Hispanic Ministry Focus Area
Eighty percent of Hispanic people are Catholic, and pastoral ministers are increasingly being called upon to minister in faith communities that reflect this diversity. This focus area introduces students, non-Hispanic and Hispanic, to the growing literature on Hispanic/ Latino/Latina theology arising from the U.S. Hispanic context, and from the Latin American experience. The courses offer a multicultural perspective on the varieties of Hispanic cultures. The courses assist pastoral ministers in developing a cultural sensitivity to and awareness of the pastoral challenges that U.S. Hispanic communities face and in developing pastoral strategies for ministry in the particular Hispanic communities in which they live.
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Hispanic Experience of Religion and Culture
This course presents an overview of the diversity of Hispanic cultures in the United States and introduces participants to the history and development of Hispanic/Latino/Latina theologies that have emerged in the U.S. context since the second half of the 20th century. Participants will gain an appreciative awareness of various cultural symbols and expressions of religious life among Hispanic communities and explore the implications of these for ministry among Hispanic peoples.
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Pastoral Ministry in Hispanic Communities
Rooted in an understanding of cultural and religious experiences of Hispanics in the U.S. context, this course explores various pastoral approaches that address issues particularly significant in Hispanic communities. Theological reflection on ministry is interwoven throughout the course.