Catholic Extension, a papal society that provides funding to strengthens and supports poor mission dioceses in the United States, began a new initiative aimed at positively impacting Hispanic ministry in the country. The 2012 national Hispanic Lay Leadership Initiative is a three-year commitment to fund the salaries of 100 Hispanic lay leaders in mission dioceses across the United States. After three years the diocese will be responsible for continuing to fund the position.
Garcia began her new ministry as the Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach to Hispanic Young Adults on Aug. 3. While some parishes have Hispanic young adult groups already, many struggle and are seeking support and guidance at the diocesan level.
“I remember I had a gathering for Hispanics in pastoral juvenil without specifying I was looking for adolescents and the people who I got were all working with young adults,” Garcia said. “It was not really my ministry but I started to see their needs and was able to do limited outreach. They didn’t have a place to go to or someone to speak for them.”
Now in her new ministry, Garcia aims to gather the different groups, which vary in size and format, and build a strong foundation for formation, leadership building and support.
“It will have a huge impact on the diocese,” Garcia said. “It’s been needed for a long time. They have been doing this on their own for so long.”
The first phase of a three-year plan will identify leaders involved in Hispanic young adult ministry and form a consultative council. The Diocesan Hispanic Young Adult Ministry Council will meet regularly throughout the year.
“Within the first two years, we expect to see new faces and young adults engaging in existing activities and programs in the diocese,” Garcia said.
Several parishes with very active Hispanic communities have been identified. These parishes will be surveyed to assess the Hispanic young adult ministry in the parish.
On Dec. 8, the ministry will be offering its first mission trip to Mecca, where they will be donating 1,000 pairs of shoes. The ministry is inviting members from all active parish young adult ministries to participate.
Next year the ministry plans to hold event, tentatively set for Aug. 17, to launch the diocesan ministry.
“We want to have one big event a year for the young adults to come together,” Garcia said.
Eventually the ministry will offer resources, and formation opportunities. A yearly survey in the parishes will be conducted to measure participation at the parish and diocesan level.
“For me this is a calling,” Garcia said. “God is helping me and I’m really excited. I see this as a blessing and I hope to be an instrument for the young adults to come closer to God and experience the Church to the max.”