V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 137 » » Difficulty in communication and dysfunctional family dynamics, especially between generations. » » The rejection or absence of Gospel values ​in their social environment. » » Young Hispanics are seen only as the recipients of programs, not as a resource with which to enrich them. » » The Church has few programs or resources aimed at second and third-generation Latinos who only speak English. » » Some Hispanic/Latino parents are not comfortable leaving their teenage children (especially girls) in a youth group without a trusted chaperon. » » The rhythmof life and the obligations of young Hispanics in terms of work, study, family, and school activities makes it difficult for them to attend or participate in programs with limited scheduling options. » » Young Latinos frequently do not recognize their own gifts and talents, so they do not know how to put them at the service of society or the Church. » » The lack of legal immigration status—either their own or that of their parents. • Of all young Catholics, third-generation Hispanics are currently the most likely to abandon their Catholic identity as adolescents or young adults. • More than half of the adolescent Catholics in the U.S. today are Hispanic/Latino, and about 57% of them are the children of immigrants; the 17% that are immigrants are also the most likely to retain their Catholic identity into young adulthood. • Due to high rates of social problems among Latino youth, there is a great need for formation to avoid the pitfalls in life by practicing the virtues: chastity, vocational discernment, prayer, non-violence, self-control, and the discipline for hard work/study. • Youth ministry needs to do a better job of providing information about vocations—priesthood, diaconate, religious life, marriage, and the committed single life—in ways that respond to the culture, language, and lived experience of the youth. • The Church needs to improve its evangelization and outreach to young Hispanics/Latinos from their reality, in their language, utilizing inculturated materials with a focus on both immigrants and the U.S-born. • Out of the 176 Latin Rite territorial dioceses in the United States, only 31 currently have a paid staff person responsible for pastoral juvenil hispana . There is no comprehensive data about parish leaders. III. Top Recommendations from the National Encuentro • Develop family-based catechesis where parents and teens work together, as well as opportunities for Hispanic teens to share their faith in service opportunities and other parish events. • Contribute to developing of a comprehensive national pastoral plan for Hispanic youth ministry that takes into consideration the present reality of our Hispanic youth and families (social, economic, language, catechetical, moral, educational, needs, obstacles, gifts, opportunities, etc.). • Provide structured and solid formation for lay leaders to serve in youth ministry, helping them sustain a comprehensive youth ministry program that also engages families—not just focusing on the social, service, spiritual, or catechetical components—in order to develop authentic missionary disciples. IV. Successful and Exemplary Practices • Talk to parents after the Spanish Masses to assess current youth ministry offerings and develop new initiatives in response to needs that are currently not being met (language, day/time, focus, targeted segments of the youth, etc.). • Incorporate advocacy for Catholic education and planning for college into youth ministry programs and Ministerial Area Sessions