By Angelica Chicaiza, Correspondent
Catholic Hispanic ministries in New Jersey and Pennsylvania will begin focusing their efforts on young adults, said Jossie Ramos, coordinator of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Trenton.
Ramos said the Church leaders would be guided by the priorities of the U.S. bishops’ National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, adopted in June 2023.
Representatives of dioceses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania — which makes up what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated as Region III — met Feb. 12 in the Trenton Chancery to discuss Hispanic ministry in the region. Ramos said the leaders discussed challenges and accomplishments, as well as projects on which they are collaborating.
She said one of the key challenges addressed was the impact of the current U.S. government immigration policies on Hispanic people and ministries across the region. The group shared concerns and expressed compassion for communities navigating these uncertainties.
The group gathers annually and invites leadership delegations from the different dioceses. Ramos invited two active leaders from each parish designated as a Hispanic center in the Diocese of Trenton.
She said collaboration is vital to strengthen and sustain Hispanic initiatives across respective dioceses.
“We collaborate in many ways, meeting at least once a year in person to share challenges, new initiatives and pastoral resources. The need for these kinds of gatherings reflects the Church’s teaching to bring people together.”
Ramos, who joined the meeting for the second time since being appointed diocesan coordinator, shared that although she is new to her role compared to her peers, she is excited to work with them in one shared mission.
“Region III has been a welcoming space for me,” she said, noting that leaders share ideas or simply support each other’s initiatives. “Because the leaders have been involved in national committees or have been in ministry for such a long time, it helps us all see Hispanic ministry at a bigger scope and connect to the larger Church.”