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Newsletter of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church  USCCB Volume 1, Issue 3  Winter/Spring 2015

One Church Many Cultures The Good News of Cultural Diversity

Chairman’s Message

In This Issue

Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores

Executive Director’s Message . . . . 3-4

Chairman, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church

Building Intercultural Competencies for Ministers . . . . . 5-6 Subcommittee on African American Affairs . . . . . . . 6-7 Subcommittee on Native American Affairs . . . . . . . 8-9 Subcommittee on Pastoral Care for Migrants, Refugees and Travelers . . . . . . 10-11 Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs . . . . . . . . . . 12-15 Subcommittee on Asian Pacific Island Affairs . . . . . . 16

Pit Senyor! Santo Niño, a reflection on Diversity and Unity In January 2015, the Filipino community throughout the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, celebrated devotion to the Santo Niño. In Harlingen, Weslaco and McAllen processions, music and much food surrounded the festivities celebrating the Bishop Daniel E. Flores, evangelization of the Bishop of Brownsville, Philippines, and the Texas, Chairman, pivotal place the Committee on Cultural image of the Child Diversity in the Church Jesus played in the lives of generations of Filipino Catholics. I celebrated the Mass for the day of the Santo Niño at St Anne’s Church in Peñitas. What a grace and blessing it is for the Rio Grande Valley that the Filipino communities here so generously share their faith and devotion with us all! Continued on page 2 è

Special Section Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18 Meet the Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Contact and Socialize with Us . . . . 20

“You tell us that to love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus.” Visit at the Homeless Shelter "Dono Di Maria": Meeting with the Missionaries of Charity Address of Charity Address of Pope Francis (5/21/13)

Chairman’s Message

Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores Chairman, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church Continued from page 1 The tradition of Santo Niño goes back to the first evangelization of the Philippines when the image of the Child Jesus was confided to Queen Juana. Since then, the devotion to the Child Jesus spread and its meaning elaborated. Our celebrations coincided with the pilgrimage of our Holy Father Pope Francis through the Philippine Islands. There was much joy in the community as they watched reports of the impact of the Holy Fathers' visit. For us here in the Valley, devotion to the Child Jesus is a vivid reminder of the sacredness of childhood. With so many of our young people in danger of losing hope, or of dropping out of school, or of feeling outcast and relegated to non-person status, we must renew our efforts to bring hope and joy to our children. And one thing is for sure, there was great joy in the celebrations around Santo Niño in the Valley! The Mass was celebrated in English and Tagalog, with most of the music for the Mass and the processions in Tagalog and some of the regional languages of the Philippine Islands. I am told there are more than 80 regional languages! The celebration gave me an opportunity to reflect upon the issue of the unity and diversity of the Church. It is important to realize that the Church speaks many languages, and she speaks only one. The one language that binds us in a common identity is that of charity. Charity is the generous love that moves our devotion and fidelity to the Lord God, and that motivates our generous love for one another. There is a language we understand that lies beneath the individual words. I remember when I was in Detroit, Michigan, participating in a celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

There was singing, a great procession and a beautiful Mass, all of it in Spanish. I happened upon an elderly lady in tears. She told me she was Polish and her tears were tears of joy, because this outpouring of love for the Blessed Virgin reminded her of her childhood in Poland. She had not seen such a thing since then. Of course, the point is that she did not speak Spanish, but she understood the language that was being spoken that night perfectly well. This is what I mean the language beneath the different languages. Devotion to Our Lady or to the Blessed Sacrament or public expressions of faith during Holy Week and Christmas all speak to us on a deep level of understanding, beyond the words. To paraphrase Saint Augustine, all the words are meant to lead us to the One Word. So it is with us in the Rio Grande Valley and in a more general sense for the Church in the United States. What a wonderful grace it is for us to have within our churches such rich diversity of faith expression. When we participate in these celebrations we give witness to the fact that languages need not divide us, if we let the Lord Jesus draw us into himself. Love of him and the mysteries of faith he brings us unites us into a community of many languages but rooted in the One Word. This is the truly Catholic vision of life that flows from Pentecost, a renewed human race united in Christ, yet with each diverse part able to retain its identity and unique heritage of expression. And each diverse cultural community offers their faith and devotion to the wider Church. It is a gift that enriches. And, let us not forget, it is incumbent upon the larger cultural communities to protect and graciously receive with reverence the gifts that the smaller communities bring us. This mutual exchange of gifts is the way of Christ, it must therefore, be the way of the Church. Pit Senyor!  This is adapted text from the original article. The original article in its entirety appears on the diocesan website.

