KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A pastoral plan for ministry to Hispanics in the Johnson County Pastoral Region was approved by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann on June 8.
The plan calls for the ministry to Hispanics in Johnson County to be anchored in three parish-based Centers for Hispanic Ministry within the next five to 10 years. The parishes where these centers will be established are: St. Paul, Olathe; Holy Cross, Overland Park; and Good Shepherd, Shawnee.
The plan does note that “the day will come when every parish in Johnson County will have a representative distribution of ethnically Hispanic families that make up the population of the parish.”
At each CHM the following was recommended:
- Mass in Spanish
- Availability of other sacraments in Spanish
- Sacramental preparation
- Youth ministry
- Adult formation
- Marriage preparation
- Culturally relevant devotions
- Quniceañeras
- Leadership training
- Retreats
To help facilitate these recommendations, it is suggested that priests, deacons and other key pastoral staff at the CHMs be bilingual and have some familiarity with Hispanic culture. Also, a full-time bilingual person should be available to answer the phone.
The plan also suggests that the archdiocese put steps in place to ensure that newly ordained priests and deacons have exposure to programs that enable them to effectively minister to Catholics from Hispanic cultures. And, whenever possible, seminarians should be required to learn Spanish so that they are able to celebrate the sacraments and preach in Spanish.
Beginning in July, the Spanish Mass times at the CHMs will be as follows:
- Good Shepherd, Shawnee – Sundays at 12:15 p.m.
- St. Paul, Olathe – Sundays at 12:30 p.m.
- Holy Cross, Overland Park – Wednesdays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 7 p.m.; and Sundays at 1 p.m. (beginning the second week of July)
