V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 101 • More and better resources need to be developed, and family counseling professionals identified, to help families suffering from deportation, separation, family conflicts, or who are struggling to transmit the Catholic faith and gospel values to their children—far too many of them are disaffiliating from Catholicism. • Most Catholic parents in the U.S. today with children at home are Hispanic, and only 53% of Hispanic households with children are headed by a married couple; another 20% are multigenerational where the grandparents may serve as caregivers while the parent(s) work. • Catholic parents strongly desire for their children to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion, yet more than two-thirds do not have their children enrolled in any faith formation. • Family prayer time is in decline, with most young parents preferring individual prayer and not doing enough to instill a habit of prayer in their children. • Cultural trends of hanging out in groups, online pornography, and casually hooking up have created a cultural challenge to traditional practices of dating, courtship, and the Catholic vision of marriage and family life. • Pitfalls such as machismo, domestic violence, lack of quality family time, and lack of integration into a parish community mark the majority of Hispanic family relationships. • Many immigrant families are striving to support their families both here and in their country of origin; in some cases, young fathers are supporting children in both countries. • The needs for formation are many and great, such as: » » Psychological and spiritual formation to help parents provide holistic guidance and care for their children, deal with social media issues, and strengthen prayer and faith formation at home; » » Catechesis and formation in Spanish or classes in English with translation; » » Opportunities to learn the English language, complete high school, or prepare for citizenship; » » Communication skills for building healthy marital relationships. III. Top Recommendations from the National Encuentro • Encourage and support Hispanics to seek higher education degrees and formation opportunities which focus on marriage and family, in order to take on leadership roles in the Church at the parish and diocesan levels, as well as in the broader social environment. • Apply the conclusions drawn from the entire V Encuentro consultation process, to create a local diocesan strategic plan focusing on the most important areas related to marriage and family. • Accompany young families and support, encourage and mentor them; foster family prayer and family meals; and offer events which focus on evangelization and catechesis in the home. IV. Successful and Exemplary Practices • Ministry programs geared toward families at every stage of the family life cycle. • Workshops on communication and skills for building healthy relationships, especially in the marriage relationship and between parents and children. • Support for single mothers and separated parents, whether from divorce, deportation, detention, or other family traumas. • Legal, occupational, educational, andcommunal assistance—aswell as spiritual andpastoral accompaniment— for immigrant families striving to support their families both here and in their country of origin. • In marriage preparation and enrichment, provide accompaniment for couples with an intentional invitation to an encounter with Jesus and His Church. Ministerial Area Sessions