Latino

The Catholic Church and American society should recognize the historic and current contributions of Hispanic and Latino leaders, said a U.S. bishop at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated Sept. 15-Oct. 15.

Perhaps one of the most interesting findings of the recent report is the observation that less than half of Hispanics in our country self-identify as Catholic (about 47%). As far as memory goes, we have practically taken for granted the assumption that the majority of Hispanics are Catholic. No longer.

During the last months of the year, Catholics reflect about the reality of death. The church’s liturgy brings us All Souls’ Day. Among Hispanic Catholics, the feast is widely known as “el Día de los Muertos” (the Day of the Dead).

Hispanic / Latino adults participating in a pilot program designed to train lay ministers received their certificates May 30 during a graduation Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud.

A pilot program to form lay ministers graduated 56 Latino leaders.

Mayuli Bales spends a lot of her time listening. As director of the Diocese of St. Cloud’s Office of Multicultural Ministries, she sees her office as a connection — a crossroads — between people and communities.

“I see more Anglo people coming to the Spanish Mass, and I see more Hispanic people coming to the English Mass on the weekends. People are more welcoming, greeting one another.”

The thousands of Hispanic Catholic ministry leaders gathered in Texas for the Fifth National Encuentro shared views on the maturity and presence of their diverse community and held dialogues on the dreams and challenges that they face.