Lifting Up Leaders From Within:

Online programs empower Hispanic ministers, community

Don Clemmer

A decade ago, the U.S. Census found that the Catholic Diocese of Lexington was home to 50,000 Hispanics. The diocese is officially home to only 40,000 Catholics. Taking into account that 65 percent to 70 of the Hispanic population is likely Catholic, Rod Stearn immediately sees the responsibility he has as director of religious education, faith formation and sacramental preparation for the diocese. “We’re looking at a population that is often difficult to trace or may seem invisible because it’s at the margins some- times, but nonetheless may be doubling the demographics of our diocese,” Stearn says. “And for that population to be underserved, for that population to not be receiving the amount of attention and the amount of care that it needs, really is a glaring challenge.”

Aspects of that challenge include not having enough clergy and lay ministers with adequate language and cultural skills to minister to Hispanics, but also the fact that an effective response does not come in the form of a rigid program that’s prescribed from the top down. “The ideal solution is also the most practical solution, which is to raise up leadership from the communities themselves,” says Stearn. This would mean having people trained in breaking open Scripture, leading devotions, making practical applications of Catholic social teaching and other areas. And this led to the diocese partnering with Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute to develop online pastoral formation courses with two general tracks, one for lay leaders and another to provide training for the diaconate.

Needs of a community

Stearn approached the programs as not having a pre- conceived notion of the needs of Hispanics in the diocese but of discovering them along the way, to enable them “to join their voices and tell us what they need themselves, and help them be part of the planning and part of the process.” And while the whole point of the endeavor is to foster lay leadership, the program itself owes much of its success to the efforts of two lay volunteers, Julian and Sylvia Viso of Good Shepherd in Frankfort, who went through the program two years ago. “We just gave it a shot,” says Julian who, as a former atheist who found his faith about six years ago, has had his life changed by the program. “If I don’t know anything about my faith, I cannot really teach anything or teach others.”

“We need to have leadership. We don’t have that,” Sylvia says. “If we want them to serve the community, we need to prepare them.” “We are seeing how these parishes are flourishing. And still, with all the challenges that we have, it’s something that is like a little seed that is really growing.” The Visos quickly realized the practical concerns that often hold members of the Hispanic community back from participating in the program. “A lot of our students are afraid to jump in. They just need a little push,” says Julian who, as a computer technician, has found himself providing tech support for new enrollees in the program, many of whom were unfamiliar with the computer hardware and online portals they have to navigate for the program. “People began to call us for help, and we were just very willing to help.”

The Visos started going around to parishes and even homes, offering academic and technical pointers. “We know that if we’re there to help them, they’re going to do great,” says Sylvia. “And once they finish, they also become our helpers.”

Fruits of giving

The Visos’ efforts have been a leaven in the community that has resulted in more than 300 people going through the program, and many taking courses well beyond the originally planned tracks. “It’s spreading by word of mouth,” says Stearn, who sees the explosive growth of the program as a sign of the Hispanic community’s “real thirst for knowledge of faith and practice of faith.” Donations to Diocesan Annual Appeal have ensured the resources this program needs to grow and change with this interest and with the unforeseen circumstances ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than working with people in person, Sylvia has created video tutorials. And Stearn calls the online format offered by the McGrath Institute a godsend.

“We didn’t have to slow down as much as we might have had to,” Stearn says. “I was very nervous when the virus began, because I thought we were going to lose this,” Julian says, noting that the courses — which he still takes — offer growth he doesn’t get from retreats or other church activities. “I want to go more in depth, and these courses are the best way to do it.” “We are seeing how these parishes are flourishing. And still, with all the challenges that we have, it’s something that is like a little seed that is really growing,” says Sylvia, who calls it a joy to see the confidence that completing the 30 credit hours of the program gives to participants, some of whom don’t have a formal education. “It’s so important for them,” she says. “They are giving more. Many of them want to give to the Church, but they don’t know how to. But when you have some formation, you can be a better leader. And we’re seeing that.”