Diocese works to develop Hispanic leaders

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 12, 2005

IDA GROVE - A retreat was held April 29 through May 1 at Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove for Hispanic parishioners in the Diocese of Sioux City.

"The retreat was for leadership formation for ministers," said Juan Garcia, assistant for Hispanic ministry in the Diocese of Sioux City. "I gave them support from the diocese. The main objective was to start to promote the formation of Hispanic leaders in the diocese."

Garcia noted that there are a lot of Hispanics in the diocese, but they are not in positions of leadership.

"I hope they will go now with better skills to work in their own communities because it is not enough to have good intentions, good will. They need to have the good skills, too," said Garcia. "I think this is an important step to help them develop the skills."

There were about 105 attendees at the retreat from Denison, Storm Lake, Sioux Center and Sioux City. Garcia explained that the Hispanic community is multicultural and has people from many different countries and communities.

"Sometimes people in the United States think that everyone is from Mexico," said Garcia. "One important point is that two-thirds are from Mexico but one-third are from other countries. Here it was not only Mexicans, but it was people from Guatemala, El Salvador and other Central American countries. It is very important to know that we have a multicultural church even in the Hispanic community."

The speaker for the retreat was Horacio Trujillo from Phoenix, Ariz. Garcia added that Trujillo is a well-known and good speaker.

"I think it is important to bring someone from outside to give us the kind of formation that we need. I think this is very important because the pope says we need to put attention on the lay people. Right now we don't have any Hispanic priests in the diocese who can do something for and educate the Hispanics," said Garcia.

Those that attended the retreat experienced many different things. During the education and formation portion, they learned what to do and how to do it when it comes to ministry. The group also prayed and sang together.

Vicenta Cardenas, the Hispanic coordinator of the charismatic renewal, was in-charge of organizing the retreat before, during and after.

According to Garcia, Father David Hemann, pastor at Sacred Heart Ida Grove and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein, is a great supporter of this Hispanic group. Father Hemann is the director of charismatic renewal for the diocese for the Anglo community.

"He has given us a lot of support, the facilities and everything that we need," said Garcia.

During the retreat, for the first time in Ida Grove, a Mass was held joining the Hispanic community with the Anglo community. The church was full, added Garcia.

"I think that is the future of the church," said Garcia. "We need to work together. I want to thank the Anglo community because this kind of retreat means to me that they are opening the doors to the Hispanics. They are not only opening their hearts for us but they are opening the church for us."