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Executive Director’s Message We had an unusually cold and snowy winter here in Washington, DC, but signs of spring are now everywhere, and the weather certainly has not deterred us from forging ahead in our mission to build intercultural communication and competence in the Church, as well as reaching out to many diverse communities, inviting their participation and listening to their needs and aspirations. First of all, I want to share the news that two veteran members of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity have recently assumed new roles with us. After many years as Assistant Director for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers (PCMRT), in February Sr. Myrna Tordillo was appointed Assistant Director for Asian and Pacific Island Affairs. Under the direction of the corresponding Bishops’ Subcommittee, she will now oversee the development of a National Pastoral Plan for API Catholics in the U.S. On the other hand, Sr. Joanna Okereke, program coordinator with PCMRT for many years, is now the Secretariat’s new Assistant Director for PCMRT. I am both extremely proud of them for their past accomplishments, and very grateful that they decided to take on their respective new challenges. Please find a short bio for both of them on page 4 of this newsletter, and do not hesitate to contact them for any questions or needs. Also, last November, the General Assembly of the U.S. Catholic Bishops chose a new chairman-elect for the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, of San Antonio, will be taking over after Bishop Daniel Flores’ term is up in November of 2015. We welcome “Archbishop Gustavo” to the committee and thank the faithful of the Archdiocese for sharing him with us for the next three years.

for his tremendous leadership in bringing the needs and gifts of the many diverse Catholic communities under the Committee’s purview to the attention of the Bishops’ Conference, Mrs. María del Mar especially the need Muñoz-Visoso, MTS, to keep diversity in Executive Director, mind as we all go Secretariat of Cultural about our pastoral Diversity in the Church planning. I hope you had an opportunity to read Bishop Flores’ article on how the celebrations of “Santo Niño” by the Filipino community in his diocese of Brownsville epitomized the example of our unity in diversity. As I look back at the year or so behind us, I stand in awe at what we have been able to accomplish together: bishops, staff and all of you in dioceses, parishes and ministries across the country. Over the last 14 months the Secretariat completed the last two of six regional trainings planned on the intercultural competencies. As participants went back to their dioceses, colleges, or Catholic institutions, the Secretariat has now taken more of a back seat, an advisory role of sorts, letting those who took the trainings train their peers and colleagues in turn. We are also collaborating with institutions of higher education, particularly with programs at Dayton and Notre Dame Universities, which are developing online courses in English and Spanish based on the competencies. Where dioceses, episcopal regions and other institutions need support, the Congar Institute has also stepped up to bring mobile teams to them. Continued on page 4 è

We are also very grateful to Bishop Flores Page 3

Executive Director’s Message

Continued from page 3

USCCB personnel have continued to offer some limited presentations and in-services, mainly directed to provide an overview of the competencies. In 2014, the Best Practices for Shared Parishes resource guide was on the USCCB best-seller list several times, which seems to indicate people, are finding it useful. In addition, the Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) manual is now available also in Spanish, thanks to a new bilingual edition. If looking back is breathtaking, looking forward is no less exciting. Please look at the pages that follow. Whether it is supporting the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights era and highlighting Catholic participation in it; supporting marriage and family life in the African American community; participating in online surveys and focus groups for input on ministry with Asian and Pacific Island Catholics; joining preparations underway for a V National Hispanic Encuentro process; supporting a new era of dialogue and evangelization among Native American Catholics; accompanying migrant

farmworkers, seafarers, Circus and traveling show workers in their journey of faith; or welcoming in our local communities of faith brothers and sisters from Africa and the Caribbean, and new immigrants from Europe, we certainly hope to continue to count you among those who take seriously the mission of the Church: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28: 19-20). I invite you to take a look around at the neighborhood, city, or town. I bet none of us have to go very far to find opportunities to fulfill the Lord’s mandate. Just let us know how we can be of assistance. 

Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS, is a member of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, known as Scalabrinians. In 1999-2005, she served as Provincial councilor and secretary of her community’s US Province. She founded the Catholic organization for Migrant Equity, a grassroots group in Maryland and Illinois. Her pastoral experiences include Assistant Director for Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers in the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, migration awareness campaign in Philippine schools, formator, and pastoral outreach to Filipino migrant workers in Malaysia, a joint project of the Episcopal Conferences of the Philippines and Malaysia’s offices of Migration. In February 2015, Sr. Myrna became the Assistant Director for Asian Pacific Islanders. Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ is a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus. In 1996 she served as a pastoral assistant and later as the director of the Kuumba Center, a creative center at St. James and St. Juliana Catholic Church in Alexandria, Louisiana. In 2002 she was elected the mission superior of her congregation here in the United States and served in this capacity until 2005. She began working at the USCCB in 2006 as the Coordinator of Ethnic Ministries for Migration and Refugee Services before transitioning into the Program Coordinator. In February 2015, she became the Assistant Director for Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. Page 4

Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) In 2008, the United States Since then, additional trainings Bishops were presented with and trainer-of-trainers have taken five priorities of action. One place throughout the United of the five priorities was the States to include numerous recognition and affirmation of dioceses, colleges and universities, cultural diversity in the U.S. seminaries, Catholic organizations, Church. To fulfill this priority conferences, and events, totaling the Bishopsâ€™ Conference set over 5,000 people trained since as a goal the dissemination 2010. Many of the participants of guidelines to building have taken their newly developed intercultural competence for knowledge, skills and attitudes ministers throughout the United back to their work places and have Mrs. Yolanda TaylorStates. The priority emanated begun to train their colleagues Burwell, CMP, from the need to respond and people in other organizations. Education and Projects to the growing diversity in In some cases, participants have Coordinator, Secretariat parishes, dioceses, schools, been recruited to assist our of Cultural Diversity in seminaries, and Catholic national office with some training. the Church organizations. The program While this is a major achievement aims to increase the capacity to welcome, for the program, the staff of the Secretariat, relate, and work with all emerging cultural continues to work hard by coordinating and groups, while encouraging members of all consulting for future trainings and creating cultural communities to participate, assume new ways to expand the program. One of leadership roles in the Church, and train the ways that we are expanding the program other ministry leaders to do the same. This is collaborating with colleges, universities training is equally beneficial to bishops, and institutions to include the program as priests, deacons, religious men and women, continuing education in both English and and lay ministers. Spanish, developing online versions and In 2010, the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church began piloting their training workshop at the Diocese of San Bernardino. Forty-four people attended the training and provided feedback to help shape future trainings. Two additional pilot workshops were held afterwards at the Diocese of Des Moines and the Archdiocese of Washington (with participation of the Dioceses of Arlington and Wilmington and the Archdiocese of Baltimore), with over 100 attendants between the two trainings.

webinars, and collaborating with sister organizations to provide in-service trainings.

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Continued on page 6 Ă¨

Building Intercultural Competencies for Ministers (BICM) Continued from page 5 Popularity of the program comes from the following: an adaptable schedule training which includes interactive presentations of the five learning modules participant sharing life experiences that address diversity in the Church self-reflection and in some cases transformation practical testimony of the participants and their openness to others and other cultures

than one perspective. This is the importance of building intercultural competency in the American multi-racial, multicultural and multi-religious society. 

