New Study to Examine Low Rate of Latino Vocations in U.S

[Catholic_Press]

Washington D.C., Jan 6, 2012 / 02:36 am (CNA).- The U.S. bishops commissioned a study of Catholic youth in America to determine traits that may be causing Hispanics to be underrepresented in priestly and religious vocations.

More…

 

[ProVobis]

This is indeed interesting. No sooner did I finish reading the article about Polish underrepresentation in the U.S. Catholic hierarchies possibly leading to the Polish National Catholic Church schism than I now read something similar may be growing in the Hispanic communities.

newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=0711-gawronski

 

[ringil]

Definitely an untapped resouce. We need to get some priests from these young men as the Hispanic population grows in the US.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I really do not know how to take this.

Maybe they are not being called in the numbers that others think they should be?

How do we address this?

Should there be vocation programs that are “pro-latino”? What would those look like? Would they be a priority? That is would we take money (what little of it there is) from other vocation programs? Is there a call for affirmative action in vocational discernment?

 

[YoungTradCath]

I really do not know how to take this.

Maybe they are not being called in the numbers that others think they should be?

How do we address this?

Should there be vocation programs that are “pro-latino”? What would those look like? Would they be a priority? That is would we take money (what little of it there is) from other vocation programs? Is there a call for affirmative action in vocational discernment?

I would have doubts as to whether I would pursue my vocation or not if that were the case.

 

[Tigg]

Researcher Dr. Mary Gautier said the study will help show “if there are impediments to consideration of a vocation among Latinos, such as language or cultural roadblocks.”

I highly doubt the above is much of a factor. I’d suggest the reason for low vocations is that many Latinos are losing their faith, as is evidenced by the rather high influx moving toward Protestant and evangelical denominations.

 

[ringil]

I really do not know how to take this.

Maybe they are not being called in the numbers that others think they should be?

How do we address this?

Should there be vocation programs that are “pro-latino”? What would those look like? Would they be a priority? That is would we take money (what little of it there is) from other vocation programs? Is there a call for affirmative action in vocational discernment?

Yes, there should be culturally sensitive efforts to foster vocations to the priesthood.

African Americans have been saying for years that there isn’t enough attention being given to encouraging vocations among Black faithful.

People respond better to cuturally relevant efforts.

 

[ringil]

I would have doubts as to whether I would pursue my vocation or not if that were the case.

Why? If you have a vocation it stands apart from mere socio-political issues right?

 

[Dale_M]

I highly doubt the above is much of a factor. I’d suggest the reason for low vocations is that many Latinos are losing their faith, as is evidenced by the rather high influx moving toward Protestant and evangelical denominations.

The study hopes to p(name removed by moderator)oint what is responsible for the low rate of Latino vocations. So Dr. Gautier’s speculation may be proven wrong. And what you say makes much sense.

But there may be a chicken or egg dilemma. The high rate of Hispanic Catholics leaving the Church seems to be driving the concern over the relative shortage of Hispanic priests. I’ll quote from a National Catholic Register article from last summer:

Romero said such Hispanics come to believe that Catholicism is for “those uneducated peasants from south of the border,” and the way to gain respect in the U.S. and move up the social ladder is by embracing “the secular humanism offered at many universities.” (Father Lemus, too, opined that there was an anti-Catholic bias at many colleges leading Hispanics from the Church.) Other American Hispanics are enticed by the seemingly more polished message offered by evangelical Protestant ministers.

Additionally, second- and third-generation Hispanic Catholics often do not speak Spanish and do not identify with priests from Mexico and Central America in American parishes who may only speak limited English. Caucasian priests serving predominantly Hispanic parishes do the best they can, Romero said, but often have trouble connecting to young Hispanics as well. Romero believes the solution lies in better catechesis, as many Hispanics do not know their faith, and more passionate presentations by those who embrace it.

He observes that while Anglo-Catholics are often more “cerebral” in the practice of their faith, Hispanic Catholics often are drawn to the charismatic renewal.

“It’s huge,” he said. “When you meet active Latino Catholics, they often ask, ‘Are you renewed?’”

ncregister.com/site/article/where-are-the-priests/

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Yes, there should be culturally sensitive efforts to foster vocations to the priesthood.

