Church Must Increase Hispanic Ministry

Hispanic ministry in most parishes entails creating two separate worshiping communities divided by language and devotional traditions. The use of part-time or even full time priests of Spanish origin also results in divisiveness from a country other than Mexico and even different segments of Mexico itself. Language, idiom and local cultures differ greatly, much more so than differences among typical American congregations. In the past we had many immigrant variations of ethnic parishes, Italian, Polish, German, and the ubiquitous Irish who were dominant. Over time, assimulation worked and most parishes retained their ethnic origins while opening up to welcome all. Today, we satisfy the need for Hispanic ministry mostly with priests imported from Spanish-speaking countries, with only a few bilingual local priests. As the Hispanic community matures, the second and third generation begins to lose its Hispanic language skills and only seems to retain its devotions and other ethnic customs. They are otherwise fully integrated by their experiences in jobs, professions, schooling, commerce and community living. While they may be 40% or more of our parishes now, only a much smaller group remains significantly limited in language skills. As one of our immigrant ladies remarked, 'when the Mass was in Latin we were all equally mystified.' Today's Hispanic youth are mostly illiterate in the Spanish language yet are often found at Hispanic liturgies for the sake of family harmony and general familiarity with the devotional side of worship. They do not comprehend the readings, nor the prayers themselves, and one wonders what they glean from the homilies and music. The American church has a lot of work to do to continue to assimulate this ethnic group. With assimulation will come vocations and the far greater result of people of Hispanic origin ministered to by 'one of their own.'

Mike Evans makes some great points. I have been doing 'Hispanic ministry' for 14 years and I think we are over thinking it at this point. Hispanics and everyone else need to understand our place in salvation history going back to Abraham. The more we recognize the major events in this story and how they relate to us in our own age, the more we see our common identity and can actually practice our faith rather than celebrate our ethnic roots wherever they 'originate'. The language issues do indeed work themselves out within a generation or two. Pop culture and economic incentives are very powerful. We can just have quarterly international food festivals where ethnic groups can dress up and sing and dance in their given tradition and enjoy the cuisine. Everyone likes to eat and try new foods. Liturgical music can be argued out like it is in most parish settings. Some people are better at collaboration than others, but we don't need to reduce everything to ethnic conflict. In my humble opinion, the biggest improvements in parish and Church life will come by merely raising our expectations about what constitutes meaningful formation in our modern age.