V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry | 89 • In Latin America, Catholic schools are perceived as being only for the elite and wealthy; there is a need to make parents aware that a Catholic education is a real possibility for them here. • As voiced in the consultation, “Catholic schools do not understand the needs of the Hispanic community.” In other words, many Hispanics do not feel understood by Catholic school leaders and do not feel that their child’s and family’s needs will be met in Catholic schools. This is a grave need and an understandable obstacle to Hispanic attendance at our schools. • Roughly 95% of Hispanic school-age children are not enrolled in a private school (see Appendix E), and most of them attend underperforming, hyper-segregated public schools. • The primary goal of Catholic education should be to transmit the faith, yet many Catholic schools cater mostly to non-Catholics, while Latino Catholic families are displaced by cost. • Catholic schools often do not provide services for children with special needs. III. Top Recommendations from the National Encuentro • It is important for Bishops and priests to publicly state the importance of a good academic Catholic school for the Latino and Hispanic families. • A Madrinas organization, or a similar program, is key to enrollment success at the parish level. It fosters relationships with families within the Latino community so that the money is not the central focus, but rather the care and support. • Cultivating cultural sensitivity to the Latino and Hispanic culture by the pastors, principals, faculty, and school community is important to attract Latino and Hispanic families to the Catholic schools. It is working as the number of Latinos in Catholic schools is growing. IV. Successful and Exemplary Practices • Hispanic students attending Catholic schools said they rely most on simple peer support—presumably Hispanic student to Hispanic student. Some expressed a desire for more Hispanic student groups to be formed (for socializing, fellowship, and service.) • The University of Notre Dame’s “Latino Enrollment Institute” is helping schools to reach the Hispanic community so that they will enroll their children in Catholic schools. • Improve access to counseling and/or peer support services for at-risk youth and provide more leadership and training opportunities. • The Office of Catholic Schools offers teachers and administrators professional development in educational practices and cultural competencies to serve students of different languages and cultures and their families. • Proactively seek to hire more Latinos as teachers and administrators in Catholic schools. Dioceses, parishes, and educational networks can assist in recruiting and mentoring them. • When parochial schools need help raising money for scholarships for families who need financial aid, the offices of Faith Formation, Youth Ministry and Catholic schools should work together in order to better respond to Hispanic children and youth in religion and academics. • Include advocacy for better quality public education as an integral part of the ministry of Catholic schools and diocesan education offices. • Catholic school leaders and community members invite Hispanic students and their families to church and to Catholic schools so that more students can benefit from the gift of education received in Catholic schools. • Catholic schools offer English, citizenship, and GED classes for adults, as a way to connect more Hispanic families to Catholic schools. Ministerial Area Sessions