National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry Unveiled in Baton Rouge and Lafayette

In a historic moment, the seven dioceses of the state of Louisiana hosted two Hispanic/Latino cultural ministries encounters in which they unveiled the new United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) National Pastoral Plan for the Hispanic/Latino Ministry. The meetings were organized by the USCCB’s Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry (SEPI) and the Hispanic Ministry Office. 

These gatherings marked a significant milestone in a collective journey towards fostering collaboration and nurturing a shared vision of pastoral plan, entitled “Missionary Disciples Going Forth with Joy,” according to Bishop Michael G. Duca.

The first meeting, which was in English, was a provincial encounter for diocesan personnel hosted by the Diocese of Lafayette. The second encounter, which was in Spanish, was a provincial encounter for people involved in Hispanic ministry, hosted by the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

The plan has been several years in the making and is the fruit of the V Encuentro processes, according to Julia Scarnato, director of the Hispanic Apostolate for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.  

“Everyone was working independently, in different ways and the Hispanic community was more isolated and trying to live the Gospel in their own way,” Scarnato said.


Top Right Photo:  Participants in the Province of New Orleans Encounter on Hispanic Ministry at the Diocese of Baton Rouge gather for a picture after Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca in St. Joseph Chapel. Photos provided by Julia Scarnato | Director of the Hispanic Apostolate Ministry of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Above Photo: A processional with the painting of an Our Lady of Guadalupe was held at the St. Joseph Chapel. 

The UCCB  resoundingly approved the plan by a vote of by a supporting vote of 167 out of 171 on June 16, 2023.  It calls for a synodal church that is more welcoming, evangelizing, and missionary at the national, local and parish levels, and a church that can build vibrant parish communities with the Hispanic/Latino population in the context of a culturally diverse society, according to USCCB. The plan is further designed to strengthen Hispanic/Latino ministries over the next ten years. It also strives to redouble the church's efforts to mentor, form, and embrace a new generation of Hispanic/Latino leaders as missionary disciples.

“This pastoral plan is a call for the entire church to accomplish the mission that Jesus Christ calls for, to be a missionary, united, to be one church. And anybody who goes to church no matter their cultural background, deserves to be served and find resources from those communities,” said Scarnato.

The pastoral priorities identified in the plan focus on evangelization and mission, faith formation and catechesis, pastoral accompaniment of Hispanic/Latino families, youth and young adult ministries, immigration and advocacy, formation for ministry in a culturally diverse church, pastoral care for those on the periphery, liturgy and spirituality, promotion of vocations, and Catholic education. 


Diocesan personnel from across the state discussed how they can assist the Hispanic/Latino population.

“Once the plan is implemented in the United States to help the Hispanic community, it is so well elaborated that it can be implemented in any culture, serving  all persons,” Scarnato said.

“Louisiana is a very welcoming to people of various cultures.  The people here love our food our festivals, the way we do things,” Scarnato added.  “We are all one family on the earth. In the church, we have a sample of welcoming. Therefore, access to resources for people to live their faith is very important. So,when we were discussing organizing the encounter at the regional level, I was so excited because we need to encourage and move people to see the needs of the Hispanic community in the nation and the church,” she said. 

Deacon Alfred Adams, director of the Office of Black Catholics of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, emphasized that it’s critical for the church to recognize the gifts and contributions that people of various cultures bring to the community.

“It is very important to minister to people of different cultures, because the Catholic Church must recognize that this is a church of many different faces and is a homeland for all people,” said Deacon Adams. “My hopes and desires are that we, as the people made in the image and likeness of God, would come together to talk, listen, learn and respect one another. I believe when we can do this then we can be strengthened and unified as church,” he added. 


The Encounter with Hispanic Ministry for diocesan personnel that was held at the Diocese of Lafayette began with morning prayer. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

Scarnato was pleased to see many people from the Diocese of Baton Rouge at the meetings, including clergy, diocesan ministry directors and staff, lay leaders and parishioners. 

Dina Dow, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said, “The Encounter meeting offered a vital opportunity to gather with other diocesan leaders from the state of Louisiana to listen, share and learn about the various ways to minister to those in the Hispanic and Latino community. 


Small group discussions focused on how parishes, diocesan departments and dioceses across the state can collaberate with hispanic and multi-cultural ministries in their service to tthe people they serve. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

“We were able discuss in small groups intentional accompaniment through catechesis, outreach, liturgy, and administration. Many realized much work has been accomplished with more to come as we continue to pray and discern,” she added. 

Scarnato expressed her gratitude for the presence and support of Bishop Duca, who celebrated Mass at both gatherings. 

At Saturday’s Mass, Bishop Duca told the assembly that the work done by diocesan and parish ministers to serve the Hispanic/Latino population is hard yet rewarding. It is important for them, he noted, to come together to strengthen their bonds of brotherhood and solidarity, and to enrich their ministries with the knowledge, experiences, and resources that each of them brings as a reminder that they are not alone. 

But the bishop reminded them that their fundamental source of life and grace comes from Jesus as highlighted in the Gospel reading of that day from Jn 6:60-69. 

In this passage Jesus gives the tough teaching on the Eucharist that to have eternal life, one must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Some left him, and Jesus turned to the disciples and said, “Will you leave me too?”

“Simon Peter speaks clearly with conviction ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life; and we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God,’” said Bishop Duca. “That is why now we pause to celebrate this Mass to remember that in his body and blood we have eternal life. In his love for us we discover the model for how we should care for those under our care.”

The pastoral plan called for initiatives of the plan to be implemented at the local level ahead of the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031 and 2,000 years after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, coming in 2033. 

Bishop Duca intends to promulgate a pastoral plan for the Diocese of Baton Rouge on Sunday, May 19, Pentecost Sunday.


Many enjoyed the opportunity to learn and discuss the National Plan for HIspanic MInistry. Photo provided by Julia Scarnato