2006 Encuentro

first national encounter for Hispanic youth and young adult ministry planned

by Sr. Anna Marie Reha

According to the official projections of the U.S Census Bureau for 2004, the Hispanic Catholic population under the age of twenty five is estimated to be 17 million. The challenge and commitment of ministering among Hispanic young people in a culturally diverse church in the United States is a challenge that we, as church, believe needs to be undertaken.

The Bishop’s Committee on Hispanic Affairs, USCCB and the National Catholic Network of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana are co-sponsoring the First National Encuentro for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This First Encuentro uses the biblical image of the fisherman’s net as it takes to heart the challenging invitation to "put out into the deep" for a catch—duc in altum - made by Jesus to His disciples and echoed by John Paul II in the Apostolic Exhortation On the Beginning of the New Millennium.

The process begins with five interactive sessions prior to a Parish Encuentro. The sessions address individual themes such as Encountering the Living Jesus Christ, The Path to Conversion, Communion, Solidarity, and Jesus Calls Us to be Missionaries. Each of the Hispanic Ministry Area Faith Communities (Glencoe, Willmar, Marshall, Sleepy Eye, Renville, as well as Hutchinson) are participating in the Encuentro process.

Youth from these communities will attend the Regional Encuentro being held on April 29, 2006 at the University of St. John in Collegeville. Six young people will represent the New Ulm diocese at the National Encuentro on June 8-11, 2006, which will be held in South Bend, Indiana at the University of Notre Dame.

The central goal of the First Encuentro is to engage Hispanic young people and the professional leadership in Hispanic Youth and Young Adult ministry in a process of encounter-conversion-communion-solidarity and mission that can empower Hispanic young people into a more active, enthusiastic and influential participation in the life and mission of the church in the United States.

Sr. Anna Marie Reha is Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of New Ulm.