African Americans have been saying for years that there isn’t enough attention being given to encouraging vocations among Black faithful.

People respond better to cuturally relevant efforts.

Then my question stands. What would such programs look like? Would such a program deny those who the program is not for?

Vocation are not like recruiting for schools or the military.

Also what are the faithful doing for vocations? Are they praying for them? Are they encouraging them?

Or do they make snide hurtful comments about priests they know within the hearing of those who might have a vocation?

One of the things that held me back for a bit was just that sort of thing. People who said they wanted vocations but then turned around and criticized the priest every chance they got.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I must add this. It is something I have been thinking about.

A vocational discernment is the process of conforming one’s self to a charism of a religious institute or to service in a diocese.

ringil, you speak of cultural sensitivity and cultural relevant efforts.

Might not this be something to hold someone back, especially given the fact that if one is ordained or one is a religious (or both) they may very well not serve in that cultural aspect?

Or are we now going to only ordained African Americans for African American parishes and Latinos for Latino parishes and Caucasians for Caucasian parishes?

Or might we during the formation of the priest/religious have cultural sensitive issue brought up and taught?

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

The problem with Hispanics is a little thing called machismo. Mexican parents discourage their sons from going to seminaries because they want their sons and daughters to support them when they get old. There is also an emphasis on sex. Many Hispanics believe it’s unhealthy to abstain from sex.

 

[JMJSHJ]

So what are we saying? Having an Affirmative Action plan for Latino Catholic Vocations?

 

[Tigg]

The study hopes to p(name removed by moderator)oint what is responsible for the low rate of Latino vocations. So Dr. Gautier’s speculation may be proven wrong. And what you say makes much sense.

But there may be a chicken or egg dilemma. The high rate of Hispanic Catholics leaving the Church seems to be driving the concern over the relative shortage of Hispanic priests. I’ll quote from a National Catholic Register article from last summer:

ncregister.com/site/article/where-are-the-priests/

Good article. Thanks for the insight.

To address other posts, I would think that a true vocation coming from the Lord’s interior prompting would be stronger than any language or cultural barrier to the contrary. I can agree that a huge negative factor would be poor catechesis (and of course Latinos are not exclusive to this.) How can a vocation be fostered if one doesn’t know what one believes??

 

[iloveangels]

Good article. Thanks for the insight.

To address other posts, I would think that a true vocation coming from the Lord’s interior prompting would be stronger than any language or cultural barrier to the contrary. I can agree that a huge negative factor would be poor catechesis (and of course Latinos are not exclusive to this.) How can a vocation be fostered if one doesn’t know what one believes??

Correct. Many Latinos are cultural Catholics, so when they move here and their culture changes, they give up Catholicism.

Also Latino Catholicism looks very different than the Catholicism of the Irish, Italian, Polish and German congregations we’re used to seeing. And to some degree, for better or worse, Catholics can be pretty intolerant about some differences, and that includes Latinos as well as the rest of us.

 

[ringil]

Then my question stands. What would such programs look like? Would such a program deny those who the program is not for?

Vocation are not like recruiting for schools or the military.

Also what are the faithful doing for vocations? Are they praying for them? Are they encouraging them?

Or do they make snide hurtful comments about priests they know within the hearing of those who might have a vocation?

One of the things that held me back for a bit was just that sort of thing. People who said they wanted vocations but then turned around and criticized the priest every chance they got.

I’m just talking about ads., outreach, such is already being done for the larger pool of seminarians, maybe some hispanic groups funding seminarians.

There is a Black Catholic group who does this for black seminarians, but also for all seminarians. I could find the link. Something like that. . .

I suppose the outreach would be led or assisted by hispanic priests- those who know the specific cultural dynamics of said group.

Your not saying that I have made snide comments are you? Or am I being sensitive?

Yes, we should all pray for vocations.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I’m just talking about ads., outreach, such is already being done for the larger pool of seminarians, maybe some hispanic groups funding seminarians.

There is a Black Catholic group who does this for black seminarians, but also for all seminarians. I could find the link. Something like that. . .

