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We, the bishops of the United States, have heard the voices of Hispanic leadersboth laity and clergy. We especially affirm those pastoral efforts of Hispanic ministry that promote the general objective and the specific dimensions of the 1987 National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry ("National Pastoral Plan" or "Pastoral Plan"). This pastoral statement, Encuentro and Mission: A Renewed Pastoral Framework for Hispanic Ministry, is addressed to all Catholics, but particularly to pastoral leaders involved in ministry among Hispanics
Encuentro & Mission: A Renewed Pastoral Framework for Hispanic Ministry
The Subcommittee for Hispanic Affairs celebrates the recent ordination of Bishop Cirilo Flores (March 19, 2009)
Cirilo Flores was born in Corona, California, on June 20, 1948. He attended Corona Unified School District, St. Edward School, Notre Dame High School, Riverside, and Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. He received a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford University Law School, Palo Alto, California, and received a Master of Divinity degree from St. John Seminary, Camarillo, in 1991. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1991.
 VOCATIONS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES OF THE UNITED STATES
National Association of Hispanic Priests (ANSH)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 13, 2008
Translated from Spanish by Fr. Allan Deck, S.J
English l Spanish |
Marriage and Family Ministry Among Hispanic/Latino Catholics: Perspectives, Challenges and Recommendations
By Alejandro Aguilera-Titus
In 1983 the Bishops of the Unites States wrote a pastoral letter on Hispanic ministry titled “The Hispanic Presence: Challenge and Commitment”. The pastoral letter brought great joy to Hispanic Catholics as they heard the bishops say: “At this moment of grace we recognize the Hispanic community among us as a blessing from God.” The bishops went on to say that Hispanics exemplify and cherish values that are central to the service of the church and society: A loving appreciation for God’s gift of life; a marvelous sense of community that celebrates life through fiesta; an authentic and consistent devotion to Mary, the Mother of God; and a deep and reverential love for family life, where the entire extended family discovers its roots, its identity and its strength.
Originally Published in ORIGINS on January 10, 2008. Volume 37. Number 30
"For more information about Origins, see www.originsonline.com
A Message from the Assistant Director
With more than 30 million Hispanic/Latino Catholics living in the United States, the future of the Church depends in great measure on the leadership that we offer and much in the same manner as the bishops describe it in Encuentro & Mission: A Renewed Pastoral Framework for Hispanic Ministry. The wealth of our historical memory, the ecclesial clarity of the Bishops documents on Hispanic ministry, and the vitality of our communities are some of the ingredients that generate the most promise in the Church today. I invite you to share, with even more generosity, your vision, perspectives, gifts and values in building the reign of God in your diocese and in the nation. In a special way, I invite you to seek creative ways to strengthen the Pastoral de Conjunto within your parishes and in your diocese. Let us continue being bridge- people as modeled in Encuentro & Mission. Let us live in joy today and tomorrow the call of Juan Paul II to "make the Church the home and the school of communion."
The Subcommittee Mandate
The subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs is under the direction of and assists the Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church by working collaboratively with the committee and other USCCB committees to affirm the gifts and contributions of Hispanic Catholics and to provide more opportunities for Hispanic Catholics to engage in the life of the Church and help shape its evangelization mission.
This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:
The subcommittee is directly responsible for outreach to Hispanic communities and to work closely with the subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees.