Diocesan Catechetical Program Expands Outreach to Hispanic/Latino Population

The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis and the Office of Hispanic Ministry welcomed a catechist’s mentor program, the Franciscan At Home Curriculum. The online platform, sponsored by the Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University at Steubenville, empowers and equips catechetical leaders serving the Hispanic and Latino community, according to diocesan officials.

"Franciscan At Home fosters lifelong learning through foundational courses in the faith, as well as specializations offered in English and Spanish," said Dina Dow. "Their mentorship and accompaniment model is a model for parish leaders to follow whereby each person is called to a deeper conversion."

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

She added, "Many who serve the Hispanic and Latino community hold Spanish as a first language. These tracks include certification in basic catechesis, pastoral ministry, evangelization, religious education, family ministry, youth and adult accompaniment, Order of Christian Initiation, as well as others that support the catechist’s faith formation."

The mentorship program began in December at the Catholic Life Center with the basic catechesis track led by institute leaders in Spanish and English. Once completed, those certified will become mentors in their home parishes.  

"We gave an orientation to our spirituality, to our charism, and a practical introduction on the workshops and formation that the leaders and catechists now have access to," said Mary Ann Wiesinger-Puig. 

She is the coordinator of the Spanish Language Initiatives, Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University.

During the workshop Wiesinger-Puig said, "We talked a lot about what is unique to the Catechetical Institute. We talked about how we always try to include mentorship because we believe that formation always needs to have that personal element that speaks to the heart."

The workshop presenters focused on the "kerygmatic" approach.

"This means that each student has a moment of evangelization, a moment of encounter, a moment their life has changed, and they desire God ... they're going to grow in their faith in a holistic, systemic way," Wiesinger-Puig said.

The methodology of the program is designed to help students feel "like they own the material so they can share it with confidence and joy," Wiesinger-Puig emphasized.

Workshop attendee Jonathan McLain of St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in Greenwell Springs believed the curriculum will help Hispanic and Latino people study in an environment where they feel safe.

"It's in English and Spanish, so it'll be in their native languages. And a lot of the kids are bilingual now and fluent. What they learn, they can put it in Spanish and learn as a family with their parents as well. You learn at your own pace. If you need to stop for a few seconds and do something, you can come right back to it."

The family, McLain said, will benefit from the "nurturing of the overall education of the Catholic Church."

He hopes the training will help catechists guide people back to the church.

"Some parents drop their kids off to go to catechism and pick them up, but they don't go to church. If they study more and learn more about the faith, then they may be more of a participant in the everyday life of the church," said McLain.

Julia Scarnato, director of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said Catholic Christianity is filled with profound richness.

"For this reason, we have worked tirelessly to ensure access to this formation for everyone, regardless of race, culture, language, or nation, said Scarnato. "That way all may receive it through the vast resources offered by the Catholic Church.

"Providing access and accompaniment to this formation was one of the most beautiful gifts our diocese – the bishop, our vicar general, pastors, leaders – offered this Christmas for the salvation of souls."

Scarnato emphasized, "Facilitating education and formation in Catholic doctrine helps us understand that everything we are and everything we do has an extraordinary purpose: to know and love our Lord Jesus Christ. We are educating ourselves, studying, defending, and proclaiming our faith. Souls are saved. Formation, among the other sacraments, guarantees the essentials of who we are and to whom we belong.

"In an increasingly sophisticated world, we are challenged to create new tools to spread the message of Christ and make it accessible to all, especially those who don't have the money to pay for this.  It's a true act of charity," she said. "The task is not easy especially as economic limitations continue to grow."

She offered her prayers and sincere thanks to the generous individuals who support such a noble cause.

"Those who send us their donations through different channels, to those who send us their donations through various means, I share with you my heartfelt words: 'You fed me and saved my body; you gave me knowledge of Christ and His Church and you saved my soul, I was an ordinary man/woman, and you elevated me to the state of sainthood.'"

For more information about Franciscan At Home, email Scarnato at [email protected] or Dow at [email protected].