The future of the program relies on our participant’s ability to understand intercultural interaction and to learn various skills of empathy and tolerance while witnessing and comprehending cultural reality from more

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“Our God-given human diversity challenges all Catholics to achieve ecclesial integration, to discover ways in which we, as Catholic communities, can be one Church yet come from diverse cultures and ethnicities.” Many Faces in God’s House, p. 4

News from the

Subcommittee on African American Affairs (SCAAA)

To provide Continue working on the Civil Rights 50th outreach for the Anniversary project, underscoring the ministry in all arch/ involvement of young adults then and dioceses, the now. We are posting online reflections Subcommittee on and multimedia resources about the African American Church and Civil Rights, honoring the Affairs will spotlight march from Selma to Montgomery, and youth and young much more! adults in the New Intentionally strengthen the connection Year. Here are four to certain Catholic youth organizations examples of the including the National African American projects that are Catholic Youth Ministry Network Affairs marinating now: an America Afric (NAACYMN), the nNational Federation for Subcommittee on Support Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and Mrs. Donna marriage in the youth and young adult ministry staff le on one page artic the keep ible poss Toliver Grimes, If African American at USCCB. Assistant Director, community in My ongoing desire is to be a resource Subcommittee on African various ways, -given human r Godthroughout with: “Ou e text American place quot for African Catholics e 6/Re T. Pag American Affairs but especially country, they ion, relateto to disc and over wa l integrat esiawhether s to achievetheeccl Catholicmarriage by encouraging sacramental experience God in large orrch smallyet numbers, come from Chu one be can , munities com among African American Catholic young Catholic and especially if they do not yet know adults. God.es  in God’s House, p. 4 ethnicities.” Many Fac We will: Collaborate with the Knights of St. Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary to provide guest speakers and sessions on this topic at the KPC Jr. Knights and Ladies convention in July; and Identify writers to generate short articles for the For Your Marriage website Organize and conduct a Young Adult Listening Session in May to learn from “the experts” how to effectively evangelize this group. We have secured places for 25 African American Catholic young adults to learn more about the particular needs and concerns of this group and to help us strategize. Through a national nomination process we will select men and women in their 20s and 30s, who are picture: lace skills, U. Repvarious active in the faith, possess come from different backgrounds and reflect geographic diversity.

St. Jude Catholic Church Montgomery, AL final rest stop of 1965 March from Selma to Montgomery

Native American Affairs Subcommittee on Page 7

act of fait

News from the

Subcommittee on Native American Affairs (SNAA) The Subcommittee on Native Americans sponsored a Native American Ministry Orientation Workshop for Bishops in Fargo, North Dakota in July 2014. The workshop was attended by fourteen bishops. Seven individuals made presentations to the bishops on topics such as: Native American participation in the Church; Inculturation; Native and Catholic spirituality; Native and Catholic Traditions; and Bringing the Ancient Faith to Today’s Native Youth. The workshop was well received by the bishops who attended, and another workshop will be held in San Mateo, California in July, 2016 in conjunction with the National Tekakwitha Conference. Fr. Henry Sands offered a ‘Talking Circle’ workshop at the National Tekakwitha Conference in Fargo, North Dakota in July, 2014. In the workshop he first asked the participants to individually identify issues of importance to Native American Catholics. They then shared their issues in small groups. Each small group then identified the top three issues for their group, and then shared their top three issues with all of the workshop attendees. There was a high degree of correlation among all of the small groups with respect to their top three issues.

The overall top three issues identified by the workshop participants were: 1. the need for evangelization and mentoring of Native American youth; 2. the importance of inculturation— Fr. Henry Sands, a desire by Native Assistant Director, American Catholics Subcommittee on for greater Native Americans incorporation and Affairs preservation of Native American culture and traditions; and 3. the need for the formation of Native American lay leaders. Fr. Sands plans to offer a ‘next phase’ workshop at the National Tekakwitha Conference which will be held in Alexandria, Louisiana in July, 2015. This workshop will provide participants with a summary of the issues that were identified at the 2014 workshop. They will be asked to reflect individually and then brainstorm in small groups to formulate solutions to these issues and challenges.

