National Congress on Hispanic Ministry focuses on raising prophetic voices

By Vatican News staff writer

Hispanic Ministry leaders from religious communities, pastoral organizations, apostolic movements, educational institutions among others, will gather from the 26 – 30 April in Washington, DC, for the 6th National Catholic Congress on Hispanic Ministry.

The “Raíces y Alas 2022” (roots and wings) Congress aims to bring together the main institutions related to Hispanic ministry in the United States under the theme “Prophetic Voices: Being bridges for a new era”.  

The meeting is hosted by the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NCCHM) in collaboration with 8 committees of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, including the Subcommittee for Hispanic/Latino Affairs and the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.

Focus points

The Four-day gathering will focus on four pastoral priorities: family, Hispanic youth ministry, social justice and pastoral formation.

The participants - over 70 leaders from 64 organizations - will engage in an “in-depth dialogue to discern and develop pastoral responses and initiatives to the ministerial priorities documented in the Conclusions of the V Encuentro and in the post-pandemic reality,” according to the website of the NCCHM.

Responses and action steps from the congress will also be presented to the USCCB as the leadership’s contributions for the national pastoral framework or Hispanic ministry plan being proposed by the bishops.

The congress will also include a day of advocacy on April 27, during which the ministry leaders will visit the US Congress to meet with their legislators to advocate for a comprehensive immigration reform and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).

A time of prayer and discernment

The organizers note that now is the time for the leadership that serves in Hispanic ministry to discern with the Bishops on actions to take in response to the voices of  the V Encuentro, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, that severely impacted several communities.

The Raíces y Alas 2022 will bring together the leaders “in synodality and in prayer, so that together we can reflect on pastoral initiatives necessary of the current reality and act accordingly.”

Pope Francis is scheduled to send a message to the participants at the 6th National Catholic Congress on Hispanic Ministry.