From its very beginnings, Hispanic/Latino ministry in the United States has embodied the vision of the Second Vatican Council, emphasizing social justice and human development as essential to its pastoral mission. This commitment remains deeply connected to the evangelizing mission of the Church.
Our work in this area has three main dimensions:
Advocacy for systemic change – Promoting institutional and structural transformation in society and the Church on behalf of the poor, the suffering, and those on the peripheries.
Formation and leadership – Equipping and accompanying the lay faithful to lead efforts for justice, rooted in gospel values, beginning in their own communities.
Pastoral care and direct service – Responding with compassion to the immediate physical, emotional, spiritual, and developmental needs of the community, with a preferential love for the poor.
The consistent use of the See–Judge–Act methodology (Pastoral Circle) has guided Hispanic/Latino ministry for more than 50 years, ensuring that our mission remains grounded in the urgent realities of our people. Yet, much work remains to be done, especially in bringing the vision of Vatican II into the hearts and lives of all the faithful.
Pope Francis reminds us that the lay vocation is directed to charity within the family and to social and political charity. It is a faith-based commitment to build a new society marked by peace, justice, and human dignity (Christus Vivit, 168, 174).
The Call to Holiness and the Lay Vocation
Justice, peace, mercy, and human development are not optional for Christians; they are at the core of our call to holiness. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 25, we will be judged on how we have loved and cared for the least among us.
Catholic Social Teaching provides guiding principles for this mission:
The common good – Social life must be organized so all people can share in its benefits and responsibilities.
The universal destination of goods – Creation is intended for all, balancing the right to private property with the duty to prioritize the poor.
Solidarity and social friendship – Recognizing the dignity and equality of all people and responding to persistent inequalities.
Subsidiarity – Empowering individuals and communities to fulfill their responsibilities, with higher institutions supporting—not replacing—them.
Participation – Ensuring everyone has a voice in the cultural, economic, political, and social life of society and the Church.
Core values of truth, freedom, and justice – Freedom must be understood as the call to serve the common good, not as isolated autonomy.
Key Concerns in the Hispanic/Latino Reality
As we prepare for the Raíces y Alas Congress, we highlight four urgent areas of concern:
Human development for flourishing – Supporting holistic wellbeing (material, spiritual, emotional, and relational), especially among youth facing challenges such as addictions, abuse, depression, family separation, and lack of educational opportunities.
A culture of life – Promoting respect for life in the face of violence, racism, climate change, abortion, domestic abuse, trafficking, and declining access to healthcare.
Migrants and immigration – Accompanying migrants, refugees, and the undocumented, who often face compounded hardships due to systemic injustice and broken immigration structures.
Advocacy and organizing – Building capacity for both direct service and structural change, beginning locally and extending to broader systems of support for life, dignity, and integral human development.
These priorities must be shaped by the lived experience of our people—their joys and hopes, griefs and struggles—so that together, as a synodal Church of communion, participation, and mission, we may discern effective pastoral responses.
Social Justice Team
Accompanying Latino Youth as Leaders and Missionary Disciples
Team Lead
Esther García
Director of Outreach and Diocesan Relations, National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD)
Roberto Rojas
Catholic Relief Services