Pastoral Plan for HisPanic Ministry / From Guests to Hosts Hispanic ...

Appendix A — Engaging Hispanic Ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle Q & A / From Guests to Hostsknowledge of how to effectively develop or engage thisministry, and sometimes neglect at the decision-makinglevel.Q: How does a parish achieve the full ecclesial integrationof Hispanics?A: Good, consistent pastoral practices in parishes haveshown that Hispanics achieve full ecclesial integrationwhen a pastor and his staff take ownership of and becomeinvolved with the Hispanic community. This notonly averts potential pastoral problems, but approacheschallenge as opportunities for growth and building community,facilitating a process of integration from beingguests to hosts, from newcomers to stewards of the parishcommunity.Q: Are bilingual or multicultural Masses encouraged tobegin Hispanic ministry?A: The Archdiocese of Seattle does not generally encouragebeginning Hispanic ministry with a bilingual or multiculturalMass. For this to be of benefit to the local parishcommunity, all the cultural-ethnic groups involved,including the traditional community, must have anappreciation of each others cultures, gifts and contributionsand there must be a commitment to encuentro andcommunio by the local pastor and parish staff. However,bilingual or multicultural Masses should be sought ascommunity building opportunities, especially on parishwideor cultural feasts days.Q: Are parishes and Catholic organizations obligated toassist those who may have migrated into the UnitedStates without the proper documentation?A: Yes. We have no basis to be checking the immigrant statusof those seeking assistance, but we do have a moraland religious obligation to assist and nourish, both physicallyand spiritually, those in need.Q: But doesn’t this put us in conflict with civil law?A: No. Quite the contrary, the Gospel mandate “to loveand serve our neighbor” and the freedom to exercisereligion in the United States, become the bases in oursupporting the dignity of the immigrants who look forour assistance.Q: What about baptizing immigrants who do not have legaldocumentation?A: The parish may not refuse baptism on the basis of a lackof parish registration, immigration status, and/or language.Migrants and refugees are to be afforded the sameopportunity to have their children baptized and raisedin the Catholic faith as all other Catholics around theworld. Parishes should accommodate their preparationaround the life of migrants and newly arrived immigrants.Q: Does the same principle apply to marriage ceremoniesof immigrants?A: What is said of baptism can be said of all the sacramentsincluding marriage. Canon law notes that the faithfulhave a right to sacraments provided they are properlydisposed. Marriage preparation needs to be suited to thesituation of the Hispanic community while fulfilling therequirement of the Universal Church as well as the policiesand procedures of the Archdiocese of Seattle.Q: Sometimes couples request sacramental marriageswithout wanting them recorded or noted civilly due totheir legal immigration status, can we do this?A: No. In fact conducting such weddings even out of goodintention may be detrimental to the couple, their legalstatus and even the Church in unintended ways. While itis lamentable that the immigration system of the UnitedStates is quite challenging, those who attempt marriageswithout legal paperwork run the risk of being deportedand permanently banned from the United States.Q: But what about couples who get married civilly inMexico or in a civil ceremony at the Mexican consulatelocally and then want the Church to bless theirbond?A: The pastor can certainly bless the bond as a convalidation;however the couple, themselves, still run the samelegal risks should the United States government find outthey have attempted marriage while seeking a change oflegal status.Appendix A41