V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

78 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry should work in a pastoral de conjunto with the offices of faith formation/catechesis, youth ministry, young adult ministry, and Hispanic/Latino or multicultural ministries to ensure that youth ministry and young adult leaders are equipped with the vision, princi- ples, strategies, and models for an effective outreach and accompaniment of the Latino young people they are called to serve. This would entail establishing and promoting for- mation programs to constantly equip new and emerging young leaders for these minis- tries. Currently only 31 dioceses have a staff person in this position. Beyond these recommendations with a broad consensus, there were a few ideas that emerged as important suggestions from just a few table groups. Among them were: incor- porate tutoring and supporting pathways to college or Catholic schools into youth minis- try programming; encourage the use of social media, following pastoral guidelines to pro- tect the safety of all; develop relationships with the clergy and dedicate time and space for young people to have meaningful encoun- ters with their pastoral leaders, including the bishop; make use of dynamic and engaging processes in every session or activity; priori- tize evangelization through encounters with the risen Lord and follow up with systematic faith formation that flows from and responds to the lived experience of the young people; and form young leaders with passion, per- sistence, joy, and commitment to be evange- lizers of their peers. E. IMMIGRATION About five out of every eight delegates at the V National Encuentro were assigned to the first four ministerial areas since they received the most interest throughout the consultation. The remaining six topics had fewer table group discussions, so the range of ideas and recommendations that emerged from them was more limited. This was true with regard to immigration and the pastoral care of immigrants, where direct support for the needs of the undocumented members of the community received the most attention. A strong consensus emerged for parishes to provide pastoral care and accompaniment, especially to families separated by deporta- tion or detention. This might entail facilitating visits and communication or connecting fam- ilies to organizations in the community that offer legal guidance or social services, includ- ing some Catholic service providers such as Catholic Charities. In the current social, cultural, and political environment of increasing attacks on immi- grants and inciting irrational fears and preju- dices that are disconnected from reality, the delegates were united in recommending that the U.S. Bishops should take a more prom- inent role in advocacy for a comprehensive and just immigration reform, both individu- ally in their own dioceses and collectively as a body. Many Catholics remain uninformed about Church teaching in this regard and either passively disengaged or persuaded by fear-mongering politicians to actively oppose faith-based priorities and principles. The current plight of young people raised in the United States and in danger of losing their protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is especially troubling. Bishops and pastors should carefully and consistently help form the consciences of the faithful with regard to these matters. Recommendations