‘Time to listen to young people’

July 12, 2018
 
Representatives gather June 23 during the Region II encuentro held June 22-24 in Albany, New York. The process leading to the National Fifth Encuentro in Texas in the fall aims to identify and train 20,000 new Hispanic ministry leaders and urge all of the Catholic Church’s pastoral leaders, not just Hispanics, to strengthen their outreach to Hispanic youth and young adults. “This is the time to listen to young people. ... And, without losing sight of the church’s teachings, adapt to their needs,” said Daniel Solares, a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Troy, New York. Delegates highlighted the fact that 60 percent of Catholics under age 18 are Hispanic. So the church needs to reach out to them, welcome them and prepare them to lead, they said, because young people are not only the future but the present of the church. (CNS photo/courtesy Cesar Gonzalez, AGC Media)