STEWARDSHIP WITH HISPANICS Office of Hispanic Ministry Archdiocese of Denver

CHALLENGES 52 % Catholics in the Archdiocese of Denver are Hispanics, about 37 % nationwide. A very low percentage of Archbishop‘s Catholic Appeal comes from Spanish pledges A much larger percentage of ACA is used in Hispanic Ministry The future of the Church depends on Hispanic leadership and Hispanic contributions to the Church There is no concept of stewardship in spanish. There is not even a word for it. 1% Considering only spanish pledges, not considering those hispanics receiving and responding to a english letter Other 10% is reaised.

LEVELS OF CULTURE External cultural elements: Objects, sports, entertainment, fashion. This elements tend to globalize. Language, traditions and customs: spoken language, music, art, poetry, literature, forms to celebrate, enjoy, express; food, calendar of significant celebrations, etc. Systems and social institutions: Social, political, educational, economic, religious and artistic institutions. Cultural Values: Beliefs and attitudes coming from philosophy of life and idiosyncrasy of a ethnic group. Cosmo vision and profound understanding of life: This is the heart of Culture: World, God, humanity. The way we think and religion.

LEVELS OF CULTURE External cultural elements: Language, traditions and customs: Systems and social institutions: Cultural Values: Cosmo vision and profound understanding of life:

THE CULTURAL CHALLENGE Every person is born within a culture, but nobody is born with a culture Culture is learned during life through a process called: ENCULTURATION Culture is learned in two basic places: Home Society

THE CULTURAL CHALLENGE Acculturation: The modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture.

WHY HISPANICS DON’T GIVE? Hispanics have lower salaries Hispanics (especially immigrants) have financial commitments in their countries of origin Hispanics come from poor countries where they receive assistance instead of assisting. The Crown used to subsidize churches in the New Spain. Hispanics face uncertainty (especially if don’t have documents) Hispanic, understood as immigrant. A Median Hispanic household income is about 70 % of a White household median income Most of us send money to family and relatives in our countries We come from a culture of poverty, where having $8 dollar an hour is abundance and don’t know how administer the abundance You could lose your job at any time, Don’t want long term commitments

WHY HISPANICS DON’T GIVE? Hispanics come from corrupt countries Hispanics (especially Mexicans) have a history of trouble with church possessions Hispanics don’t feel they belong to the Church in the US (“Que digan que estoy dormido”) Hispanics have not developed a sense of ownership. We don’t trust institutions, we have been robed everytime we give money. There are many jokes about church’s money The current immigration enviroment has helped this sense of not belonging. At the end, we all want to go back to our countries. Hispanics feel most of the times tolerated by the church but not necesarilly welcomed.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? Revert the ideas and misconceptions Develop a sense of belonging Creating concrete opportunities to give Showing the use of money Giving concrete and reasonable suggestions on the amount to give (we suggest “one hour of share”, 2.5 %, to start) EDUCATION We should start by giving what we make in one hour of salary The parish can set the minimum amount/percentage Budgeting, ministry fair, prayer, bible, etc

DEVELOPING A SENSE OF BELONGING It is not creating a parallel church, but welcoming them. Make them feel at home away from home Your cannot expect them to give if you don’t give them first. (create an ecclesial space for them) Find “gente puente” (bridge builders) and include them in the decision making process.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM Implementing Stewardship as a way of life Stewardship becomes the evangelizing model of the parish Emphasize belonging and integration into the life and mission of our church At the end the parish implements the elements according to its reality. The success of program relies on the pastor and committee

ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM Stewardship of Time and Talent Stewardship of Treasure Stewardship of Faith Stewardship of Vocations Stewardship of Prayer Stewardship of the Earth Stewardship of Traditions and Cultural Values * We don’t use all these themes, at least not to start, up to 6 can be chosen

IMPLEMENTATION Get the pastor involved Create a spanish stewardship committee One month used to educate on each stewardship theme. Inclusion of lay witnesses Homilies Visual elements Education on the topic of the month Inclusion in the liturgies Written materials, such as Sunday bulletin Ask for “one hour of share” (2.5 %)

STEPS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE ASSITANCE FROM THE OHM Formal invitation from the pastor to start the program in his parish. The pastor selects a stewardship committee Training sessions with the committee by staff of the OHM (the number of sessions mostly depends on the characteristics of the group) Implementation I will not come to a parish if I am not invited by the pastor Invitation to the stewardship committee it’s crucial part of the process. A good selection is important The process will require full time commitment to this work.

CONTENTS OF TRAINING SESSIONS General overview and motivation Assessment of parish reality Assessment of our ideas (our parishioners) towards money and participation in the Church Development of strategies to overcome those negative ideas Selection of themes to be used. Implementation plan Design and approval of commitment cards

1st weekend of the Month Lay witness theme: belonging tied to the theme of the month Homily on belonging tied to the theme of the month Liturgical elements Visual elements Other elements included by committee with pastor’s approval.

2nd weekend of the Month Lay witness theme: Ownership/service tied to the theme of the month Homily on ownership/service tied to the theme of the month Liturgical elements Visual elements Other elements included by committee with pastor’s approval.

3rd weekend of the Month Lay witness theme: our gifts serving the wider community tied to the theme of the month Homily on our gifts serving the wider community tied to the theme of the month Liturgical elements Visual elements Other elements included by committee with pastor’s approval. ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITMENT WEEKEND ANNOUNCEMENT OF EDUCATION ACTIVITY (Ministry Fair, budgeting classes, prayer workshop, retreat, etc.)

4th Weekend of the Month Commitment cards previously distributed Brief Homily on the commitment Praying for the commitment we are about to make Filling out commitment cards Offering of commitment cards

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH No volunteers or ministries in the parish The only “active” group in the parish was the Perpetual Help group About $2,000 weekly collection Received a $2,000 a month from the AOD

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH after one year of stewardship The collection increased 100 %. From 2K to 4K per week Ministries developed: prayer group, charismatic group, youth group, young adults, stewardship committee, enough catechists, bible group, social ministries, 4 choirs, cursillo movement, christian family movement, etc (all done with volunteers) 461 registered to help in the parish (150 are still active) 3 potential vocations to the priesthood have come out of the parish. There were 14 retreats of evangelization in the parish last year.

NOTES We should choose up to 6 themes, so we can have a stewardship month and a non stewardship month The process should be done every year The parish should give money away to charity as a sign of the same commitment Pastor and vicar’s involvement is essential (they also fill out commitment cards) Evaluation and follow up every month Communicate your success