Denver Catholic

6 I LOCAL NEWS JUNE 5, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Volunteers who keep God in 'godmother' honored organized its first senior Health Fair in 2010 in collaboration with various organizations to provide on-site health screening and increase awareness of health issues for seniors and their families. BY JULIE FILBY Supporters and friends of the Denver Archdiocese's Hispanic Ministry gathered May 19 for the 2013 Las Madrinas Tribute at Centro San Juan Diego in northwest Denver. The tribute recognized several leaders in the Hispanic community that personify the spirit of "La Madrina" (godmother) through their dedicated service. The event is an annual fundraiser for Bienestar Family Services, the branch of Hispanic ministry that serves low-income individuals and families through support services; leadership programs; and citizenship, GED, computer and English classes. Bienestar served more than 6,000 individuals in 2012. Individuals and organizations honored this year were as follows. Madrina (godmother) Award Role model who demonstrates untiring dedication Diana Chavez has volunteered, and assisted director Sister Alicia Cuaron, at Bienestar Family Services since its inception in 1998 when it was located at St. Joseph's Church. She has been a dedicated force assisting with programs such as the annual Vino y Chocolate Toy Drive, Jugueton Toy Drive, Las Madrinas Tribute and the Senior Health Fair. "She is always available and willing to help with what is needed," said Jennie Marquez, director of operations at Centro. Estrella (star) Award PHOTO BY LARA MONTOYA/EL PUEBLO CATOLICO LAS MADRINAS Award winners, from left: María Valdez for Christian Legal Society; Diane Chavez, La Madrina; Andrés Chaparro and Adriana Muro for Telemundo. Not pictured: Martha Ruschival. Chavez has also been an active member at the Latina Safehouse serving as treasurer and on the fundraising committee, and currently as interim director. In addition, she has completed the volunteer victim advocate program through the Denver District Attorney's Office, and is a student at the University of Denver Women's College. When she is not volunteering or studying, she enjoys reading, painting and guitar lessons. Corazón (heart) Award One who volunteers with love and dedication Martha Ruschival, B.S.N., R.N., and executive director of the TUCC Foundation—an organization dedicated to advancing Volunteers who shine brightly for their community efforts The Christian Legal Society helps individuals who are seeking legal assistance with issues surrounding immigration, domestic abuse, traffic citations and other legal matters—all at no cost. "The society has partnered with the Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic to provide legal services to those who cannot speak for themselves," explained Marquez. "And for the rights of all who are destitute or in need of help." As the majority of clients have limited English proficiency, the organization opened a Spanish-speaking clinic at Centro in April 2009. The mission of the CLS is to inspire, encourage and equip Christian lawyers and law students, both individually and in community, to proclaim, love and serve Jesus Christ through the study and practice of law, and by providing legal assistance to those in need. urologic care in the Rocky Mountain region through advocacy, research, education and support— has been an unfailing supporter of the Bienestar's Senior Health Fair for the past three years. "She not only assists in the organization of the health fair as a member of the planning committee," said Marquez. "But she has been instrumental in bringing free screening services to the fair, including over 200 prostate, testicular, bladder and colon cancer screenings." Ruschival has also ensured that blood screenings for diabetes and cholesterol, as well Rebozo (shawl) Award as testing for hypertension and One who offers personal and high blood pressure, were availJulie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. financial resources to embrace able to all who attend. filby@archden.org; www.twitter. Bienestar programs Bienestar Family Services Since 2010 KDEN Telemundo com/DCRegisterJulie Hispanics in the U.S.A.: a problem or a blessing? BY DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Luis Soto, the director of Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Denver, has been trying to answer a question for years now. The question arose a while back after he heard then-Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F .M. Cap., of Denver address a group of Hispanics. "You bring new life to the Church," the archbishop said. "You are a transfusion of new blood; you are a blessing—now you have to prove it." "Since then," Soto reflected, "I have lived with this question in my heart: how can we prove Appeal From Page 3 public about the value of Catholic education. The schools are located as far east as Sterling on the Eastern Plains, as far west as Glenwood Springs in the mountains, north to Fort Collins and as far south as Po Denver has participated as the exclusive media sponsor for the Las Madrinas Tribute and provided significant