NACFLM Professional Development Conference Call Hispanic Ministry: Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Martha Marin and Lydia Pesina December 19, 2013

Hispanics constitute the largest minority group in the U.S. (51, 927, 158/16.7 % of the population) (according to the 2011 Pew Hispanic Center under the Pew Research Center) Similarities and Differences Strong common traits among the different Spanish speaking cultures. Hispanics tend to be conservative/traditional in their cultural lifestyle.  “machismo” in the male / more clearly defined male/female roles  Family as the nucleus of Hispanic life  Show a strong identification with as well as strong feelings of loyalty and solidarity with nuclear and extended family members  Sense of obligation to provide material and emotional support to members of nuclear and extended family. These traits are especially evident in new immigrants. Distinct differences with the Hispanic community when it comes to aspirations and behaviors which are very much shaped by their own family of origin experiences, education, and number of generations in this country.

One of the challenges is to provide good formation and well prepared ministry programs to a population that is in and of itself diverse in language, culture, and socio-economic status. Special considerations needed to take into account to provide effective ministry programs include the following: 1. The wide spectrum of levels of enculturation and acculturation among Hispanics. 2. Language diversity within a family: E/E, S/S, B/E w/B/S, E/S, E/B, S/B, ETC. and educational diversity. 3. The growing number of Hispanic immigrants in all areas of the country, not just the Southwest. 4. The growing need for special programs such as for Convalidation Preparation of Hispanics as an integral part of parish and diocesan ministry programs.

The challenges and some possibilities for addressing them: 1. Materials/Programs/ and Structures, 2. Leadership Formation 3. Evangelization

1) Materials/Programs/and Structures  Materials are typically translated from English versions and therefore may not reflect the particular Hispanic culture.  Good ministry materials do not necessarily have to be prepared specifically for Hispanics or any other cultural group to be effective.  It is not an either/or proposition. If Spanish and English language materials are designed specifically with Hispanics in mind are available: great, however, the most effective ministry tool will always be the family ministers and the families who will enflesh the cultural messages with their own experiences.  Advocate for same materials/same content/same format/different languages for family ministry whenever possible.  In keeping the programs the same in content and quality, the ministry with Hispanics does not become peripheral.  As for the structures of Family Ministry, the more variety in day, time and length we can have available to all families with difficult work schedules which includes many of the Hispanic poor, the better we can serve them without shortening or shortchanging them.

2) Leadership Formation  Need of adequately prepared family ministers that can support and/or deliver programs across the board.  Need for all pastoral agents: ordained, lay ecclesial ministers, and volunteers to learn Spanish and/or have some basic knowledge and sensitivity to Hispanic cultures.  Programs such as are available through MACC, the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio are ideal for language and culture immersion.  Nationally available family ministry formation courses such as our own NACFLM’s Ministries with Families 101 which is available in Spanish provide good ministry formation.

3) Evangelization  There exists a widespread need for evangelization among all cultures, including Hispanic cultures.  Many families are not well versed in nor regularly practice the Catholic faith, and may have misconceptions about Catholic teachings on topics such as sexuality, sacraments, and the differences between civil and Church marriages.  All family ministry programs across the life cycle can be great evangelization in that more often than not Hispanic families turn or return to the Church as they discover a welcoming community and a reassurance that their lives are sacred and that as family they are a Domestic Church.  Concrete evangelizing efforts need to be incorporated into all family ministry programs so as to initiate or reawaken the vocation received at Baptism.

The good news is that much of what is needed to offer comprehensive, quality family ministry to and with Hispanics is already available: programs in Spanish, training and formation opportunities, and evangelizing efforts to minister effectively. These provide opportunities to creatively adapt available resources to provide good comprehensive ministry programs to the particular Hispanic population each parish/diocese serves.

Some questions we might address in shaping the future direction of Ministry to Hispanics are: 1. How do we promote and augment what is currently available in materials and resources, especially in Spanish, so that Hispanics can most benefit from them? 2. How do we provide training and formation to all Pastoral agents serving the Spanish speaking as well as educate on some of the basic understandings of Hispanic cultures? 3. What creative ways can be utilized to assist parishes with few Spanish speaking Pastoral agents in ministering to the Spanish speaking? (Ex. Ministry DVDs or Training DVD’s for volunteers) 4. How do parishes and dioceses minister effectively to migratory populations that are constantly in flux? (ex. Connecticut)