On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 12, Hispanic ministry leaders from around the Diocese of Camden gathered to prepare for the upcoming Encuentro V, and reflect on how the Catholic Church can recognize and utilize the gifts of Hispanic Catholics.
Forty-three co-chairs of the V Encuentro parish teams, from 20 church communities, met at Vineland’s John Paul II Retreat Center.
Andres Arango, the Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry, led the co-chairs in discussion of the Encuentro process at the parish diocesan level, and their responsibilities in implementing its mission to hear the needs of the Latino community, develop new leaders, and identify best practices.
The V Encuentro is “a moment to empower the emerging leaders of the Latino community,” said Arango.
This weekend, on Saturday, Jan. 28, the co-chairs and their parish teams will return to Vineland for all-day training in preparation for Lent, when each parish will coordinate bilingual small groups sessions on the V Encuentro.
In May, each parish will hold their own one-day Encuentro, before October’s diocesan Encuentro.