First Encuentro of Hispanic and Latin American Families

A day before the start the World Meeting of Families, 145 Hispanic Catholic leaders who work in family ministry in the United States and Latin America met in Philadelphia to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that Spanish-speaking families face throughout the continent. Participants met at the convention center of Philadelphia with 70 participants from Latin America representing the 12 Episcopal conferences of Latin America, and 75 people from the United States representing the 14 Episcopal regions. This unprecedented gathering, known as Primer Encuentro Hispano-Latino Americano de Familias (First Encounter of Hispanic and Latin American Families, or PEHLAF its acronym in Spanish), includes Latino family life ministers from across the country as well as representatives from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and delegations from several bishops’ conferences in Latin America. The main objective of PEHLAF was to encourage dialogue on the challenges and opportunities Spanish-speaking families face today. It also explored ministerial models and pastoral strategies that impact the quality of ministry with families in the U.S. and in Latin America. Collaboration across the Americas in the area of family ministry was also explored, particularly in light of the upcoming V National Encuentro for Ministry among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S.Bishop Gerald Barnes Barnes, Diocese of San Bernardindo, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary Bishop of Seattle, Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace; and Bishop Rubén Antonio Gonzalez Medina of Caguas, Puerto Rico, representing CELAM, the Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean were present for the gathering. The presentations and dialogues were framed in the context of the Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, and the recommendations from the extraordinary Synod on the Family, plus the working document for the upcoming Synod in October. The PEHLAF was convened by the USCCB Committee on National Collections- Subcommittee on the Church in Latina America, and the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church-Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs. The following organizations are co-sponsoring the event: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Editorial Verbo Divino (EVD), Holy Cross Family Ministries (HCFM), the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry (NCADDHM), Oregon Catholic Press (OCP), and Our Sunday Visitor (OSV).2015 © ENAHVE. All Rights Reserved.All Rights Reserved. Photos by  Roberto Navarro, and Vivi Iglesias.