“The individual’s act of faith finds its place within a community, within the common "we" of the people who, in faith, are like a single person — "my first-born son", as God would describe all of Israel (cf. Ex 4:22). Here mediation is not an obstacle, but an opening: through our encounter with others, our gaze rises to a truth greater than ourselves.” Encyclical Letter Lumen Fidei of the Supreme Pontiff Francis to the Bishops Priests and Deacons Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful on Faith (6/29/13, no. 14)

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News from the

Subcommittee on Native American Affairs (SNAA) Among other activities, in September of 2014, Fr. Henry Sands and Fr. Wayne Paysse, Executive Director of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, and Sr. Kateri Mitchell, SSA, Executive Director National Tekakwitha Conference led a pilgrimage group of eighty people to various holy sites in New York State and Quebec, Canada. During the five day pilgrimage they visited: the National St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda, New York; the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York; the tomb of St. Kateri Tekakwitha at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in Kahnawake, Quebec; Notre Dame du Cap Shrine in Trois Riviere, Quebec; the Basilica of Ste.-Anne-de-Beaupré in Ste. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec; the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec; St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Quebec; and Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec.

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Fr. Sands and Fr. Paysse are currently working on plans for a pastoral visit to the Lower Brule Lakota Indian Reservation and the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation which are both near Pierre, South Dakota. The Sisters of Christian Charity have invited them to make this pastoral visit to the priests, religious sisters, other pastoral workers, and the Native American Catholics who live in the two reservation communities. 

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News from the Pastoral Care of Migrants,

Refugees, and Travelers (PCMRT)

The subcommittee, on Pastoral Allow me to introduce myself Care of Migrants, Refugees, and as the new Assistant Director Travelers, (PCMRT) supports Secretariat of Cultural Diversity dioceses, national organizations, in the Church for the Suband movements in the pastoral committee on Pastoral Care care of migrants, refugees and of Migrants, Refugees, and people on the move. To date, Travelers at the United States various archdioceses/dioceses Conference of Catholic Bishops have developed structures which in Washington, D.C. I am a encourage and support the local member of the Congregation of Churchâ€™s response to these the Handmaids of the Holy Child populations, thereby manifesting Jesus. Although I am new in this the universality of the Catholic position, I am not new to the Church in rich and positive dedicated team of pastoral care Sr. Joanna Okereke, ways. leaders. Some of you know me HHCJ, Assistant Director, as the Program Coordinator and Many Parishes have Subcommittee on Pastoral I am very excited to continue committed themselves to be Care of Migrants, working with you as we share in welcoming by encouraging Refugees, and Travelers the common vision of pastoral evangelization, catechesis and care of migrants and refugees arriving from liturgies incorporating the native languages foreign lands. of the newcomers, while others organize As I begin my new position, my goal is to facilitate pastoral care programs, to help us reach our potential. I am looking forward to utilizing your talents for the benefit of us all. I ask that you provide us with feedback, questions and new ideas to improve our various activities. I look forward to working with you and to see our communities and ministries grow.

diverse inter-cultural activities. In some dioceses specific pastoral care for migrants and refugees and mobile populations is not provided, while in other places the immigrants are integrated into the local parishes. Ensuring the pastoral care of migrants, refugees and people on the move is the work of communion. This includes several specialized ministries serving the pastoral needs of those with limited resources, such as recently arrived immigrants, migrant farm workers, airport and airline workers, circus and carnival workers. It has been a point of pride that PCMRT has grown, expanding its pastoral outreach and diocesan contacts, by encouraging active involvement of the ethnic communities in the different dioceses and parishes and providing for the pastoral needs of people on the move. As PCMRT expands

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le on the move is the work of communion. News from the Pastoral Care of Migrants,

Refugees, and Travelers (PCMRT)

