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

Introduction / From Guests to HostsIntroductionintroductionIn 2005, Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett promulgated a guidingvision of encuentro and communio in his pastoral statement,A Future Full of Hope. This vision calls the Church toacknowledge and embrace the cultural, ethnic and linguisticdiversity of all its members while strengthening the unity of theOne Body of Christ. It is this vision that sets the foundation forour current efforts to empower Hispanic Catholics into a moreenthusiastic participation in the life and mission of the Church.In August of that year, Archbishop Brunett convoked ahistoric Summit on Hispanic Ministry. His desire wasto infuse his vision of encuentro and communio into adynamic vision for Hispanic ministry, thus strengthening theChurch’s response and commitment to the growing Hispanicpresence in the Archdiocese. Echoing the reflection of theBishops of the United Sates, Archbishop Brunett affirmedthat the Hispanic community living among us is a blessingfrom God. Archbishop Brunett spoke of the importance ofwelcoming and embracing new Hispanic immigrants and tobe open to the way in which they reinvigorate the faith ofthe local Church. During the Summit, the Archbishop challengedthe participants, who included deans, pastors, anddeacons, religious, parish staffs and key leaders in Hispanicministry to consider the following elements as they articulateda vision for Hispanic ministry:h Root out all stereotyping of Mexican and Hispanic immigrants;h Encourage parish communities to welcome the integrationof new immigrants into all aspects of parish life;h Strengthen seminary training so that all future priests willbe equipped with the language and cultural understandingsrequired to serve in Hispanic ministry;h Develop among Hispanic immigrants a sense of belonging,ownership and stewardship as a way of supporting andstrengthening the ministry to and from Hispanic Catholics.h Encourage and protect a strong sense of family life andvocation already present among Hispanic people.The Summit provided the Archbishop with clear areas offocus, supporting and enhancing current areas of Hispanicministry and also suggested new initiatives. Based on the outcomeof the Summit, and taking into account the directionssuggested by the USCCB in the area of Hispanic ministry,Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S., developed a proposal tomove forward with Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese. InNovember 2005, Archbishop Brunett approved the proposalafter consultation with the Presbyteral Council. The goals ofthe proposal included:h Make real the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council vision ofCommunio and Encuentro as articulated in A Future Fullof Hope;h Provide a strategic plan for an archdiocesan Hispanicministry in response to the priorities identified at theAugust 2005 Summit;h Enable and support individual deanery plans for Hispanicministry;1