V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 107 • Mentor Hispanic/Latino high school students in their educational settings and in their parishes to talk about the process of applying for and succeeding in college. • Leaders in Catholic education and pastoral ministry should unite their voices to engage other leaders in society (e.g., legislators, politicians, community organizers, etc.), advocating for immigration rights and support of initiatives such as DACA and TPS. V. Resources The following resources were recommended by presenters and participants of the V National Encuentro : • Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU – http://www.accunet.org ). • Excelencia in Education ( http://www.edexcelencia.org/ ). • Hispanic Scholarship Fund ( http://www.hsf.net/ ). • Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE - http://www.piqe.org/ ). • Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities ( http://www.hacu.net/hacu/default.asp ). VI. Ministerial Area Team • Episcopal Moderator: Most Rev. Richard Malone, Bishop of Buffalo. • Co-Leaders: Barbara Humphrey-McCrabb and Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D. • Panelists: Rev. Carl Janicki, Fabrine DeOliveira, Andrea Garcia, and Claudia Herrera. 12. HISPANICS IN PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE I. Vision With its focus on evangelization, the V Encuentro has highlighted the important role Hispanics/Latinos can play in public and professional life to build and strengthen a culture of encounter in the United States. Latino educators, business owners, lawyers, artists, politicians, community organizers, medical professionals, social workers, philanthropists, first responders, athletes, media personalities, and many others are positioned to infuse the culture with gospel principles and values. The Church must identify effective methods to partner with Hispanic professionals and foster their community leadership for the common good. II. Social and Religious Context in Hispanic Ministry • Latinos of Catholic heritage are increasingly finding a place among the business owners and professionals in their communities, yet too few are actively involved in their faith community or willing to draw a public connection between their faith and their action in the world. • A significant number of Hispanic professionals have disaffiliated from the Catholic Church, choosing to share their gifts in other ecclesial communities or outside of any organized religious body. Some find no support in Hispanic ministry that focuses its attention narrowly on recent immigrants and the poor. • Public and professional life present unique challenges to living the faith in the world, perhaps even more so for Latinos who face countless social obstacles to their success. Support groups for Latino Catholic professionals or finding spaces for them to exercise their gifts in community can make all the difference. • There are many immigrant professionals who cannot practice their profession due to immigration status or lack of recognition for credentials obtained in another country. • There is a perceived need to form communities in which Hispanic professionals can engage like-minded individuals to face the challenges of living their Catholic faith in the workplace, having a work-family-faith balance, and receiving spiritual formation to deepen their faith lives. Ministerial Area Sessions