Continued from page 10

Pope Francis Says... “Grant that migrants in search of a dignified life may find acceptance and assistance. May tragedies like those we have witnessed this year, with so many deaths at Lampedusa, never occur again!” Urbi Et Orbi Message of Pope Francis Christmas (12/25/13)

to/ its outreach, it looks forward to the active participation of ethnic communities and the people on the move ministries. PCMRT welcomes new ideas; it encourages commitment and indispensable services for the growth of the Christian communities.

ph 7/Replace text with: As PCMRT expands its outreach ve participation of ethnic communities and the people CMRT welcomes new ideas; it encourages commitme In welcoming immigrants and people icesonfor thethegrowth of the Christian communities. the move, Church has always contemplated Christ, drawing inspiration from His words “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt. 25:35). The local parishes need to develop a more creative and pastorally effective ministry of hospitality, especially for immigrants and people on the move, in solidarity with all Catholics and bearing in mind that the Church is diverse and yet one.

end of the text/Remove the website link.

ce quote with: “Grant that migrants in search of a dignif ce and assistance. May tragedies like those we have w Visit our website for more information on manythedeaths at Lampedusa, never occur again!” Urbi E various activities. His Holiness Pope Franci rancis Christmas (12/25/13) Page 11 Jorge Mario Bergoglio

News from the

Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs (SCHA) It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that the preparations for the Fifth National Gathering for Ministry Among Hispanics/Latinos (V Encuentro) are already underway. On this road toward the V Encuentro, in a spirit of communion in mission, we have accomplished the following goals: Creation of the National Team of Accompaniment Toward a V Encuentro, or “ENAHVE” by its Spanish-language acronym. This team is comprised of all of the National Catholic Hispanic Organizations in the United States and of other key Catholic organizations in Hispanic/Latino ministry The National Orientation on the Vision and Mission of a V Encuentro took place in San Antonio, TX, October 30, 2014 within the framework of the 2015 Raíces y Alas Congress and was attended by 17 bishops and 150 regional and diocesan leaders of Hispanic/Latino ministry

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uring the D orientation, the document Called and Sent to Encuentro: A Pastoral Theological Vision for the V Encuentro Process was Mr. Alejandro Aguilerapresented Titus, Assistant On February Director, Subcommittee 12-14, 2015, on Hispanic Affairs the National Training on the Process of Encuentro was carried out for those that coordinate the preparations for a V Encuentro in each of the fourteen episcopal regions in which the Catholic Church in the United States is organized On February 15, 2015, the website En Camino al V Encuentro (On The Way To a V Encuentro) was launched: www.enahve.org During the last week of February, two orientation sessions on the V Encuentro took place for executive directors of departments and secretariats of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) During the month of March, bishops, anchoring institutions and coordinators that will provide leadership within the V Encuentro teams were confirmed for each of the fourteen Latin episcopal regions We are currently working on the elaboration of a Preparation Guide for the Process of Encuentro. This guide will be used during the experiences of Encuentro that will be carried out in each episcopal region.

News from the

Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs (SCHA) As you can see, we have made good progress in the preparations toward a V Encuentro. All of this information can be found on the website www.enahve.org. The goals for the Encuentro process for the year 2015 include the following: Creation of teams in each region through a two-day experience on the process of Encuentro. It is recommended that this experience take place during the first part of 2015 Completion of a two-day experience on the process of Encuentro in each episcopal region during the second half of 2015. This experience is for leaders of the dioceses of the region and is prepared by the regional team Each U.S episcopal region will be asked to select a Hispanic/Latino family to represent them at a gathering with families representing other episcopal conferences from Latin America. This family gathering will take place on September 21, 2015 in the city of Philadelphia, one day prior to the commencement of the VIII World Gathering of Families.

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We will keep you informed on the progress made during our journey toward a V Encuentro. Please keep in mind that the years 2015 and 2016 are of preparation for a V Encuentro. We anticipate the actual process will begin in January of 2017 with the Parish and Diocesan Encuentros (gatherings). With respect to the Regional Encuentros, they will be carried out throughout the first part of 2018, and the National Encuentro will take place on a weekend during the second half of September 2018, God willing. Let’s continue walking together toward a V Encuentro and making history along the way! 

