But what does that mean to Hispanics, and to those of other cultural backgrounds, for that matter?
This is the premise of V Encuentro of Hispanic Ministry, a four-year process of reflection and action within the Church called by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and considered a priority activity of their Strategic Plan for 2017-20. It will involve at least 175 dioceses in the United States and will include thousands of parishes!
Why a process of such magnitude?
First, the V Encuentro is a response to the large Hispanic Catholic presence in the US Catholic Church today. If you have not already had an opportunity to experience it, I invite you to participate in a Sunday Mass in Spanish, and look around. The church will probably be full to capacity and more. You will notice large numbers of younger families with their children. Many enthusiastic parishioners, well trained, will be involved in liturgical ministry, and the community will be singing and praying with “gusto,” with a special joy, and often clapping their hands. This is how they express that their Catholic faith is really an important part of their lives.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the total population of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States was 50.3 million, about 16% of the overall population. Of this number, 54% were native born U.S. citizens, and 43% were Catholic; less than half of them are under 25, and 60 % are under 18.
Notwithstanding, surveys indicate only about 30% of Hispanic Catholics are actively engaged in the practice of their faith. Many leave soon after they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or as Young Adults, and others argue they didn’t feel welcomed at their parishes or no longer believed.
We can say this reflects what has been happening within the overall Catholic community and other churches, and that it’s obvious that the influence of “the world around us” is affecting our membership. But this challenge has long been a concern of the USCCB, which has written numerous documents and taken different initiatives to try to sustain the faith of all our Catholic brothers and sisters.
Since the 1970’s there has been a serious effort coming from the USCCB, and priests, sisters and Catholic lay leaders from all over the country to find ways to support the faith requirements and needs of our growing Catholic Hispanic/Latino presence.
The main goal of the V Encuentro is to discern ways in which the Church in the United States can better respond to the Hispanic/Latino presence, and to strengthen the ways in which Hispanics/Latinos respond to the call to the New Evangelization as missionary disciples serving the entire Church.
The word encuentro in Spanish means “an encounter,” “to gather,” or “to come together.” You might also notice the number/letter before the word, V, for fifth. The reason is that there have been other Encuentros. They have been catalyst for developing ministries among Hispanics/Latinos during the past 50 years. Each of the previous Encuentros has been a watershed experience that has significantly changed the way in which the Church responds to the Hispanic/Latino presence, and the way in which Hispanics/Latinos respond as Church. The active and vibrant presence of Hispanic/Latino parishioners ministering today in our Church is a gift for the U.S. Church.
Some history about the Encuentros
• The I Encuentro in 1972 led to the creation of the Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs.
• The II Encuentro from 1975 to 1977 led to the creation of eight regional offices for Hispanic Affairs.
• The III Encuentro from 1982 to 1985 led to the creation of the Standing Committee of Hispanic Affairs, and the promulgation of the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry; giving the green light, and a clear vision, to dioceses and parishes to respond to the ever-growing Hispanic/Latino presence.
• Encuentro 2000 (The IV Encuentro) was multicultural and was held in Los Angeles. It helped the Church in the United States to recognize and appreciate its cultural diversity through a “New Pentecost” experience.
• The next one was from 2003 to 2006, and was the First National Encuentro for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and opened new pastoral avenues in ministry to and with the Hispanic/Latino young church.
So what are the plans for our diocesan participation in the V Encuentro?
Our Bishop, Gerald Barnes, is the Episcopal Liaison and heads the V Encuentro process for the Region 11 of the USCCB, which encompass California, Nevada and Hawaii. One of the things he has mentioned to different audiences is that “the V Encuentro is to be a Kairos of the Spirit for Hispanic Ministry. He says that the hour has come for Hispanic/Latino Catholics to question about the faith and the identity of the future generations.”
Following Bishop Barnes’ guidance, our Diocese has already started. Led by the Office of Hispanic Affairs, we held an initial meeting of diocesan priests, and religious and parish leaders at the Pastoral Center who were introduced to the process by Bishop Barnes. A Diocesan Committee was created to support the initiative.
A team of young adult leaders is visiting parishes and have already been received in Our Lady of Soledad, Coachella; St. Louis, Cathedral City; Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Bernardino; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Riverside; St Catherine of Siena, Rialto; St. Joseph, Fontana; St. Mary’s, Fontana; St. James, Perris, and St. Vincent Ferrer, Sun City. Plans are been made for the Diocesan Encuentro in the Summer of 2017. An Encuentro Team explained and introduced the process in each of the six Vicariate Meetings this Fall.
Early next year, Hispanic Catholics will gather either by parish or by clusters of parishes to take part in a five-session process of evangelization and consultation. Topics will include: “Called to a Loving Encounter with Jesus,” “With Words and Actions: Do it!” “Walking Together with Jesus,” “Bearing Fruits of New Life,” and “Celebrating the Joy of Being Missionary Disciples.” All of the learning materials will be in Spanish and English, depending on the needs of each parish, school, ecclesial movement, Catholic organization, institution, and ministry that takes part in the process.
I am happy to help with the coordination of the V Encuentro in the Diocese. I happened to have had the privilege of participating in the whole process of the III Encuentro from 1982 to 1985. From a parishioner and delegate at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac, Michigan, to diocesan delegate in the Archdiocese of Detroit, to regional delegate at Region IV meeting in Chicago, and finally had the honor of being a National delegate at the III Encuentro in Washington D.C. The gifts and the graces of those years’ experiences transformed my life and enriched my Catholic faith.
Two years after this experience I entered the community of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana. Since 1989 I have served in ministry in Southern California, in Los Angeles and San Bernardino. I invite you with enthusiasm to participate in this pastoral effort that will support our fellow brothers and sisters, and undoubtedly increase the faith, hope, and missionary activity of all of us. We are one body, and the more we know each other, pray, celebrate and walk together the happier and better Christians we all will be as missionary disciples.
Sister Marilu Covani is a former Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese and now serves as Coordinator of V Encuentro for the Diocese.