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March 1, 2024By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
WORCESTER – An estimated 300 Hispanics from several parishes were shown connections between their activities and the annual Partners in Charity appeal at a gathering at St. Joan of Arc Parish on Sunday.
Bishop McManus celebrated Mass in Spanish, followed by lunch, the showing of the appeal video, and a presentation about the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, including how that is being implemented in the Worcester diocese.
“People were really grateful for what happened today,” said Father Hugo A. Cano, diocesan director of Hispanic/Latino Ministry and rector of St. Paul Cathedral. “They know the Hispanic community is doing something.” During the presentation, they saw pictures of people they know and activities they participated in.
“They are part of this story,” Father Cano said. “So, now they know they want to be involved” in supporting the appeal and participating in Hispanic ministry initiatives. The gathering helped them see that the Church’s mission is evangelization and “we are in that mission together,” he said.
Other ministries in the diocese need to see what is going on in the Hispanic ministry, he said.
Last June, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the plan, which aims to respond to Hispanics’ needs and strengthen Hispanic ministry at the national, local and parish level.
The plan responds to the pastoral priorities and recommendations generated through the four-year Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry (V Encuentro) that culminated in 2018. Its advancement suffered a setback during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priorities of the plan include formation in the faith, accompaniment of families, engaging with youth and young adults, immigration and advocacy, care for those on the peripheries and the promotion of vocations.
These priorities were addressed in the Worcester Diocese last year, and many activities are planned for this year, according to Father Cano and Nathan Torres, pastoral associate for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, a layman from St. Paul Cathedral.
Partners in Charity pays Mr. Torres’ salary, and helps with office supplies for Hispanic ministry, among other things, Father Cano said. The Hispanic communities in the parishes also raise money for activities.
Mr. Torres told The Catholic Free Press about some of the activities the Hispanic ministry in the diocese has held in response to the plan.
Silent retreats for leaders and other adults were held last June and in February 2024 at St. Joseph rectory in Fitchburg, where Hispanics set up overnight accommodations for 18-20 people at a time.
The goal was for retreatants to encounter God through his word, silence and talks, Mr. Torres said. He, Father Cano and Father Carlos F. Ardila, of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, gave talks.
A day for eucharistic ministers was held in December at St. Paul Cathedral, Mr. Torres said. He said he, Father Cano and Father Alfredo R. Porras, director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship, gave talks about the Eucharist and how to do eucharistic ministry. There was Mass and eucharistic adoration. The event helped increase participants’ love for the Eucharist, he said.
To increase all Hispanics’ love for the Eucharist, a day open to everyone in the diocese was held last November, in response to the pastoral plan and the National Eucharistic Revival currently underway, Mr. Torres said. He said Father Cano also spoke at this gathering about the meaning and love for the Eucharist, with Mass and eucharistic adoration.
A conference for families from around the diocese was held in June at St. Paul Cathedral, Mr. Torres said. It included Mass, talks, activities for young people, eucharistic adoration and prayer for families.
There is a real need to walk with families in whatever they are going through, supporting them with spiritual nourishment, he said; they found hope “to keep going.”
A gathering for teenagers and young adults from around the diocese brought more than 100 young people to St. Joan of Arc in October, he said.
“We were listening to them” in conjunction with the pastoral plan and last fall’s synod of bishops in Rome, for which Pope Francis asked input from Catholics throughout the world, Mr. Torres said. He said the day for youth also included talks and invitations “to approach Jesus in a friendly way” in God’s word and the Eucharist. Young people helped organize it, setting an example for their peers.
Among activities planned for this year are gatherings for regional and diocesan leaders, retreats and gatherings for eucharistic ministers, lectors, catechists, youth, families, women and others, a “Life in the Spirit” seminar, other presentations, and a Corpus Christi procession with Bishop McManus at St. Paul Cathedral.
