On January 1, 2008, a reorganization of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) went into effect and one of the results of this was the creation of one of the committees of the bishops' Conference, the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. The Department for Evangelization will sponsor the Annual Diocesan Multi-Cultural Mass being held on Friday, Jan. 29 at the Corpus Christi Cathedral. The celebration will begin at 5:45 p.m. with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the praying of the holy rosary in different languages.

On January 1, 2008, a reorganization of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) went into effect and one of the results of this was the creation of one of the committees of the bishops' Conference, the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. At a time of dramatic demographic shifts in parishes, dioceses and regions throughout the country and in the ranks of the clergy, religious and lay leaders, the mandate of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church is to minister to migrant farm workers, circus workers and people on the move. The U.S. Bishops have genuinely expressed a desire to see cultural diversity integrated into the broad range of USCCB activities and pastoral concerns.

The Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers (PCMRT), one of the five subcommittees of the Committee on Cultural Diversity serves by conceptualizing the goals and priorities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The initiative undertaken by the subcommittee is the appointment of the Bishop/Episcopal Liaisons to the following: Apostleship of the Sea (Maritime Ministry), Airport Chaplaincy, Brazilian Apostolate, African Ministries, Caribbean Ministries, Circus and Traveling Show Ministries, and Migrants Farm workers. The Episcopal liaisons encourage and support pastoral outreach to the various ethnic groups and people on the move groups and represent the Subcommittee in events and gatherings. In addition, the PCMRT appointed three consultants who bring diverse experience to work with the Subcommittee. National advisers from different ethnic backgrounds and people on the move groups were also appointed. These national advisers serve as resource to the PCMRT Subcommittee and staff and help in an outreach to a particular ethnic community/people on the move ministry.

The PCMRT carries out a number of ongoing activities in pursuit of its mandate to be the pastoral presence of the U.S. Catholic bishops to these diverse groups. It is also good to note that a good number of these groups and communities are very much organized. However, some recently arrived groups and communities that are just starting need help and appropriate pastoral assistance. The newly arrived immigrants, refugees, travelers and people on the move need the help of Bishop's Conference. These categories of people do not have much structural support. The Church is providing a unique opportunity for these groups to form a strong Catholic identity here in the United States. The needs of these diverse groups are many. There is a wide range of situations faced by these groups that include Catholic and non-Catholic refugees as well as lifestyle groups whose reality does not easily fit into normal pastoral structures. But all in all, the spiritual and pastoral care provided by the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers is a significant aspect of how the bishops exercise pastoral leadership and care.