V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 3 September 10, 2019 Dear brothers and sisters, For the last two and a half years, we have been walking together in this journey that is the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. How our hearts have burned with the joy of encountering Jesus Christ along the way and have come to better understand our vocation as missionary disciples! Just as on the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, we are reminded today that we have all received power in the Holy Spirit to be Witnesses of God’s Love to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Through the pages of these Proceedings and Conclusions , we invite you to enter into the experience of the Five Moments of the V Encuentro National Event that brought the consultation process to a conclusion: Taking the First Step, Getting Involved, Accompanying, Bearing Fruit, and Rejoicing. These are the steps that our Holy Father Pope Francis has identified to help every one of us to embrace and experience what it means to be a Church that goes forth in joy to evangelize the spiritual and existential peripheries of the world ( Evangelii Gaudium , 20-24). In this experience, you will come to understand that the V Encuentro process is not yet complete—each and every one of us has an important role to play in its fulfillment in the dioceses, parishes, schools, communities, ecclesial movements, organiza- tions, and institutions that constitute the Catholic Church in the United States. What you will find in these pages is a summary of the needs and situations, challenges and opportuni- ties, hopes and dreams, gifts and talents, insights, recommendations, strategies, and successful prac- tices for the pastoral care and accompaniment of the Hispanic/Latino people of the United States in our day. More than 142,000 missionary disciples gave countless hours of their time, including visits to over 211,000 people in the peripheries, to document their experiences and contribute their collective wisdom to the process. We have reviewed these conclusions, and we wholeheartedly invite everyone involved in Hispanic/Latino ministry to make use of them to discern and develop creative responses to strengthen the evangelization and accompaniment of families and individuals, always in harmony with the bishops and pastors who have responsibility for their pastoral care. In the experience of this V Encuentro , we have come to understand what it means to be a synodal Church—a Church that never ceases listening to human hearts, bringing God’s mercy and love to those who need it most. May the joy of encountering Christ in one another, in the Eucharist and sacraments, in Scripture, and in every encounter in the peripheries encourage and sustain you as you live the call to be missionary disciples to the ends of the earth! Your brothers in Christ, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs 3211 Fourth Street NE • Washington, DC 20017-1194 Telephone: 202 -541-3350 • FAX: 202-541-5417 Email: mdavey@usccb.org Most Rev. Nelson Pérez Bishop of Cleveland Chairman, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church Most Rev. Arturo Cepeda Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Chairman, Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs