoming an increasingly global reality. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the current pastoral ministry among migrant workers in Croatia and to propose guidelines and initiatives aimed at establishing a systematic, coordinated, and high-quality pastoral ministry for migrant workers. The first section of the paper offers a brief presentation of the teaching of the Church’s Magisterium on the phenomenon of migrants. The presentation of the Church’s Magisterium on the phenomenon of migrants provides a substantial foundation for both theological-pastoral reflection and practical pastoral action with and for migrant workers in Croatia. Since this is a relatively new phenomenon in Croatia, the paper draws chiefly on relevant Church documents and then presents examples of good practice that may provide impetus for further pastoral engagement. The teaching of the Church’s Magisterium on the phenomenon of migrants helps, in the spirit of the Gospel and of the synodal Church we aspire to, in understanding and accepting migrant workers and in establishing proper, useful, and effective pastoral work with them. For this reason, the second section of the paper examines the situation and highlights the challenges in pastoral engagement with migrant workers in Croatia. Examples of good practice realised or currently being realised in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, are presented, with particular attention to the challenges accompanying such pastoral work.