Episcopal Press and News
'Encuentro' Gathering Examines Hispanic Ministry
Episcopal News Service. March 19, 1987 [87063]
Manuel V. Echerri
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (DPS, March 19) -- The National Commission for Hispanic Ministries held a national Encuentro at the Diocese of Southeast Florida's James L. Duncan Center for Continuing Education here, Feb. 19-21.
More than 90 people -- clergy and lay persons, men and women, delegates and guests -- met to examine the realities of Hispanic communities, to discuss themes that reflected the greatest concerns of Spanish-speaking Episcopalians in the United States and to draw plans and recommendations for Hispanic ministries in this country and the involvement of the Episcopal Church's leadership in them.
TheEncuentro started the first afternoon with the current Bishop of Cuba, the Rt. Rev. Emilio T. Hernandez, as a guest, and with reaction and discussion of the first of three proposed themes: "Social and Political Action in the Church," a paper written by Sister Alicia Cristina, OSH from New York. The participants, divided into six groups, debated the paper, and then each group presented its own reactions and recommendations. The same process was followed next day with two other papers: "Recruitment and Training of Leaders," written by the Rev. Leopoldo J. Alard, of the Center for Hispanic Ministries for Province VII; and "Some Reflections on Congregational Development in an Hispanic Setting," by the Rev. James B. Hagen, from Queens, N.Y.
That second afternoon, the participants met with the Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and the Encuentro's guest of honor. After exchanging greetings with the different teams which were discussing the last paper, Browning met with the whole group to deliver a brief statement and to answer questions from the participants. Then, after a short recess, Browning presided over and preached at a bilingual Eucharist in which the people sang songs from the new Himnario, a forthcoming Spanish hymnal prepared by Prof. Skinner Chavez-Melo.
In the evening, guests and delegates enjoyed a meeting with a group of young people from the Diocese of Southeast Florida as well as a show, "Latin American Night," performed by the Familia Mora-Arriaga, a family of Mexican musicians, who sang, danced and played instruments.
The Encuentro ended at noon after an evaluation session in which those from different sectors of Hispanic ministries in the Episcopal Church -- such as: women, former Roman Catholic priests, publications -- presented their opinions and recommendations.
It was, indeed, a magnificent opportunity of meeting each other and sharing a vision, fears, achievements and common values in a climate of fraternity, work and devotion, said one observer.