The Hispanic population in the US has grown more than 10X in the past decade. 60% of the US Gen X population is Hispanic. Over 40% of US Hispanics are Catholic.
How can our Catholic church serve this large and growing community? Dr. Hosffman Ospino, Chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, provides us some insights. Dr. Ospino has been researching ways to serve Hispanic Catholics for many years, most recently publishing a comprehensive review of what makes successful ministry to young Hispanics.
V Encuentro was one of the important steps to define priorities to serve young Hispanics and Hispanic families. Those priorities did not change during Covid and are still true today as our parishes seek ways to attract and engage people beyond alternating Spanish and English language readings and responses at Mass.
Ospino looked at what is working in service to Hispanic youth across the United States, drawing some remarkable and important observations that can inform our diocesan and parish leaders. Most importantly, the successful ministries are led by young Hispanics for young Hispanics, outside of parish and diocesan program structure. Hear more in the conversation with Dr. Ospino.
