Hispanic conference attendees discuss next step for Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church
“At this moment of grace, we the bishops of the United States affirm, once again, that the Hispanic/Latino presence among us is a blessing from God for the Church and for our country.” This is how the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry begins, a document approved a year ago by the bishops of the United States.
This plan acknowledges the importance of Hispanics in the Church, as well as the contributions they have made and the gifts they bring with them. Hispanic Catholic history in the U.S. is as long as the country’s own history. And their importance in the ecclesial reality, significant in the present, will be even greater in the future. For this reason, the bishops saw the need to formulate a Pastoral Plan that offers the vision and pastoral action lines to guide pastoral ministers in the coming years.
This Pastoral Plan, born as a fruit of the Fifth National Encuentro and when the spirit of synodality is in the air, is an excellent guide providing a series of pastoral strategies and priorities for the various levels at which the Church carries out its mission. Inspired by this national plan, each diocese—and subsequently each parish—will have the task of developing its own plan that better responds to its diocesan and parish needs.
To assist in this process and become familiar with the National Pastoral Plan, the directors of Hispanic Ministry from the dioceses of New Jersey and Pennsylvania organized a study day on Saturday, June 15, at the Saint John Paul II Youth Center in Kearny, N.J.
Early in the morning, over 200 delegates from different dioceses on both sides of the Delaware River began to arrive. They came from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the dioceses of Allentown, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, as well as the five dioceses of New Jersey. The Archdiocese of Newark had the privilege of hosting.
It was a full day dedicated first to becoming familiar with the plan, and then discerning how to implement processes in each diocese. There were lectures and group work, sharing of ideas, and practicing active listening. All of this was interspersed with moments of prayer and accompanied by the joyful and inspiring music of the group Locuras por Cristo from the parish of Mount Carmel in Jersey City.
The most heartfelt moment of the day was the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss. R., Archbishop of Newark, and concelebrated by Bishop Edward Deliman and Bishop Christopher Cook, auxiliary bishops of Philadelphia; Bishop Gregory Studerus and Bishop Elias Lorenzo, auxiliary bishops of Newark, and a group of priests and deacons participating in the encounter. Cardinal Tobin’s homily left deep seeds of reflection amidst smiles.
Many participants expressed their joy in being part of a process. They understand the plan’s history better and will become active in helping it bear fruit within their communities. Each diocese must find the time and the means for this seed to bear fruit — a significant challenge to be undertaken with great humility and perseverance.
After the final prayer, amidst farewells and embraces among people united by the same mission, there were expressions of gratitude for the warm welcome by our archdiocesan team, as well as for the excellent service provided by the staff of the Youth Center.
Now it is also up to us to think about how and when we will continue the process that will lead us to develop a pastoral plan, something long dreamed of, for our Archdiocese.
Photos courtesy of the Hispanic Ministry
