New Hispanic/Latino ministry center opens

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – The lively, Marian-oriented Hispanic faith community has a new diocesan center in which to gather and reach out to others. Those evangelization efforts were on full display in the streets of the city this past weekend.
Bishop McManus blessed and cut the ribbon for Centro de Ministerio Hispano/Latino on Saturday, for the patronal feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The new center for the diocese’s Hispanic/Latino Ministry is at Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies, 51 Illinois St.
Father Hugo A. Cano, who became full-time director of the Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry and co-director of the House of Studies on July 1, lives there. He succeeded Deacon Franklin B. Lizardo, who was part-time director of what was then called the Hispanic Apostolate.
    “Just a very wonderful decision of the bishop,” Fanny Escobar said of the center, which she said is a first for Hispanic ministry in the diocese. Mrs. Escobar and her husband, Deacon Francisco Escobar, who serve at St. Paul Cathedral, have long been involved with Hispanic ministry in the diocese, after immigrating from Colombia decades ago.
    “To have Father Hugo is a good choice,” Mrs. Escobar said. “First, because we needed a director” to coordinate Hispanic ministry on a diocesan level “because there’s a lot of needs, like formation. … Another thing is to unite … the 13 parishes where they have … active Spanish communities.” Previously, each community coordinated its own programs, sometimes duplicating services to small numbers of people, she said. She said the center provides a place to meet, to develop responses to the needs.
    The Hispanic ministry has had an office, but this is its first center, Bishop McManus said. He said its origin was a recommendation given him during V Encuentro (the Fifth Encounter) for a full-time diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry. This encuentro, the latest of periodic gatherings of Hispanics across the nation, was an initiative of the U.S. bishops, calling Hispanics to be missionary disciples and all Catholic leaders to listen to their needs, challenges and aspirations.
    Begun in 2013, V Encuentro included reflection and outreach, with gatherings on the local, regional and national levels. It culminated in the national encuentro in September 2018. After attending that gathering, Bishop McManus said he was seriously considering appointing a full-time director of Hispanic ministry here.

    He said this week that he chose Father Cano, a Colombian who is studying for his master’s in theology and ministry, with a concentration in Hispanic ministry, at Boston College. The bishop also appointed him to part-time work at the House of Studies, where he wanted two priests. He figured Father Cano could help with international seminarians, many of whom speak Spanish. (The bishop named Father Donato Infante III director of the Office for Vocations and co-director of the House of Studies.)

    Since Father Cano would live there, it made sense to have the Hispanic center there, Bishop McManus said.
    Father James S. Mazzone, former director of the Office for Vocations and the House of Studies, organized the renovations. The center includes the entrance off the patio behind the house, and an office, gathering space, classroom, kitchen and storage space.
    Partners in Charity funds the Hispanic ministry office (primarily Father Cano’s salary and benefits), but fund raising will be needed to support programs, Bishop McManus said.
    Father Cano said he’s seeking prayers, volunteers and financial support from whomever can help.
    “The work of evangelization will happen … if we work together,” he said. “As we see the closing of parishes … we are looking together for solutions.”
    Many people, not just Hispanics, can be impacted by the ministry – by Christ – as youth reach out to their peers and people share with family members and other communities, he said. And that will impact the diocese and the broader Church.
    He said a group of clergy, religious and laity from different parishes must be formed – to work on a pastoral plan for Hispanic ministry. The plan would address Hispanics’ requests made during encuentro for more formation, pastoral ministry to families, youth ministry and immigration assistance, he said.
    
    The situation of Hispanics has changed over the years, said Father Cano, who came to the diocese in 2007 and was ordained in 2012. The apostolate was created decades ago for Spanish-speaking people, who didn’t necessarily speak English. They were ministered to mostly by Anglo priests, who went abroad to learn Spanish for that purpose.
    “It’s not just an immigrant community anymore,” Father Cano said of people now described as Hispanic/Latino. “It’s a community that has been here for a long time” and includes second- and third-generation Hispanics.
    Father Cano said, “Ministry involves the whole people of God” doing ministry together, not just clergy and religious “serving this immigrant community.” Everyone is called to evangelize.
    They did that Saturday as they processed – some 200 strong – from the House of Studies to St. Paul Cathedral for the patronal feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As they walked down Main Street they prayed, sang and shouted in Spanish, “Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe … Christ … the Hispanic community.”
    Karina Mendez, of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, said that it was an opportunity “to show others your faith” and that bystanders were making the sign of the cross or taking videos.
    Father Cano said this was his first opportunity as director to gather Hispanics from all 13 Hispanic communities together, and some volunteered to help in the future. He said about 500 people were served at the dinner after the Mass Bishop McManus celebrated at the cathedral, according to those working in the kitchen.
    “It was obvious to me that the foundations for Spanish ministry are deep and are growing deeper,” Bishop McManus said. “There is a keen sense of Marian devotion.” He noted how images of the Blessed Mother, depicting her titles in various countries, were carried in procession, including Portuguese-speaking Brazil and Creole-speaking Haiti were included.
    “It was very encouraging to me as bishop of Worcester to see such lively faith,” he said.

Photo album: https://www.catholicfreepress.org/photoalbums/new-home-for-hispanic-latino-ministry