V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

62 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry integration, with all sectors of the parish or diocese moving together toward a common vision for pastoral practice, rather than estab- lishing separate tracks of pastoral ministry for the Hispanics and non-Hispanics, or forcing the Latinos to assimilate into the structures and pastoral frameworks of the prevalent cul- tural group(s) in the community. According to the delegates, achieving a greater integration of Hispanics/Latinos in the life of the community will require doing more to invite and welcome them, especially through community-building events, practices and celebrations. These events can also have an evangelizing function, offering a starting point for building relationships of pastoral accompaniment with individuals and families in the peripheries, especially if they include an experience of encounter with Christ in the Church. Latinos should be active participants and even protagonists in the development of these responses, allowing them to give a living witness to their joy as missionary disciples. Form pastoral leaders for a new model of Church. If Hispanics/Latinos are to have a big- ger role in the life and leadership of the ecclesial community at all levels, the Church must make a prophetic commitment to the integral education of all members of the community. Technology and social media should be used more effec- tively to communicate the message and make known the most attractive face of the Church. Opportunities for formation in the Christian life, as well as holistic education to overcome daily challenges and struggles, can then be provided to a wider audience. The fruit of these efforts will be good will toward the Church and a broader pool of potential leaders who have developed the human tools for pastoral ministry and leader- ship in a missionary key. In some parishes, the pastoral staff itself is an obstacle to accompaniment and integra- tion due to its limited linguistic, cultural, and intercultural competence. For this reason, it is important to include language studies as well as topics of intercultural competence and the theory and practice of Hispanic/Latino minis- tries—especially the often-overlooked topic of pastoral juvenil hispana —in all seminaries, diaconate formation programs, and institutes for lay ministry formation. Equally important is to provide this training as continuing educa- tion for current leaders. In these efforts, cler- ical office staff in parishes, schools, and dio- ceses should not be forgotten—they are often the ones who leave the greatest impression of either welcome and integration or exclu- sion for Hispanics in search of pastoral ser- vices or sacramental preparation. Doing these efforts well can also serve to promote Latino ecclesial vocations. Respond creatively and prophetically to the needs of families and the young. The Church would do well to recognize that families are called to be the primary agents, and the home the primary place, for evangelization and the transmission of the faith from one generation to the next. Parishes and ecclesial movements pro- vide a supporting role to families in this regard, and diocesan offices support the parishes and movements. Current practice is oriented to mak- ing the parish the primary agent of evangeliza- tion and catechesis, and families have bought into that approach, abdicating their proper role and responsibility. These models are failing our children, and we only have ourselves to blame. It will take a radical re-engineering of our faith formation and family ministries to set these rela- tionships on their proper foundations, but it is a task that must be undertaken with determination and enthusiasm. Regional Session 2