The Office of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Madison opened its doors on July 1, 2021, initially part-time, but now running full-time for two years after that under the leadership and commitment of Bishop
Donald Hying. In the first year we wrote a basic diocesan pastoral plan, we established a Hispanic Advisory Council, and we offered several events to unify the Hispanic people and form and equip our parish leaders. Some of these were: the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, the first diocesan Hispanic Ministry Fair, the courses and retreats for the formation of lay people, the regional gatherings with Bishop, the collaboration with the Hispanic Conference in Milwaukee, the evangelization workshops of Go and Make Disciples Live, and the beginning of the Spanish Worldwide Marriage Encounter for the strengthening of couples, marriages, and families.
A year full of progress
In September 2023 we had the visit of the relic of St. Jude to Madison and at the end of the month we had the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress where more than a thousand parishioners were present, including more than 200 Hispanics who enjoyed the heavenly experience of the liturgies, the Hispanic presenters, and the bilingual activities.
Later we had the Hispanic Family Day at Camp Gray and the Mass of Our Lady Divine Providence to honor the patroness of Puerto Rico. In January 2024, we collaborated with St. Thomas Aquinas Church to offer a liturgical and evangelization workshop and in March we offered a Marriage Seminar for couples with Dr. Dora Tobar with about 35 Hispanic couples. Spring of 2024 ended with a Marian Festival and Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church where more than 100 people went to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary under her different titles.
While the Office of Hispanic Ministry has organized and collaborated on various activities to unify Hispanics, equip leaders, and strengthen marriages and families, much of the work has also occurred more internally between the Office and the Hispanic Advisory Council.
Most recently, the first members of the Hispanic Advisory Council have completed their three-year term, and this Fall we will continue our meetings with a new group of members. All this happening while within the new pastorates many of the priests have identified bilingual Hispanics who have been recently hired as Coordinators of Hispanic Ministry.
It’s Time for a strategic plan for Hispanic Ministry
In Summer of 2023, the USCCB approved and published the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, in a way encouraging all dioceses to create their own diocesan pastoral plan. Then, in January 2024, I attended the annual Congress of the Midwest Catholic Association of Hispanic Ministry to learn the structure and steps for creating and implementing a diocesan plan for Hispanic Ministry.
In a process of discernment that had begun in 2021 we took the initiative to create a strategic plan for the diocese. This past spring we made visits to the pastorates with Hispanic Ministry to carry out assessments. All these visits, along with conversations with Hispanic Advisory Council members and the data gathered since the Office opened, resulted in the new strategic and pastoral plan for our diocese.
The plan is currently going through a review process with various diocesan councils before obtaining final approval from our Bishop, and then beginning implementation by introducing the plan to Hispanic parish coordinators and leaders in early November.
Finally, as we plan to begin the implementation period with new parish coordinators, a new Hispanic Advisory Council, and new pastorate changes, we see a bright future with much hope that the Lord is creating paths toward what He desires to see in our diocese.
We ask for the prayers of everyone in the community so that the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother pour out their blessings on our efforts. To learn about Hispanic Ministry activity, follow our Facebook page or visit madisondiocese.org/ministerio-hispano