Hispanic Ministry / Felix Navarrete

Seeds of faith planted for archdiocesan Hispanic young adult team participating in National Leadership Program

(En Espanol)

As part of an exercise, participants at the Fe y Vida (Faith and Life) Institute at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., in June were separated into groups outside their diocese or archdiocese. Pictured at far right in an orange polo shirt is Jose Quintana of St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis, a member of the archdiocese’s Pastoral Juvenil Leadership Team. He is also a sub-leader of the group. (Submitted photo)

Twenty-two dioceses and archdioceses, including the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, participated in the National Leadership Program offered by the Fe y Vida (Faith and Life) Institute at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., the week of June 18-24. Among other participants were the Archdiocese of Toluca in Mexico and the Archdiocese of Bogotá in Colombia. It was the first time our archdiocese took part and was represented by eight young adults who make up our Pastoral Juvenil Leadership Team.

We believe that our young people have a natural potential for leadership that can only be perfected in light of the action of the Holy Spirit. We have witnessed the capacity for dedication that flows naturally when we are intentionally Christ-centric, that is, when our actions do not seek self-centered recognition, but rather seek to please God.

For these young people, the opportunity to live an experience in Jesus at a broader level, in terms of spaces and intercultural relationships, was a true revival that has not only expanded their capacities, but has also led them to a self-discovery in which their hidden talents and charisms have begun to emerge.

As the Church of Christ, we need to promote the active participation of young people in our evangelization projects and programs, opening paths of opportunities that lead them toward a hopeful future where they will be the protagonists of a new chapter in the history of salvation.

We need courageous, educated young people who are not afraid of being singled out by progressive ideologies where values are distorted, where chastity no longer has a place—much less fidelity—in a world that deliberately attacks the perfect design of the family and tries to snatch away the dignity of the human person under absurd prerogatives.

We trust in the possibility of a better world, in the hope that together we can build a generation of men and women who believe in themselves, but above all, who believe in the Gospel, in the teachings of our Church and in the reward that this world does not give, but that is achieved only through faith.

This message is not only for our youths but also for parents, community leaders and pastors. All of us who are part of our evangelizing mission should reflect on the motivation we are giving our children, students and flock.

What is the spirituality that we use in our meetings, sessions and homilies? What reactions do we generate in young people when we talk about youth leadership? What opportunities do our youths have to develop their capacities in our communities? These questions and others are necessary to evaluate the ground on which we are carrying out our ministry. Let us remember that however perfect the seeds may be, it depends on where they are planted as to whether they can develop and bear fruit.

This year, there have been 107 participants in the Fe y Vida Institute program, which is to say, 107 seeds have been planted and returned to their communities to put the tools into action and replicate experiences they have acquired during a week of training.

Now it depends on us to pray these seeds will flourish and become strong and fruitful trees, and that they also serve as protection for others.
 

(Felix Navarrete is archdiocesan coordinator of Hispanic Ministry.) †