The Hispanic population of the U.S. is projected to grow to more than 130 million by 2050, said the Rev. Rosa Brown, chair of the Diocese of Newark's Commission on Hispanic/Latino Ministry, in the Commission's report to the 141st Annual Diocesan Convention. And the Commission is "active and working in the diocese," she said as she outlined the group's activities over the past year and its plans for the future.
Brown introduced the Commission's members, who meet monthly for mutual support and sharing of experiences, and reported on the five congregations that currently offer Spanish or bilingual services: St. John's Church in Boonton, St. John's Church in Dover, Grace Church in Union City, St. Paul's Church in Paterson, and the newest addition, Holy Trinity in West Orange.
Brown reported that at the Commission's first major diocesan event, Convocación al Nuevo Horizonte (Convocation for a New Horizon) held on April 5, 2014, 52 attendees from 15 congregations joined the Missioner of Latino/Hispanic Ministries for the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén and the Rev. Al Rodriguez in discussing how to minister in the Latino communities in the diocese. And in late August 2014, members of the Commission represented the diocese at the Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn) Conference at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina.
The Commission is developing a job description for a Hispanic/Latino Missioner, and hopes to begin a search in summer 2015.
Find out more about the Diocese of Newark's Commission on Hispanic/Latino Ministry at www.dioceseofnewark.org/hispanic-latino.
