Ave Maria Catholic Church

9056 E Parker Road, Parker, CO 80138
Office 303.841.3750 | Fax 303.841.2412

Hispanic Ministries

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The majority of Hispanics within U.S. dioceses can be classified as poor and lower-middle class, although there are a substantial number of families who are economically and educationally well-off.  This number is increasing slowly.  Nonetheless, Hispanics tend to fill the lower echelon of jobs in the service, agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing industries; often times falling into the Church’s Social Justice Program concerns due to unfair and illegal exploitation, unpaid or receipt of a just salary, etc.  Despite these concerns, Hispanics in these dioceses are creating a resurgence of the Catholic Church in some parishes which the number of Catholics was decreasing.

Mission Statement

The aim of the Ave Maria Catholic Church’s Hispanic Ministries Committee is to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to all members of the Catholic faithful of Latino heritage by providing sound and well-organized Spanish and bilingual liturgies (e.g., Mass, baptisms, funerals, etc); bible studies; sacramental preparation programs; catechetical continuing education; and other religious and social development opportunities (e.g., English as a Second Language (ESL), immigration issues, etc), which are well integrated into existing parish-level programs and structures.

Purpose

There is a growing need in the northern region of the Diocese of Colorado Springs and within the City of Parker/Douglas County for personnel and resources to pastor to the Hispanic populace in the area.  As the Hispanic population moves into a previously,  otherwise white, English-speaking community, there is a natural, on-going tension between those who propose that the best way to bring Hispanics into the Church is by assimilating them into mainstream Catholicism and culture in the United States as fast as possible, and those who advocate that true incorporation requires that Hispanics be welcomed first on their own terms.

While polemic, it is first and foremost necessary for Hispanics to feel that a particular parish is their home, and this requires providing special services, often in Spanish.  Once Hispanics feel invested in the Church, the task of identifying and forming leadership begins (also in Spanish).  Once the Hispanic Catholic community has gained sufficient strength, then and only then, can one talk of its integration or incorporation into the larger parish.  

The Hispanic Ministry is therefore established within the Ave Maria Catholic Church community to address these concerns and welcome “the stranger” into the parish’s existing liturgies, programs, and activities. 

Responsibilities

The Pastor will establish and maintain an Hispanic Ministry Committee, who meets at least monthly, who (under the guidance and supervision of the pastor) is to discuss, plan, and implement parish-level actions affecting a well-balanced integration and inculturation (not assimilation) of both the Hispanic and English communities together—so each can understand, respect, and embrace the other.

To bring all Hispanic Catholics, within the geographical boundaries of the Ave Maria Catholic Church, into enthusiastic participation in the life and mission of the universal and particular Roman Catholic Church, through liturgies, etc.

Network with other existing parish groups, services, and offices to ensure effective services and pluralistic ministries that develop leadership opportunities for Hispanics and expand the ministerial capacity of the parish to respond to the growing Hispanic presence in the northern region of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

To enrich the mission at the Ave Maria Catholic Church by recognizing and embracing our parish’s diversity of languages, traditions, and cultures (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Costa Rican, Columbian, etc.), so that it will provide support and encouragement to our Hispanic brothers and sisters worshiping God as one, integrated faith community. 

To be an expression of Jesus Christ’s love by unconditionally welcoming the Hispanic strangers and immigrants (rich or poor, young or old, male or female; regardless of color, race, or nationality) among us.

Provide direct resources, services, advocacy, education, and evangelization opportunities to the Hispanic faithful, such as:

  • School of Ministries:  provide courses and worship for leadership training and formation.

  • Migrant Ministry:  provide ministerial visits to migrant families and camps to access their physical and spiritual needs.

  • Catechetical Ministries:  provide instructional programs for sacramental preparation; on-going continuing education; etc.

To plan, organize, establish, and facilitate:

  • Liturgical celebrations in Spanish (to include:  the Mass, Quinceanera events; funeral vigils, funerals, and novenas).

  • Sacramental preparation programs

  • (e.g., baptism; first communion; confirmation; marriage; RCIA, etc)

  • Sacramental Liturgies.

  • Quinceanera Celebration preparation classes.

  • The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (12/12).

  • The Feasts of Saints (of importance to all of the Latino cultures served at Ave María).

  • Las Posadas activities for Christmas.

  • Small group faith sharing / bible studies / catechetical instruction.

  • Evangelization and Pastoral de Conjunto (Communion in Mission) (e.g., within the local community; jails; prisons; etc.)

  • Collaborative activities with other Hispanic parish communities in the northern region of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

  • English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.

  • Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) Program, if/as needed.

  • A resource library.

  • Hispanic Leadership Development within the parish community.

  • Catechetical Ministry formation programs.

Support services to/for

  • Translation

  • Referrals (e.g., Medical Care, Rent Assistance, Legal Assistance, etc)

  • Home, Prison, and Hospital Visits

  • Babysitting (during liturgies, catechetical classes, etc)

  • Social Justice.

  • Family life (including counseling; parenting skills; social and cultural events and celebrations).

Changes to and/or additions to the Hispanic Ministry responsibilities and duties will be at the sole discretion of the pastor (whether verbally or in writing) and/or parochial vicar.  Resolutions to problems will be resolved by the Pastor.

Goals Statement

  • To bring all Hispanic Catholics, within the geographical boundaries of the Ave Maria Catholic Church, into enthusiastic participation in the life and mission of the universal and particular Roman Catholic Church, through liturgies, etc.
  • Network with other existing parish groups, services, and offices to ensure effective services and pluralistic ministries that develop leadership opportunities for Hispanics and expand the ministerial capacity of the parish to respond to the growing Hispanic presence in the northern region of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.
  • To enrich the mission at the Ave Maria Catholic Church by recognizing and embracing our parish’s diversity of languages, traditions, and cultures (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Costa Rican, Columbian, etc), so that it will provide support and encouragement to our Hispanic brothers and sisters worshiping God as one, integrated faith community.
  • To be an expression of Jesus Christ’s love by unconditionally welcoming the Hispanic strangers and immigrants (rich or poor, young or old, male or female; regardless of color, race, or nationality) among us.
  • Provide direct resources, services, advocacy, education, and evangelization opportunities to the Hispanic faithful, such as:
    • School of Ministries: provide courses and worship for leadership training and formation.
    • Migrant Ministry: provide ministerial visits to migrant families and camps to access their physical and spiritual needs.
    • Catechetical Ministries: provide instructional programs for sacramental preparation; on-going continuing education; etc.

Ministries

Thanks for visiting the Hispanic Ministry at Ave Maria.  We are a very active ministry, and offer a wide arrangement of services for the Spanish speaking community that attends Ave Maria.  For more information, look at our list of documents.

Take a look at the four mysteries of the rosary in Spanish

Ave Maria Catholic Church