value in video production, according toBY EST Marquez. "In addition, Telemundo VATIC Denver has sponsored andNews)— provided free publicity and en-churche tertainment for Jugueton," shees June said, of the annual toy driveeuchari that collects and distributesto mark more than 1,000 toys to low-in-Christi. come migrant and immigrant He le sists of children. Telemundo's former mar-Christ, keting and events coordinator,who ga Adriana Muro, was instrumen-cathedr tal in the collaboration while The p serving as a planning commit-lemnity tee member for Las Madrinasand Blo thousan for several years. Telemundo Denver also pro-Peter's B vides air time on its local stationRome ti to promote programs offered "In th through Centro and Bienestar. "This is extremely helpful since Telemundo's main network reaches Hispanic consumers locally across multiple platforms," Marquez said. Telemundo reaches 210 markets through 14 owned stations, one independent station, 46 broadcast affiliates and more than 1,000 cable affiliates. In addition to the awards presentation at the gathering, guests were treated to a luncheon catered by Paxia Restaurant, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by El Sistema Colorado. For more information, visit www.centrosan juandiego.org. that we are a blessing for the Church?" The director recently shared this question with some 40 participants at the annual workshop "Ministering the Hispanics in the U.S.A.," organized by Centro San Juan Diego, the archdiocese's center for pastoral and family ministry for Spanish-speaking Catholics. Soto posed two more questions to the participants: what kind of leadership will Hispanics offer the Church in the United States, and how will their leadership strengthen the increasingly diverse body of Christ? He said the Hispanic community often suffers from what he calls the "Juan Diego Syndrome." He explained that when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego, she asked him to deliver a message to the bishop. The bishop, however, refused to receive him. The Indian returned to Mary and told her to find someone more important to deliver her message. "I'm a good-for-nothing," he told her. She responded that she could have chosen anyone to deliver her message, but she chose him. Soto said that in the 1960s, "Hispanic ministry began as a department of social services, and even today in some places this mentality continues." This syndrome, he said, makes us think that we are here to receive, and to follow everyone else. "We have to change that vision," said Soto. "Either we see Hispanics as ambassadors of the Gospel, with an important mission within the Church, or they continue to be seen as recipients of charity." He said another challenge for Hispanic Ministry is to not focus too much on cultural differences, but to recognize what we have in common with other cultures. "We are all members of the same body of Christ," he said. Conversely, the director emphasized, "It is important to value the elements of each culture, St. Thomas More Catholic School near County Line Road south of Denver. This August, the office will open a new kindergarten through fifth-grade school, at Our Lady of Loreto parish in Foxfield, which will expand to eighth grade in coming years. Catholic school enrollment is suffering throughout the country, with a national enrollment decline that averages between 13 and 17 percent. In some major cities, such as Chicago, dozens of schools have closed in recent years. Thompson said that's not happening in the Archdiocese of Denver. "Our enrollment is stable," Thompson said. "We are neither increasing nor decreasing." The average tuition for kindergarten through eighth-grade schools is $4,155, and $8,350 for high school students. While donations to the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal support the Office of Catholic Schools, 3.79 percent of all offertory money collected throughout the archdiocese goes to capitalize a centralized grant fund, administered by Thompson's office, to help support schools that are struggling and to assist underprivileged families with tuition. but we have to help Hispanics understand that faith is not just part of their culture, but rather an essential part of our life." Other challenges and opportunities of Hispanic ministry include the rapid growth of the Hispanic community. On one hand, Soto explained, the Church has found herself unprepared to address the many needs of this community and her growth, but on the other hand, the Church has benefited with an increase in the total number of faithful. Another great challenge is immigration, he said, as the legal status of many Latinos limits their ability to participate in the life of the Church. "We have to respond to these challenges as a Church," Soto underlined, "and that is the purpose of this workshop." "I believe that it is important to have God in their lives every single day to help them on their journey," said Mary, a single mother who works three jobs and was able to send her four children to archdiocesan schools. Wayne Laugesen: www.twitter. com/WayneLaugesen

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