Florida Hispanic Ministry Leaders gather for Provincial Encuentro

On June 13, hispanic ministry leaders from the dioceses in the State of Florida, which make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, gathered at Holy Family Parish in the the Diocese of Orlando, convoked by the Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry and its Pastoral Institute, SEPI.

The Encuentro began with a mass presided by Most Rev. John Noonan, Bishop of Orlando. Rev. Rafael Capó, SEPI Director, welcomed those present, and expressed to Monsignor Noonan "It is a joy to come here to your diocese of Orlando and receive your pastoral embrace to Hispanic ministry. Today is a day of journey, reflection and encounter." He also emphasized the importance of Hispanic Catholics in this nation, especially now as we walk towards a V National Encuentro of Hispanic Ministry and Pope Francis' upcoming visit for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

This Encuentro was the 4th of 5 Provincial Encuentros convoked by SEPI as part of a Regional Hispanic Family Ministry Process. A survey carried out as part of this process, identified cohabitation before marriage, communication between family members, lack of time, crisis of faith, economic situation or money management, and language in raising children as the 6 main challenges for Hispanic families in the Province of Miami.

Bishop Noonan highlighted during his homily, the order of priorities for a Christian family: "We must each ask ourselves: Who holds first place in my life? God or money? For society, this may be a dilemma, but not for us who follow Christ. It's not about a choice made only with our heads, but rather a very concrete lifestyle choice."

Most Rev. John Noonan also pointed out: "God builds and lifts up in a people who teach us with their faith, that God lives first in the heart of the humble. None of the losses which you have suffered have kept you from being an image of the face of God in our Church. As a bishop, I recognize the valor and importance of your cultural traditions and wisdom."

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