Catholicism in the United States is being profoundly shaped by the many culturally-diverse voices that give life to our faith communities, said Hosffman Ospino, assistant professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry, during two workshops sponsored by the Diocese of Sacramento on Oct. 13. This diversity often challenges Catholics' creativity, inviting them to affirm one another in the faith while learning new ways of encountering God in their midst, he said.
In a morning presentation to clergy ministering to the Hispanic community, Ospino focused on how the process of the Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino ministry has renewed the attention of the church in the United States upon Hispanic Catholics and raised important questions about the role of this community fashioning the church in our day. He presented some of the initial results from the V Encuentro process in light of current trends in the church and in society that are redefining ministry in the United States.
In an evening presentation at the Diocesan Pastoral Center titled "One God, One Faith, One Church: Building One Church in the Midst of Diversity," Ospino and participants reflected on what it means to embrace pastoral approaches that lead to integration in a culturally-diverse church, especially building upon the gifts of the young and the rich experience of immigrant populations.
Ospino is the author of "Called and Sent to Encuentro: A Pastoral Theological Vision for the Fifth Encuentro Process." At the Diocese of Sacramento's V Encuentro event held Oct. 14 at St. Monica Parish in Willows, he was one of the speakers during the day. This document was used at that gathering and is being used in the various trainings at various levels nationwide to focus the conversation about the V Encuentro and inspire important conversations related to the the New Evangelization in an increasingly Hispanic church.
Look for an interview with Ospino in the upcoming January-February 2018 issue of Catholic Herald magazine.
For information about V Encuentro in the Diocese of Sacramento, visit https://www.scd.org/vencuentro.
Photo: Professor Hosffman Ospino addresses a clergy gathering Oct. 13 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Cathy Joyce/Catholic Herald photo