Dynamics of Integration Processes into the Netherlands of Migrant and Intercultural Couples Who Have Been Married in the Catholic Church

Migration is often a far-reaching event in the personal lives of
migrants to Western Europe, especially when there is a
background of war or persecution. This article aims at
investigating patterns of cultural transition (CT), intercultural
transition (IT), and cultural defence (CD), and values distilled from
12 semi-structured in-depth interviews with migrant and
intercultural couples who have been married in the Catholic
Church between 1995 and 2022. All couples live in the
Netherlands. Results show that patterns of CT (n = 86) are more
common than patterns of CD (n = 51) or IT (n = 22). From the
three categories of values, faith values have been mentioned
most often (n = 242), followed by family values (n = 132) and
societal values (n = 87). Implications for intercultural pastoral care,
faith education, and community building are mentioned.
Welcoming and listening to migrants fits in the recent worldwide
synodal process of the Catholic Church.