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Archdiocese to host first conference for Hispanic men
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 29, 2008
Detroit — The Church strives to remove all barriers between man and God, including the language barrier.
That's the impetus behind the Archdiocese of Detroit's first conference for Hispanic men, which will take place March 9 at Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak. The conference, organizers say, is essentially the Spanish-language counterpart for the popular Put Out into the Deep — the annual Catholic Conference for Men, which draws thousands from throughout the archdiocese.
"Hispanics were not coming to the Archdiocese of Detroit's men's conference," says Fr. Mike Buen-tello, CSB, who's on the committee to organize the Hispanic conference. "And the Church is trying to bring them in. It was felt that language may be the reason.
"Hopefully, this will touch Hispanic men so they can integrate themselves more into the life of the Church."
Like Put Out Into the Deep — now in its sixth year — the Hispanic conference will stress the importance of Christian brotherhood and the ideal role of the Christian man within his family. Fr. Buentello says the conference is using St. Joseph — the theme is, "San José Hombre de Hombres" ("St. Joseph, Man of Men") — as an apt model of Christian manhood. St. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, is known as the protector, provider and guide of the family.
San José Hombre De Hombres
What: Archdiocese of Detroit’s first Catholic Conference for Hispanic Men.
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 9.
Where: Shrine Catholic High School, 3500 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak.
Speakers: Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Flores, Catholic evangelist Nicolas Sanabria and Deacon Rafael de Los Reyes of the Archdiocese of Miami.
Cost: $10 donation (lunch included).
For information: Call Geraldina Hernandez at (313) 842-3450. |
"We hope to awaken the faith within Hispanic men, and for them to take on the role within the family, and also to be more active in the Church," Fr. Buentello says, "to be good Catholic men, men of prayer, connected to the Eucharist."
Like the English-language conference, the Hispanic men's conference will feature keynote speakers, worship music, time for prayer, opportunity for confessions, and a liturgy, celebrated by Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Flores.
Fr. Buentello says organizers have been promoting the conference at various Spanish-speaking parishes in the Archdiocese.
Though they don't know how many men to expect for the conference, the population they're drawing from is growing. The U.S. census shows that, in Detroit and its suburbs, the Hispanic population grew by more than 26 percent between 2000 and 2006. Nearly a quarter-million Hispanics live in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
Seeing as that the Catholic faith is prevalent among Hispanics, Fr. Buentello says organizers of the Hispanic men's conference hope it can be helpful to their walk with Christ. "We want to provide a base for Hispanic men to use as a source of strength," he says, "to live out their Catholic identity, their Catholic life."
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