Why not just ads and outreach to everyone? Are there any statistics on how ads actually affect vocations?

I suppose the outreach would be led or assisted by hispanic priests- those who know the specific cultural dynamics of said group.

And what if you do not find many priests of a certain culture that are interested in such a ministry? Vocation ministry is a very specific ministry and not all priests/religious are called to it or capable.

Your not saying that I have made snide comments are you? Or am I being sensitive?

No I am not saying that, I am just asking quesitons.

Yes, we should all pray for vocations.

Not only pray for them to encourage them and watch what we say about clergy and religious around the young and those discerning a vocation.

 

[LiveCatholic]

Why not just ads and outreach to everyone? Are there any statistics on how ads actually affect vocations?

From my limited experience not many hispanic priests are interested in such a ministry.

No I am not saying that, I am just asking quesitons.

Not only pray for them to encourage them and watch what we say about clergy and religious around the young and those discerning a vocation.

**
How:**

Only one post has mentioned this, but the significant difference with Latino Catholics is that they’re obviously linguistically Hispanic.

This means that all vocations/discernment advertisements, literature, and vocations directors need to be able to adapt to a bilingual America. They may not attract the children or children’s children of immigrants, but they may attract young first generation immigrants. I’ve gotten to know many young Hispanic first gens in the 15-30yo bracket, and they’re mostly extremely religious people… but also very culturally isolated.

Those fluent in Spanish or bilingual should be encouraged to read, translate, and introduce Catholic texts written in Spanish to the Church here in America.

If some of these young men were able to linguistically/culturally connect with discernment literature and sympathetic vocations directors, I’m sure many nascent vocations would blossom into fine priests and religious.
*
However, you never know until you put all literature/advertisements out there in two languages, and place people both culturally/linguistically fluent in the vocation process.*
This isn’t just meant for growing Latino strongholds like California and NY–these should go out in places like Kansas, and Montana, and Washington: where Latinos exist… believe it or not… to fill gaps in the seasonal labor, agricultural labor, food prep, and construction.

Furthermore, Latino saints should be emphasized as role models, and Latino cultural-religious holidays, practices, and pious devotions should be revived and celebrated… with Latino seminarians, priests, and religious leading the charge. This shouldn’t be difficult, because the Latin culture has never known a shortage of saints or great holy men, or piety for that matter! These are the ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ of the people who fought the Cristiada, for Pete’s sake!

Why:

Latin Rite Catholicism in America was built by national/linguistic/ethnic churches. There’s absolutely no reason that Latinos, Haitians, Vietnamese, Filipinos & company should be any different. Once upon a time all of us white people worshiped in separate churches, and if you live in Chicago or the East Coast, and your church was built before 1950, I’ll bet the farm your church was once affiliated with some European ethnicity, language or nationality.

 

[jilly4ski]

I must add this. It is something I have been thinking about.

A vocational discernment is the process of conforming one’s self to a charism of a religious institute or to service in a diocese.

ringil, you speak of cultural sensitivity and cultural relevant efforts.

Might not this be something to hold someone back, especially given the fact that if one is ordained or one is a religious (or both) they may very well not serve in that cultural aspect?

Or are we now going to only ordained African Americans for African American parishes and Latinos for Latino parishes and Caucasians for Caucasian parishes?

Or might we during the formation of the priest/religious have cultural sensitive issue brought up and taught?

lol, Br, this reminds me of the situation my In laws parish is going through. Their current pastor just got transferred to a new parish, (he got this parish/school’s finances in order and was a great leader, and his skills are needed in the bigger school he is being transferred to). So my in-laws’ parish is getting an parish administrator until a new pastor can be found. What is funny is that this town is affectionately called “White Boy Lake”* and the new administrator has an obviously Latino name. I sure they will welcome him with open arms, but it is still rather amusing.

*It should be noted that this area has a rather low population of minorities. Until the rather large and rather recent influx of Hmong and Vietnamese Catholics. Otherwise both the African and Hispanic populations are rather small and confined to the inner cities.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Why? If you have a vocation it stands apart from mere socio-political issues right?

Perhaps not if it comes to being discriminated against, if it goes that far. But I hope the Church never stoops that low.