Hispanic Ministries

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Mt. 25:35) These words of Our Lord remind us that faith is not an individual activity. We do not live out the Gospel in isolation. We are part of a family of faith; we are part of the Body of Christ. As part of this Body, we have a duty and obligation to others—especially to the newest among us.

Archbishop Flynn greeting members of the Latino community.

This issue of the Update features our Office of Hispanic Ministry and the support offered to the Latino community through our Archdiocese. Although some in the community settled here generations ago, many Latinos are new to our shores. As new arrivals to our country, they face the challenges of finding work, securing adequate housing, and providing for their children.

We understand that “undocumented immigrants face special hardships… discrimination in the workplace and on the streets, the constant threat of arrest and deportation, and the fear that they or their children will be denied medical care, education or job opportunities.” (Welcoming the Stranger Among Us, NCCB, p.11)

This statement by the National Council of Catholic Bishops goes on to say that “without condoning undocumented migration, the Church supports the human rights of all people and offers them pastoral care, education, and social services, no matter what the circumstances of entry into this country, and it works for the respect of the human dignity of all— especially those who find themselves in desperate circumstances.” (p.11)

It is my prayer that all of us would welcome the newest among us. We can acknowledge each other’s presence by a greeting or a smile. We can worship together and learn of each other through parish involvement and parish festivals. And we who are citizens can become acquainted with immigration policies and work toward changes that honor the dignity of all people.

In these ways, we strengthen the Body of Christ, extend Christian charity to our brothers and sisters, and witness to the world around us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn, D.D.
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

First printed in The Archbishop's Update, Spring, 2004

The Hispanic Ministry Leadership Team: Strengthening Our Latino Community

Anne Attea and Estela Villagrán Manancero

Our Archdiocesan efforts to reach out to the Latino community are led by the Hispanic Ministry Leadership Team: a 19-person team, including priests, deacons and lay people from the parishes who are serving Hispanics. The team, formed in 1997, functions both as a visioning board and a working team. The team’s efforts are coordinated by Anne Attea, Director for Hispanic Ministry. Together, they work to achieve the mission of the Latino community: to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by being full, active and prophetic participants in the life of the Church and society.

“Prophetic means to live Gospel values and denounce the injustices that happen in our community and society as a whole,” said Attea, “...to have a commitment to prioritize our lives around our God, people and community rather than material goods and images,” she added. “This community has much to offer us: deep spirituality, a sense of family and connectedness, and the richness of their cultural traditions and customs.”

Father Larry Hubbard baptizing children at Sagrado Corazón de Jesús community, which worships at Incarnation Catholic Church in South Minneapolis.

The need for connectedness has led to an Archdiocesan effort to form small base communities, or faith sharing groups of Latinos. Home Mission Team Coordinator Estela Villagrán Manancero works with leaders of parishes to form, train and mentor these faith sharing groups that meet once or twice a month in people’s homes.

“People come together to pray in their own language, study the Word, share their faith and be a community to each other, and to support and encourage each other,” said Manancero. The communities pioneered by Padre Lorenzo, Father Larry Hubbard, are now in 18 parishes. “People face so many difficulties. They work two to three jobs so they don’t have time to learn the language. They cannot afford medical care and some are undocumented and underground,” shared Manancero. “The small church community becomes their family.”

“For the Latino people, the place they most want to be is in Church. It is a place to feel support and to get their real needs met,” said youth volunteer and leader Rico Sotelo.

Participants in the two-year Leadership Training program.

In order to assist members in the community, more than 50 women and men from 14 parishes will complete a two-year leadership course, the Hispanic Leadership Development Initiative, this June. “It’s designed to give people a theological grounding and practical tools for parish development,” said Attea. “Participants are already providing ongoing leadership and mentoring in their parishes—like serving as catechists or helping to train new lectors,” Attea shared.

Deacon Carl Valdez and his wife, Gretchen, at Assumption Catholic Church in Richfield, reach out to the Latino community in Richfield, Bloomington and Eden Prairie.

Deacon Carl Valdez, who is currently supporting the Hispanic community in Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Richfield out of Assumption parish in Richfield, said, “the people themselves are taking responsibility. We have catechists, pastoral ministers, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, and people in charge of marriage preparation and hospitality—all from the community. This community is not here just to receive something, but to participate and to give.”

Ministry Team Leadership Priorities and Efforts

  1. EVANGELIZATION AND OUTREACH
    • The Home Mission Team Coordinator reaches out to the Latino community, visits people in their homes and helps establish small faith-sharing communities (18 parishes).
    • Outreach is done by all pastoral agents working in Hispanic Ministry in a variety of ways: parish outreach, prison ministry, hospital visits, street ministry, etc.
  2. ADULT/YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY FAITH FORMATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
    • 50 Adults from 14 parishes will complete a two-year leadership training course in June 2004
    • 12-30 Leaders have attended Spanish ICLM* courses, such as Ecclesiology, Christology, and Pastoral Theology
    • 11 Parishes offer full sacramental preparation; in addition, three other parishes offer Baptism/First Communion preparation
    • 3 Parishes offer Bible studies
    • 4 Pre-marriage retreats offered per year; two marriage retreats offered per year
    • A Retrouvaille retreat is offered annually for couples with marriage problems
    • Monthly youth days, organized and implemented by the youth, draw approximately 60 attendees each month
  3. LITURGICAL WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING 150 catechetical leaders are already trained; 100 liturgical ministers are already trained
  4. IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES Some parishes have strong social justice committees and focus on immigration and housing issues, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe parish and Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, the Latino community which worships at the Church of the Incarnation in South Minneapolis.
  5. PARISH OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT Attea and Manancero work with predominantly Anglo parishes and schools that are seeking to reach out and minister effectively to the Latinos in their midst, such as St. Odilia in Shoreview and St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center.