National Colloquium on Ministry with Hispanic Youth and Young Adults

On August 19-21, 2016 nearly 70 leaders from across the nation gathered for a National Colloquium on Ministry with Hispanic Youth and Young Adults, organized and hosted by Boston College with La RED, National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana . The Colloquium gathered diocesan leadership, bishops, scholars, religious, researchers, parish leaders, philanthropists, and heads of national organizations responsible for ministry with Hispanic Catholic youth and young adults in the United States. Nine experts in Hispanic Youth and Young adult ministry were commissioned to author study documents that participants engaged in during the colloquium. Abby Salazar and Steven Fisher, with experience in Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame focused on.Dr. Brett Hoover from Loyola Marymount University wroteon. The topic of was developed by Dr. Antonio Medina-Rivera, a professor at Cleveland State University and faculty member of Instituto Fe y Vida. Dr. Hosffman Ospino, assistant professor of Hispanic Ministry at Boston College presented his most recent research on . Rev. Alejandro López-Cardinale,President of La RED- The National Network for Pastoral Juvenil Hispanaexplored the topic of . Boston College doctoral studentsSusan Reynolds and Steffano Montano addressed the Development of . The last document was authored by Dr. Vince Olea, Co-founder of USHispanicMinistry.com  and independent scholar highlighting . In light of their expertise, each participant was assigned to a specific study group where they were asked to provide feedback on the document addressing their specific area. Participants also participated in cross dialogue with members of other study groups to help inform the dialogue within their study area. It was imperative to engage in this conversation given the shift in demographics of youth at a national level. Currently, approximately 60% of Catholics in the U.S. under the age of 18 are Hispanic/Latino and 93% of them are U.S.-born.

Dr. Hosffman Ospino noted,

The colloquium was definitely an experience of 

diálogo de conjunto

 in which voices coming from different sectors of the life of the Church agreed on the urgency to immediately turn our attention and resources toward evangelization opportunities for Hispanic Catholic youth and young adults. If U.S. Catholicism is to remain vibrant, we must now engage this important population. This meeting is without a doubt a major contribution to the V Encuentro four-year process that we are about to begin as a Catholic community in our country.

  The V Encuentro has prioritized Hispanic youth and young adults, particularly 2

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 generations, in the process of the V Encuentro set to begin next year. Various members of the National Team of Accompaniment for the V Encuentro (ENAVE) participated in the Colloquium. This national conversation was possible thanks to the financial investment of several organizations and foundations committed to supporting the direction and vision of the V Encuentro process. Alejandor Aguilera-Titus, Assistant Director for the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops confirms,

The conference achieved its objective of creating a rich and informed conversation on the reality of Hispanic/Latino youth. It also managed to present different ministerial perspectives and explore pastoral responses that require a joint commitment from the various organizations involved in ministry among our Hispanic young people since Hispanic/Latino youth ministry and young adult ministry is the responsibility of the entire Church as well as a blessing for the entire Church.

See below for a gallery of photos. 2016 © ENAVE.  All Rights Reserved.  Photos by ENAVE.