V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

88 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry V. Resources The following resources were recommended by presenters and participants of the V National Encuentro : • Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 2015. • Catholic Relief Services ( https://www.crs.org/ ) and the Catholic Climate Covenant ( https:// CatholicClimateCovenant.org/ ) provide resources to support local initiatives for the protection and conservation of the environment. • The Catholic Bishops of Region XII, “The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good,” 2001. • Red Eclesial PanAmazónica ( http://redamazonica.org/ ). • USCCB, Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching, 2012. VI. Ministerial Area Team • Episcopal Moderators: Most Rev. James Wall, Bishop of Gallup; and Most Rev. Edward Weisenburger, Bishop of Tucson. • Co-Leaders: Ricardo Simmonds and Nelson Araque. • Panelists: Nelson Araque and Miriam Hidalgo. 3. CATHOLIC EDUCATION (K-12) I. Vision Catholic education (K-12) seeks to invite Hispanic families to attend Catholic schools—communicating in Spanish and in community settings in which they are comfortable and thrive. Those in a position to do so must intentionally seek and form leaders who are able to engage the Hispanic community. Catholic education leaders, staff, and faculty must also show dedicated attention to Hispanic students who already are attending Catholic schools, learning from them, listening to them and to their parents, engaging them as ambassadors for Catholic education, and forming them as future leaders in the Hispanic Catholic community. II. Social and Religious Context in Hispanic Ministry • The biggest obstacle to accessing Catholic schools is perceptions about the cost. There is a great need to provide information to parents about scholarships that are available and to help them better understand the U.S. educational system. • The enrollment of Latino students requires Catholic schools to create supportive environments that affirm their cultures, histories, and values, thereby ensuring pathways to perseverance and success. • In 2015, there were 3.7 million Spanish-speaking students in K-12 public schools who were English Language Learners (ELLs). 6 Most Catholic schools are not prepared to enroll such students. • Language is also an issue that needs attention in communication with parents. Whenever a school communicates, including promotional information, it should be in both languages. • Many immigrant parents have the dream that their children will go to college, but they have no idea how to help them achieve that dream, nor do they understand the school system. They need to be in contact with Hispanic role models who have achieved their educational goals. 6 National Center for Education Statistics, “English Language Learners in Public Schools” ( https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/ indicator_cgf.asp ). Ministerial Area Sessions