On November 9, the Office of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Madison introduced the new strategic Diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Madison.
In this meeting, parish coordinators of Hispanic Ministry and a variety of Hispanic Ministry parish and diocesan leaders from the thirteen pastorates with ministry to the Hispanic/Latino community participated to learn and discuss with Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison the future of Hispanic Ministry in our diocese.
The new pastoral plan, approved by the bishop in October, portrays an overview of the vision and mission of Hispanic Ministry and reports the demographics and participation of the Hispanic communities throughout our diocese while only touching the surface of what truly comprises the ministry.
Additionally, the document, which follows the national guidelines for Hispanic Ministry from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) document “National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry,” lists diocesan, parish, and regional (vicariate) considerations and provides a parish model for Hispanic Ministry with a focus on six distinct ministerial areas or priorities which the diocese and parishes will pursue for the next three to five years.
The vision and the mission
Our diocesan pastoral plan indicates that the vision and mission of Hispanic Ministry is to offer faith opportunities so that Hispanics in our diocese can experience a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through a lived Catholic experience within their own community and within the parish community.
This happens through the diocesan office by providing guidance, support, resources, and attention to priests, staff, leaders, and faithful within Hispanic Ministry, taking on the challenge of bringing pastoral unity and strength among parishes with Hispanic Ministry, and rekindling the fire of our faith and fostering our God-given talents so that all Hispanics can be empowered to serve boldly within the life of the Church and grow the Church here in our diocese.
In order to accomplish and implement this successfully, there must be an openness to understand the cultural and spiritual richness that is experienced within Hispanic communities, which normally amplifies: a) Our missionary zeal to talk about God and lead others to Him, b) our faith lived within family life, c) our respect for God’s gift of life, d) our desire to serve others and accompany them, e) our traditions and devotions that intertwine between faith and culture, and f) our courage to establish communities of faith through a variety of movements and apostolates.
The six priorities and implementing
As mentioned, the plan consists of providing six main priorities or ministerial areas that will be the guiding path for the beginning of the implementation period.
These top priorities are: 1) Liturgy and Sacraments, 2) Evangelization and Catechesis, 3) Marriage and Family Accompaniment, 4) Youth Ministry, 5) Devotional Life, and 6) Care for the Sick, Poor, Suffering, and Immigrant and Migrant.
With these priorities set, the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry commits to establishing and implementing a variety of initiatives and projects concerning each of the priorities and seeks to support each pastorate in creating a parish Hispanic Ministry plan that focuses on the areas as well.
Our next steps for the implementation period will include local meetings with the pastorate Hispanic Ministry leadership to help develop a parish Hispanic Ministry, in addition to diocesan meetings with the newly structured Diocesan Hispanic Advisory Council, which will consist of a increased number of members representing a wider group of Hispanic leadership.
As we continue to improve Hispanic Ministry in our diocese, consider praying for this important ministry and for a greater unity in the Catholic Church.
Every prayer is an opportunity for growth and a deeper understanding of the richness of the missionary universal Church.