V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

190 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry REGION X Pastoral Profile of Region X in Hispanic/Latino Ministry • Region X includes the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; the Archdioceses of Galveston-Houston, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio; and the Dioceses of Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Laredo, Little Rock, Lubbock, San Angelo, Tulsa, Tyler, and Victoria. • Diocesan personnel dedicated to Hispanic ministry in the Region: 52 • In offices of Hispanic ministry: 53 15 • Responsible for pastoral juvenil hispana: 6 • In ethnic/multicultural or other specialized offices: 8 • Office personnel assisting these leaders: 7 • Estimated Hispanic Catholic population: • 2,203,000 immigrant Hispanic Catholics • 3,893,000 Hispanic Catholics born in the U.S. • 72% of the Catholics in the Region are Hispanic/Latino • Parishes with Hispanic/Latino ministry: 853 • Masses in Spanish: • Weekly Masses: 1,528 • Once-a-month Masses: 22 • Average attendance per Mass: 299 ( 7.6% of all Hispanic Catholics) • Among Catholic children from 0 to 17 years old: • 75% are Hispanics/Latinos born in the U.S. • 6% are immigrant Hispanics/Latinos • In K-8 Catholic schools, 41% are Hispanics/Latinos • In Catholic high schools, 36% are Hispanics/Latinos • Hispanic/Latino ecclesial ministers serving in the Region: • Immigrant priests: 377 • U.S.-born priests: 194 • Religious sisters and brothers: 657 • Deacons: 814 • Lay ecclesial ministers: 2,800+ The V Encuentro in Region X • Sent 541 delegates to the National Encuentro , including 10 ENAVE/ ERAVE and 21 bishops . • The Regional Encuentro was celebrated with 811 delegates and 21 bishops. • 16 Diocesan Encuentro s were celebrated, with total attendance of 7,829. • 331 parishes/organizations conducted the five sessions and 214 held a Parish Encuentro. • 4,641 leaders from 430 parishes received training for the V Encuentro in 196 trainings. • Main areas of new outreach in parishes through the V Encuentro : • Hispanic/Latino young adults • English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos • Migrants and campesinos in rural areas 52 Of the six (arch)dioceses that do not have personnel dedicated to Hispanics or other ethnic groups, three of them (El Paso, Laredo and San Antonio) expect all of their diocesan offices to serve Hispanics. 53 May include personnel in other offices when their responsibility is for the Latino community, such as the Director of Hispanic Catechesis. Appendix D United in Christ, Anything Can Be Achieved The Regional Encuentro was an experience that opened the eyes of almost everyone present. While the vast majority of young Catholics in the Region are Latinos, we must break with “we have always done it that way” to accompany them in the process of becoming Missionary Disciples, Witnesses of God’s Love. It also challenges us to open more spaces that can truly respond to the needs of young Latinos born in the US, and to encourage their participation and leadership. The V Encuentro has taught us that we can and must truly work in a pastoral de conjunto ... Listen to us, accompany us and support us, so that our beautiful cultural diversity as Latinos enhances our union in Jesus Christ. It was often heard that: “We should have this type of Encuentro more frequently, to celebrate our faith and share the best practices in each ministry.” We all have something to share!