Hispanics have "encuentro" with their bishop

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

Hispanic Catholics told Bishop McManus what they think is needed for evangelization and ministry locally, as they gathered at their Diocesan Encuentro Saturday at St. Paul Cathedral.
Their requests included education, outreach to youth, and a full-time director of Hispanic ministry to design a pastoral plan, promote vocations and help with immigration, those involved said.
“I was very edified by the whole experience; the faith among these people is very strong,” Bishop McManus said.
He said the Encuentro will “bring a new type of vision and energy,” and has refocused the diocesan vision on ethnic ministry, in this case Hispanic ministry.
Saturday’s gathering was part of a U.S. bishops’ initiative called V Encuentro, or the fifth National Encounter of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. (“Encuentro” is Spanish for “encounter.”) Hispanic Catholics in the United States have held Encuentros periodically since 1972.
V Encuentro began in 2013. It’s theme is “Missionary Disciples: Witnesses to God’s Love.” It is aimed at discerning how the Church can better respond to Hispanics, and at strengthening all Catholics’ evangelization efforts.
It includes parish reflection sessions and outreach to non-church-goers, those “on the peripheries,” parish Encuentros and diocesan Encuentros. Next come regional Encuentros, which the Worcester Diocese is to participate in March 10 at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro. The national V Encuentro is scheduled for Sept. 20-23 in Texas. Action plans are to be formed from the information collected.     
Bishop McManus said he expects to attend the regional and national Encuentros.
Saturday’s Diocesan Encuentro was “a wonderful day of reflection and meditation,” said Deacon Franklin B. Lizardo, director of the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate, who also ministers at St. Paul Cathedral. He said more than 200 delegates participated, and Bishop McManus stayed with them all morning and returned to celebrate the vigil  Mass.
“The presence of our bishop – it was outstanding,” he said. “That was probably the first time we had, to gather as a Church – all our parish delegates – with our bishop. … The bishop was able to hear first-hand the voice of our parishioners – what people are looking for, what they see … that needs to be done to improve evangelization.”
At different tables, priests working with Hispanics, religious, deacons and laity discussed Encuentro questions, he said. Their comments are being compiled into a diocesan document in Spanish and English for Bishop McManus to study, which is to be used at the regional Encuentro.
“I was very happy they talked about the presence of Latinos in our Catholic schools (and) … the need for developing vocations,” Bishop McManus said. He said it was “very, very encouraging” to see the number of young people present and that there was lively singing during breaks.
Delegates asked Bishop McManus to consider appointing a full-time director of the Hispanic community in the diocese, said Father Andres A. Araque, part-time associate at St. Peter and St. Stephen parishes in Worcester.
He said goals given for a full-time director were: design a pastoral plan for the future of the Hispanic community in the diocese, to be used in each parish community; promote priestly and religious vocations and create a permanent diaconate program with an approach that fits Hispanics; incorporate the Hispanic community into the Catholic school system, create resources and activities for families and marriage preparation, and provide help with immigration.
Father Araque said delegates also asked Bishop McManus to visit the parishes more.
“For the Latino community, the bishop is … a shepherd, the main leader of the community,” he said.
“I think there was a level of energy,” said Father Peter J. Joyce, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford. “The energy was an enthusiasm that the bishop would take the time to be with the community.”
Father Hugo Cano, Bishop McManus’ delegate to the Encuentro locally and a WPI campus minister, also expressed appreciation for “having the bishop listening to us, praying with us, discerning with us.”
He said delegates were “really happy to hear how many people in different parishes were doing the same mission work.”
The delegates are parish leaders who brought many insights, and their experiences, to the diocese, he said. Their suggestions included outreach to people who don’t attend church, and formation of leaders, including new and young leaders, partnering with area colleges for their formation.
John Rodriguez, of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester, said a young person claimed that youth are leaving the Church because they’re not being heard.
At the gathering, “everybody got to express their major concerns,” which were about the same things, he said. He expressed hope that the diocese will hear them.
“It’s a great start,” he said, adding, “We want to see action.”
“We have the spirit and we have to come back to our parishes” – and reach out to people not attending church, said Marita Wallace, of St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton.
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