This year, as we continue to work on the implementation of the diocesan plan for Hispanic Ministry with gatherings, initiatives, formation, and more efforts to support Hispanic parishes and parish leaders, we saw a need to expand the diocesan office staff from one employee to two.

With this new expansion also comes a diocesan restructuring of the ministry that will help strengthen the initiatives that will be implemented for 2027.

A new associate director

This year we have hired a new associate director, Karla Cárdenas, who in her role as associate will accompany me, Lorianne Aubut, the director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry by primarily coordinating and directing parish Hispanic marriage and family projects, plus parish support of the new efforts we are implementing.

Cárdenas began her new diocesan position in July after working part-time for two years as the coordinator of the Hispanic Marriage and Family Ministry within the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Additionally, she has volunteered with the Hispanic parish community in Watertown for more than 10 years as a liturgical minister, organizer of events and devotions, and by leading a variety of formation workshops for the community at large.

We are grateful to welcome Karla to the Office of Hispanic Ministry and pray that God will bless and direct every step and decision for the common good of all Hispanics in our diocese.

Hispanic Encuentros

Between this past year and the years to come, Hispanic Ministry has launched and will be launching a variety of Encuentros (conference-type gatherings) for women, youth, and men.

The Encuentros are a spiritual and evangelization opportunity to bring together the Hispanic faithful and all Hispanics in the same place with the presence and participation of the bishop, talks by speakers and presenters, worship, fun activities, food, small groups, and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

This past summer we offered our first Hispanic Women’s Encuentro “Mujer, Perla Preciosa” (“Woman, Precious Pearl”), with more than 100 women who attended and enjoyed accompaniment with other women.

We have an article in this special edition of the Herald which offers a summary of what was experienced at that conference.

This month, we will have the first Youth Encuentro for teenagers from 14 to 18 years old.

This Youth Encuentro, planned primarily in collaboration with Hispanic young adults, will offer the opportunity for our teens to have time with Bishop Donald J. Hying and other teens from the different parishes of our diocese.

This special gathering was inspired by the need to have an established Hispanic youth ministry in our diocese and to have evangelization channels that also lead young people to know and enjoy other diocesan youth opportunities, such as Love Begins Here (LBH) and Frassati Fest.

Additionally, by November 2027, we hope to offer the first Men’s Encuentro with several presenters, Holy Mass, small groups, prayer, and also male accompaniment.

This Men’s Encuentro will be developed and mostly coordinated by a group of male leaders who have already been on the path of formation and leadership in their parishes.

Formation sessions

Finally, this year and into next year, Hispanic Ministry has launched and will be launching formation sessions and workshops very specific to the realities of our Hispanic communities.

The first effort in this category has been the Mental Health Ministry’s initiative for Hispanics, which was launched late last year with a grant received by Hispanic Ministry.

For a year, the initiative has offered information to raise awareness about mental health in light of the Catholic Faith and also offered formation for leaders, plus support group sessions for people who have lost a loved one; all in Spanish.

This initiative was managed by the project coordinator, Betzaida Vera Heredia, who has written an article in this special edition of the Herald so that everyone knows the trajectory of the initiative.

Although this year the initiative was offered under the Office of Hispanic Ministry, we are joyful that all efforts on a diocesan level will continue under the diocesan Mental Health Ministry of the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities in the Diocese of Madison.

Additionally, next year we will launch spiritual preparation and formation sessions for young women in preparation for their 15th birthday (Quinceañera), and formation for Hispanic liturgical ministers who serve in any capacity within the liturgy, whether as lectors, altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, choir members, or other roles.

Our desire is to support parishes with this formation that offers an evangelizing and enriching environment to grow in our gifts and in our potential as disciples of Christ.

Let us keep the Office of Hispanic Ministry, parishes, parishioners, and all Hispanics in our prayers as we grow the Kingdom of God here on Earth.

For more information about Hispanic Ministry and all the efforts, opportunities, and resources for parishes and the faithful, go to madisondiocese.org/ministerio-hispano.