V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

150 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry • As we face the growing number of Hispanic young people, dioceses and communities need to strengthen their culture of vocations, including the accompaniment of young Hispanics, retreats, and “get to know you” days. • The accompaniment of couples both before and after marriage is inadequate. They need more help to meditate on the special gift of the loving relationship and the blessing that God has given them in it. • Clergy and laity should be more aware of the challenges facing young people today, especially Hispanics, so they can better respond to their spiritual and social needs. • Although we are witnessing an increase in overall vocations to the priesthood in many dioceses, we are not experiencing the same proportion of increase in the number of Hispanic vocations in our seminaries. • There are insufficient intentional Hispanic vocations ministry efforts, as well as a lack of institutional support for Hispanic youth, young adult, and pastoral juvenil ministries, and few opportunities for Hispanic vocations retreats at local and regional levels. • There is a need to promote diocesan and parish vocational reflection groups in Hispanic communities, among both immigrants and the U.S.-born. • We currently lack good training manuals that contribute to parish discussions on vocational topics. • The scarcity of vocations in Hispanic/Latino communities may be due to a lack of teamwork between clergy, lay ministers, and families. • Insufficient financial resources often impede young Hispanics from finishing high school or college, thereby limiting their possibilities of entering a seminary and pursuing graduate studies in theology. • Many strategies can be presented to increase Hispanic vocations, but there is no better strategy than having joyous well-trained priests engaged in multicultural ministry. • Many parishes and seminaries operate from a model of assimilation instead of ecclesial integration, therefore young Hispanics do not feel welcomed or understood in their culture. III. Top Recommendations from the National Encuentro • Encourage the cultural creation and development of vocations at both the family and parish level while using social media to open the dialogue on vocations. • Promote Hispanic bilingual vocations, including those in this country without legal documents. • Encourage the development of a comprehensive Hispanic youth ministry at a physical, spiritual, and formative level, where directors of vocation can periodically present the topic on vocations through different group settings and/or workshops. IV. Successful and Exemplary Practices • The promotion and creation of clergy-lay associations that actively work for vocational awareness of religious life and priesthood through prayer, dialogue, and formation. • Create materials and promote activities to form young adults and adults, both on a spiritual and social level.   • Give special attention to widows, divorcees, and young adults who are not married so that they can carry out various ministries and thus grow in their faith and charity. • Emphasize the sacramental quality and the sacredness of marriage to promote in future generations a knowledge of the universal call to holiness. • Conduct “Intercultural Competence” seminars for priests so they can be effective pastors of the Hispanic people, but also of all the immigrants they serve. Ministerial Area Sessions