V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

178 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry Colloquium, National Dialogue, Synod, and Other Initiatives The research insights from the V Encuentro consultation do not stand in isolation, but rather are part of a tapestry of experiences and consultations that have all emerged organically as a response to the invitation from Pope Francis: “This I ask you: be shepherds, with the ‘smell of the sheep,’ make it real, as shepherds among your flock.” 34 The first fruits of that effort for young Latinos in the U.S. were received and discussed at the National Colloquium on Ministry with Hispanic Youth and Young Adults, a joint effort between Boston College and the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana—La RED . The papers presented in that confer- ence have been published by Our Sunday Visitor in their 2018 book, Our Catholic Children: Ministry with Hispanic Youth and Young Adults , edited by Hosffman Ospino. As a partnership between the USCCB and four national ministry organizations 35 , the National Dialogue on Catholic Pastoral Ministry with Youth and Young Adults ( https://www. nationaldialogue.info/ ) is currently taking place at the time of this writing. Pastoral leaders in youth, campus, and young adult ministries, together with more than 80 national organizations and apostolates serving youth and young adults, are promoting facilitated conversations with young Catholics—including both engaged and disengaged/disaffiliated youth and young adults—as well as Catholic parents and families, and Catholic pastoral ministry leaders, in both English and Spanish. This process will help parishes and dioceses to reframe their ministries with young people in terms of mentorship and accompaniment, as well as provide a large set of national data to understand current needs and chart a course for the future of Catholic youth, campus, and young adult ministries. In a similar way, but on a much larger scale, the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” was preceded by an inter- national process of listening to the voices of hundreds of thousands of young people and those who work with them in pastoral ministry. In some ways, it could be said about the Synod that “the method is the message.” The concepts of dialogue and synodality were highlighted as key lessons throughout the process, becoming a tool to teach Catholic leaders everywhere what it means to take a synodal approach to pastoral planning, encounter, accompaniment, community, and mission. As the Holy Father stated in his post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation: “Youth ministry has to be synodal; it should involve a ‘journeying together’ that values ‘the charisms that the Spirit bestows in accordance with the vocation and role of each of the Church’s members, through a process of co-responsibility...’ In this way, by learning from one another, we can better reflect that wonderful multi-faceted reality that Christ’s Church 34 Pope Francis, Chrism Mass Homily , March 28, 2013. 35 The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana— La RED , the USCCB National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry, and the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA). Appendix B