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Strategic Pastoral Plan of the Austin Diocese

Hispanic Ministry

Planning Objectives

  1. Define a plan to meet the growing needs of the Hispanic community with careful attention to regional differences.

To ensure effective pastoral ministry for the Hispanic community, we are called to articulate the complex ministry approach that includes evangelization, pastoral practice, formation, social concerns, and close examination of the ministers and structures of the church. For this to happen, both the parish and diocesan programs will reach out intentionally and thoughtfully to meet the pastoral, spiritual, sacramental, and social needs of all Catholics in the diocese.

This holistic approach to outreach will use advocacy to remedy social injustices and will seek out culturally competent formation and approaches to liturgical, pastoral and service ministries. This will develop the potential for dynamic multi-cultural diversity. The half million people of Hispanic heritage in the diocese will grow to one and a half million within the next 30 years. It is estimated that Hispanics will be the majority of Catholics in Central Texas by 2008. Clearly, this reality for the future calls for a transformation within the diocese. Our vision is of a diocese in which people of Hispanic ethnicities are encouraged to enrich the community with their cultural traditions and language and be included in all areas of parish and diocesan life.

This vision also embraces a missionary church in which basic ecclesial communities flourish and extend the boundaries of the parish structure; lay leadership is developed and supported; deacons and seminarians are provided formation in Hispanic ministry; and people are evangelized in their own neighborhoods.

Effective leadership and ministerial involvement for Hispanic populations includes formation for priests, deacons, and lay adults. Existing structures for Hispanic ministry need to be evaluated, to assure consistency in the quality of programs in all geographic locations.

Advocacy to remedy social injustices, such as poverty, racism, the exploitation of immigrants, inadequate health care and lack of needed services, will be emphasized. Conflicts between generations of Hispanics in need of healing must be addressed. Seminarians and priests will receive training in the Spanish language and in Hispanic culture to enable pastoral personnel to be sensitive to the needs of Hispanics.

Parishes as “melting pots,” in which cultures blend and English becomes the common language, may become exclusionary, and thereby open the opportunity for other denominations to welcome the Hispanic community without waiting for them to assimilate. Many Hispanics who continue to consider themselves Catholic cease to practice their faith. The practice of establishing a “national parish,” which is designed to minister to a particular ethnic group, denies the reality that Hispanics live throughout the diocese in significant numbers, and have the right to expect that their local parish will be responsive to them. Parishes which have developed effective ministries can be leaders in mentoring and in sharing their successful practices with other parishes. Outreach centers can be established to provide formation and support of all areas of the diocese.

We have the expectation that pastors will accept their responsibility of leadership. We will give them the formation, tools and support to be effective leaders. This requires a commitment to value the dynamic multi-cultural diversity that is a reality in the Catholic Church in Central Texas.

Understanding some basic differences in approach will help us to both support and be effective in our ministries with recent Hispanic arrivals in our community. These include the following:

Approach to Parish Life — American parishes may operate differently than those in the immigrants’ country of origin, causing confusion and alienation. When people come to Central Texas from other places, they often experience loneliness and isolation from friends and extended families. They will look to the parish for support through this time of transition.

Approach to Sacraments — People may approach the parish at key moments for baptisms, first Eucharist, quinceañeras, weddings, funerals and hospitalizations without a commitment to the parish or to the church. These evangelizing moments are opportunities to help people encounter Christ in the sacraments and the community.

Basic Communication — Pertinent information, such as parish guidelines and bulletins, need to be available in Spanish. Many who were raised without a strong sense of faith are coming to our churches as young adults. It is difficult for small parishes to offer the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or marriage preparation in Spanish. Inter-cultural couples may need assistance understanding the influence of each other’s culture on the marriage. Couples from other countries face obstacles in petitioning for annulment because of language barriers and the complication of church law procedures.

Family Influences — Natural Family Planning training is not widely available in Spanish, or in a culturally sensitive format. Parents have additional difficulties in parenting their children in a culture that is foreign to them and which has a great influence on their children. Because of language, cultural patterns, immigration problems and poverty, the range of social issues Hispanics face becomes more complex for those who seek or offer assistance.

Discrimination and bigotry — American-born Hispanics have felt double discrimination, both from foreign-born Latinos who question the authenticity of their “Hispanidad,” and from the dominant American culture, where they have felt the sting of prejudice. Many may not speak Spanish, yet they draw deeply from their Hispanic traditions. They are the group most likely to be distant from the Catholic Church.

Through ongoing assessment and attention to these important differences we will offer the kind of pastoral service and care expressed in the mission of the church.