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Noticias del

Subcomité para Asuntos Hispanos Es motivo de gran alegría comunicarles que los preparativos para el Quinto Encuentro Nacional Hispano/Latino de Pastoral (V Encuentro) ya se han puesto en marcha. En este caminar hacia el V Encuentro, en un espíritu de pastoral de conjunto, hemos logrado las siguientes metas: Creación del Equipo Nacional de Acompañamiento Hacia el V Encuentro (ENAHVE). Este equipo está integrado por representantes de las organizaciones católicas nacionales hispanas de Estados Unidos, de otra organizaciones católicas claves en la pastoral Hispana/latina Dentro del contexto del Congreso Raíces y Alas 2014 celebrado en San Antonio,

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TX, se realizó el 30 de octubre la Orientación nacional sobre la visión y misión del V Encuentro que contó con la participación de 17 obispos y 150 líderes regionales y diocesanos de la pastoral Hispana/Latina. Durante la orientación se presentó el documento Llamados y Enviados a Encuentro: Una Visión Teológico-Pastoral para el V Encuentro Febrero 12-14, 2015 se llevó a cabo En el Taller nacional de formación sobre el proceso de Encuentro para las personas que coordinaran los preparativos para el V Encuentro en cada una de las catorce regiones episcopales en las que está organizada la Iglesia Católica en Estados Unidos

Noticias del

Subcomité para Asuntos Hispanos

Continued from page 14

El 15 de febrero, 2015 se lanzó el portal electrónico En Camino al V Encuentro www.enahve.org Durante la última semana de Febrero se llevaron a cabo dos sesiones de orientación sobre el V Encuentro para los directores ejecutivos de departamentos y secretariados de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos Durante el mes de marzo se confirmaronlos obispos, las instituciones de anclaje y los coordinadores que proveerán liderazgo en los equipos del V Encentro que se formarán en cada una de las catorce regiones episcopales Actualmente estamos trabajando en la elaboración de una Guía de Preparación para el proceso de Encuentro. Esta Guía será utilizada en las experiencias de Encuentro que se llevarán a cabo en las regiones episcopales.

Como verán, llevamos un buen paso en los preparativos hacia el V Encuentro. Toda esta información la pueden encontrar en el portal electrónico www.enahve.org. Con respecto a las metas para este año 2015, se incluyen las siguientes: Formación de equipos en cada región mediante una experiencia de dos días sobre el proceso de Encuentro. Se recomienda que esta experiencia tome lugar en la primera parte de 2015 Realización de una experiencia de dos días sobre el proceso de Encuentro en cada región episcopal durante la segunda mitad de 2015. Esta experiencia es para líderes de las diócesis de la región, y es preparada por el equipo regional

A cada región episcopal se le pedirá que elija a una familia Hispana/Latina para representar a la región en un encuentro con familias que representarán a distintas conferencias episcopales de América Latina. Este encuentro familiar tendrá lugar el día 21 de Septiembre de 2015, en la ciudad de Filadelfia, un día antes de que inicie el VIII Encuentro Mundial de Familias.

Les mantendremos informados sobre el avance de nuestro camino hacia el V Encuentro. Tengan en mente que los años 2015 y 2016 son de preparación al V Encuentro, cuyo proceso anticipamos iniciar en enero de 2017 con los Encuentros Parroquiales y Diocesanos. Con respecto a los Encuentros Regionales, se llevarán a cabo durante la primera parte del 2018, y el Encuentro Nacional tendrá lugar en un fin de semana durante la segunda mitad de Septiembre de 2018, Dios mediante. Sigamos caminando juntos hacia el V Encuentro y haciendo historia al andar! 

