Denver Catholic

BY NISSA LAPOINT This story is the fourth story in a Denver Catholic Register series about archdiocesan min- istries and programs funded by the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal. Read the series at www.Denver CatholicRegister.org. Throughout Centro San Juan Diego's more than 10-year histo- ry, tens of thousands of Hispanic immigrants found their way to greater faith involvement and in- tegration into society. The Hispanic outreach and education center served some 30,000 families and individuals last year with branches of service that focus on faith and academic education, empowerment and leadership. Every year, a portion of the 14 percent of donations designated for evangelization through the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal supports the staff's effort to pro- vide pastoral support and family assistance for Hispanics. Since it was founded in 2003 by Archbishop Charles Cha- put, O.F.M. Cap., and Auxiliary Bishop José Gomez, Centro has emphasized integration over as- similation for Hispanics living in America. Luis Soto, executive director, told the Denver Catholic Register October 2013 that Latinos need to be reminded "we are who we are" and to be champions of that. Hispanics are to honor their own traditions and appreciate Ameri- can society, he said. One way their mission is ex- pressed is through the Bienestar (Spanish for "well-being") Family Services, which offers adult edu- cation and family support. Regardless of a person's reli- gious, ethnic or economic back- ground, the program provides services aimed at building and supporting the economic, social and educational status of resi- dents in order to better integrate into society. Such aid includes achieving a high school certifi- cation, learning computer skills, learning English and preparing to apply for U.S. citizenship. Centro also supports those seeking legal information and direction on available services for housing, employment and immigration. The spiritual care of adults and youths is also key to its mis- sion through the San Juan Diego Pastoral Institute, the pastoral services arm of Centro that de- velops faith-based education workshops and programs. Pris- oners also receive care through its prison ministry. Centro also aids those inter- ested in becoming a part of the Charismatic Renewal Move- ment, which held its annual congress in Castle Rock in June. New to Centro's pastoral care is a natural family planning program to help Hispanic cou- ples learn and use the Church's approved method for achieving or avoiding pregnancy. Part of its care for women includes a new Gabriel House that offers help to pregnant women and mothers who lack resources to provide for their children. In June, Centro expanded its services by hosting a new program for Denver seminari- ans, which taught them about Hispanic ministry and an awareness of the faith and the needs of the community from a priest's perspective. The Centro staff also works to raise funds for its outreach efforts through its annual gala held in the fall. Dedicated in- dividuals and organizations to Centro and its Bienestar Family Services are honored during its annual Las Madrinas Tribute. Six were honored in May at the Denver Art Museum for person- ifying the spirit of "la madrina" (godmother). Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa 8 I ARCHBISHOP'S CATHOLIC APPEAL JULY 2, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER "GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES..." (MATT 28:19) BY NISSA LAPOINT "I was really surprised when I came to Centro (San Juan Di- ego)," admitted seminarian Nicholas Larkin, 24. "A whole new world really did open up." The seminarian from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary was struck by the vibrancy of the Hispanic family and youth ministries provided at Centro, the Archdiocese of Denver's Hispanic institute for family and pastoral care. Growing up, Larkin said the Hispanic community in his ar- ea often lived separately, so he was not exposed to some parts of Hispanic culture. From June 2-27, Larkin and eight other seminarians study- ing at St. John Vianney Theolog- ical Seminary and Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary were selected to at- tend the first series of classes at Centro to learn about the min- istries and culture of Hispanic communities. Vocations director Father Jim Crisman is overseeing the pro- gram during which the same seminarians will visit Catholic Charities downtown in July to learn about its ministries that serve the poor. Ministering to the statistical- ly young and growing Hispan- ic population in Colorado is a priority for Archbishop Samuel Aquila who directed the start of the program this year. Colorado has the eighth larg- est population of Hispanics in the nation with 1 million resid- ing in the state, according to a Pew Research Center report in 2012. The archdiocese has seen the impact of a growing number of Hispanics on churches: 54 par- ishes hold services in Spanish— up from eight parishes in 1997. Currently, 48 Hispanic priests and 27 Hispanic deacons work in the archdiocese, and a recent survey found that some 52 per- cent of all Catholics in north- ern Colorado are Hispanic, al- though not all are recent immi- grants or Spanish-speaking. Luis Soto, director of Centro, said the program was creat- ed to help seminarians know about its ministries and under- stand the needs and blessings of Hispanics in the Church. The archdiocese also has a need for priests who can minister effec- tively to Hispanics. "They are in a formation process and the goal of all these years of seminary is to experience as much as they can and be the best priests they can be," Soto said."Hopefully, when they become priests, they will be better able to serve different communities." Classes gave an overview of each of its ministries led by the directors or leaders of each one. Juan Carlos Reyes Mendoza pre- sented on Bienestar Family Ser- vices, Viviana Martinez spoke about natural family planning and Kalynn Webster spoke about Hispanic youth ministry, among other presenters. The seminarians were also taken to experience Hispan- ic parishes and communities around the archdiocese. They attended a seminar held by immigration officials and par- ticipated in a naturalization ceremony. The workshops also taught the seminarians about com- mon devotions and expressions of the faith. Hispanic spirituali- ty, such as devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, was highlighted. They also attended the Annual Charismatic Congress held in Castle Rock June 21 and learned about movements such as the Christian Family Movement. The classes also helped in- form the seminarians about the challenges facing Hispanic immigrants, such as integrating into American society. Polish-native Mateusz Rata- jczak, 25, said he better under- stood their struggles after the classes. "I felt one with them. We have similar struggles," said Rata- jczak, who came to the United States from Poland in 2009. Fellow seminarian Matt Ma- gee, 25, said he's always had respect for the Hispanic com- munity, but this respect was only strengthened after the summer program: "My time there over the past month more than anything has strength- ened that bond and that love for (Hispanics)." Future priests expand Hispanic ministry know-how PHOTO BY MAYE AGAMA/EPC SEMINARIANS take a break from classes at Centro San Juan Diego, the archdiocese's Hispanic Institute for Family and Pastoral Care in Denver, by resting on a staircase. ACA View a video message from Archbishop Aquila about the appeal here: www.archden.org/donate TO MAKE A DONATION Online: www.archden.org/ donate Mail: 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 Phone: 303-715-3111 Archbishop's Catholic Appeal Through the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, nearly 40 archdiocesan ministries are supported by do- nations to the annual campaign. Donations fund ministries created to catechize students, educate seminarians, provide food and shelter to the im- poverished, lead the wayward back to the Church and communicate the Gospel message. Archbish- op Samuel Aquila chose this year's theme "Go, therefore, and make disciples" (Matt 28:19) to encourage the faithful to re-evaluate their roles in making disciples. Everyone can be disciples for Christ, he said, either directly or indirectly. Gifts to the appeal are one way the faithful can help make disciples for Christ. Help Centro help Hispanics integrate

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