Leaders in Hispanic Catholic ministry from across the country recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for four days of fellowship, prayer and action in becoming “Prophetic Voices: Being Bridges for a New Era.”
Andrés Arango, Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry and Director of Evangelization in the Diocese of Camden, was among the 400 people from more than 38 states who came together to focus on family, Hispanic youth ministry, social justice and pastoral formation. He said the sixth Raíces y Alas (Roots and Wings) national congress not only demonstrated the need for all “to be grounded in our historic memory of our Hispanic culture,” but helped to empower the young Hispanic Church to “step up as future leaders.”
Arango served as a panelist during the April 26-30 event, discussing evangelization and families. “Our ministry is to proclaim that Jesus is alive,” he said, urging participants to “be evangelizers bringing everyone to a personal encounter with Jesus. Above all, may we evangelize our families.”
Hosted by the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NCCHM) in collaboration with eight committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the conference encouraged dialogue to develop initiatives consistent with the priorities documented in the V Encuentro – a years-long initiative that has included input from Hispanic ministries and leaders on the local, state and national levels. The responses from Washington, in turn, will be presented to the USCCB, which will soon propose its own pastoral plan for Hispanic ministry in the United States.
In addition to discerning responses and action steps, ministry leaders also visited their legislators during the conference, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.
In a video message shown at the start of the congress, Pope Francis spoke of the attendees’ need to be bridges for peace and unity in a world stricken with a pandemic and war.
“Reflect on the need to be Christians who transform the structure and … create bridges in all sectors of society, illuminating thought, so that it may lead to actions that can bring peace and unity to all levels, starting from our families and communities,” he said.
Arango said he found optimism for the future during the event and “hope in the faces of the young adults present who work in parish ministries in their own dioceses.”
Catholic News Service contributed to this report.
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