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“Let us remind ourselves that the mingling of cultures, which sometimes created tensions, also brought positive elements of enduring value to the family, the church, and the country itself. This treasure continues to flourish among us, developing in a variety of ways from generation to generation… The multicolored marble that is America has veins of many hues and patterns; in their joining and confluence they contribute their own element of beauty to the Church and the land we love.” Cultural Pluralism in the United States (A Statement by the Committee on Social Development and World Peace 1980)

News from the

Subcommittee on Asian Pacific Island Affairs (SCAPA) “Asian and Pacific Islanders [API] are now six percent of the overall U.S. population with an increasing number of immigrants each year. This makes API communities the fastest growing minority group in the United States bringing together a rich cultural diversity not only to the larger American population but to the Church as well,” says Bishop Daniel Flores, Chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity.

To better serve these culturally diverse populations, the Catholic Church in the United States would benefit from having a useful and strategic tool as guideline.

A study by the Center for Applied The Subcommittee on Asian and Research in the Apostolate (CARA) Pacific Islander commissioned by the Secretariat of Cultural Sr. Myrna Tordillo, Affairs determined Diversity in the Church, points out that “3.6 MSCS, Assistant the need for a million U.S. residents who self-identify as Director, Subcommittee National Pastoral Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander 8 on Pastoral Care of 3/26/2015 3:53 PM Plan for Asian are estimated to be Catholic, representing Migrants, Refugees and Pacific Island about 20 percent of the 17.3 million people and Travelers with: A cada región episcopal se le pedirá que bullet/Replac 15/Third Pageand Catholics and has of this JJ. race ethnicity in thee text country. This elija a una familia Hispana/Latina para representar a la región en un encuentro started a consultation process including a includes an estimated 2.2 million Filipino con familias que representarán a distintas conferencias episcopales de América national survey that will inform a national Catholics, 483,600 Vietnamese Catholics, Latina. Este encuentro familiar tendrá lugar el día 21 de Septiembre de 2015, en la for de API Catholics. With the 340,900 Chinese Catholics, Korean Mundial Encuentroplan inicie el VIIIpastoral antes de que un día200,300, de Filadelfia, ciudad collaborative efforts of many, it is hoped that Catholics, 147,500 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Familias. the process will bear much fruit. Islander Catholics, 146,000 Indian Catholics, quote with: “Let us remind ourselves that the mingling of cultures, Replace KK. and 56,000 Japanese Catholics. Overall, Meanwhile, and on-going activities are enduring elements ofnew which sometimes created tensions, also brought positive 79 percent of Catholic Asian or and Pacific to continues happening as 2015 ushered in. At the the country itself. This treasure value to the family, the church, Islanders are foreign-born” (CARA, August Midgeneration Atlantic to Congress in Baltimore in flourish among us, developing in a variety of ways from 2013, Report on Cultural Diversity in the and hues many of veins has America is that marble multicolored generation…The February 2015, for the first time, there of Catholic Church in the United States). element own their contribute they patterns; in their joining and confluence was an Asian-Pacific track that included Pluralism in the United States love.” Cultural workshops wePacific the land and the Churchof beauty topresence on various topics; an API Rosary The vibrant Asian and the Committee on Social Development and World Peace 1980) by manifested Statementis Guide will be available soon as an online Island (A Catholics in their faith, resource; the 14th annual Marian Pilgrimage worship, witness and engagement in the life Affairs Pacific Island e on Asian Subcommitte for Asian and Pacific Island Catholics will be of the Church at the local, diocese, regional LL. Page 16/Replace the picture with: held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of and national the Immaculate Conception on May 2, 2015, levels. The with Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore as increasing main celebrant and homilist. numbers of API Catholics Events of various ethnic groups, leadership mean that they formation, gatherings of Asian clergy, will turn to observance of the feasts of saints from the the Church for country of origin, and popular piety and pastoral care Marian devotions are samplings of the lived and spiritual faith of API Catholics in the United States.  sustenance. MM. Page 16/Add date: May 2, 2015

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Native American Catholics at the Millennium A REPORT ON A SURVEY BY THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN CATHOLICS