V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 223 Glossary Disability: Disability is a broad term that cov- ers impairments, activity limitations, and par- ticipation restrictions experienced by an indi- vidual. In Christian anthropology, disability does not impair the person’s dignity or ability to relate to God, nor should it be an impedi- ment to participation in the life of the Church. DREAMers: DREAMers are young undocu- mented immigrants who arrived before the age of 16 and whose experience of becom- ing an adult in society was shaped in the U.S. cultural context. The name comes from the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), which was first introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2001 and as of 2019 has been reintroduced in one form or another seven times but has never passed. These young people aspire to the “American Dream,” but their horizons are limited by their legal status, and they risk being deported to a country they do not know. See DACA. Ecclesial Integration: Ecclesial integration means that people of all races and cultures have a rightful place in church institutions at all levels. They are to be served in their lan- guage when possible, and their cultural values and religious traditions are to be respected. Beyond that, we must work toward mutual enrichment through interaction among all cultures. 65 This is done because the Church’s mission is to evangelize, not to foster assim- ilation, with a view to strengthening unity in diversity for all of God’s people, which is at the heart of being “catholic.” 65 NCCB, National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry , n. 4. 66 Diocese of St. Catharines [Canada], Office of Evangelization, Lay Associations and Ecclesial Movements: Criteria , 9. 67 Pope John Paul II, Christifideles Laici , 19. Ecclesial Movements: Since the early Church, the Holy Spirit has called Christians into com- munities in accordance with their particular vocations—lay, consecrated, or priestly— united by a charism and a mission within the communion of the Church. This gift of the Holy Spirit enriches the ecclesial community, brings about new ways to live the Gospel, and unites the faithful more closely to Christ. 66 Ecclesiology of Communion: Communion speaks of the union with God brought about by Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the door and the foundation of communion in the Church. The Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist sacramentalizes this communion. The reality of the Church as communion of saints comes from a double, lifegiving partici- pation: the incorporation of Christians into the life of Christ—union with Christ and in Christ— and union among Christians, in the Church. 67 This means that all the baptized are equally responsible for the mission of the Church, even though there is a diversity of functions within the Body. See also Mission, Participation, and Synodality. Educational Attainment: The level of aca- demic progress achieved by an individual, usually defined in terms of grade level or degrees, certificates, or diplomas earned. Encuentro : In its simplest meaning, this Spanish word could be translated as a gather- ing, assembly, or encounter. In U.S. Hispanic/ Latino ministry, it refers primarily to the series of five national Encuentros that have marked the history and shaped the trajectory of this