Meet our new national leaders who are now part of ENAVE, the National Team of accompaniment for the V Encuentro.
New National leaders join ENAVE
Delila A. Vasquez
Delila A. Vasquez is the Executive Director of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (C.A.L.L.). Born in Ecuador from a bi-cultural family, Ecuadorian / Argentinian migrated to California at 16 years of Age. Graduated from Crenshaw High School and started college studies at Mount St. Mary’s University. Delila has grown as a leader serving families in various capacities. From teaching in preschool classrooms to guiding professionals and small business owners, she has created a legacy for our community by sharing resources and supporting self-development. Her prior pre-school students from the St. Joseph Homeless Child Care and Parenting Program are now professionals who reach out to her to share their success and her influence in their early development. From working with homeless families, incarcerated mothers, teen moms, preschool professionals and Catholic schools she has learned to value life and the ties of community. All her experiences are bound to the service of the family, single parent and /or traditional family unit.
Delila holds a degree in Interdisciplinary studies and an ECE Directors Permit that allowed her to work with preschool programs from teaching, to directorship and consulting. She acquired a Masters in Leadership and Organizational Studies that has granted her the privilege to work with small business owners, community organizations and developing scholarship opportunities for Catholic Schools in San Bernardino. She is currently attending a master’s program in Theology to be better equipped as she serves the Catholic Latino Leaders in the US.
As a mother she has raised three wonderful daughters with her husband of 30 years. Her daughters are the center of her leadership. She states,
“When I make decision I always think what would advise my daughters to do, and then take action.”
Sharing information is at the heart of her service, having served and created services for families living in the peripheries, she empowers families by sharing resources that inform families and allow them to make decisions.
José J. Matos Auffant
José J. Matos Auffant is the Executive Director for Mission at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX fostering formation of faith through University Ministry and Marianist programs for students, staff and faculty. José coordinates “Messengers of Faith and Hope” annual summer Hispanic Ministry Training for Campus Ministers and Young Adults. He is a delegate of the Archdiocese of San Antonio for the V Encuentro process, also representing St. Mary’s University at the National Dialogue and La Red de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, José worked at the Pontifical Mission Societies coordinating missionary awareness programs for youth and young adults, as well as in Colegio San José – Marianist College Preparatory with Juventud Misionera and Marianist L.I.F.E. (Living In Faith Experiences) youth ministry summer conferences. He represents La RED on ENAVE.
Charleen Katra
Charleen Katra assumed the position of Executive Director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) in December of 2019. Charleen has extensive experience in catechesis and special education, and has authored two books, The Adaptive Teacher and How to Talk to Children about People with Disabilities. In her previous position as Associate Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, she chaired archdiocesan disability ministry conferences, provided extensive training and support to parish leadership and parishioners, partnered with the Houston Mayor’s office, MD Anderson hospital and Catholic chaplains at various hospitals to raise awareness and better serve the community. Katra has served on NCPD’s Board of Directors in 2018 and 2019. In the past year she has hosted a weekly radio program, In God’s Image, which is available on podcasts. She has served as a consultant and speaker on the topic of inclusion both in Texas and across the country for the past twenty years.
Matthew Smith
Matt Smith began at Our Sunday Visitor Institute in February 2020 as the Director of Strategic Alliances. Previously, he was at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana which he joined as a professor in 2002. Smith’s responsibilities at the university increased in scope with his initial appointment as the university’s Director of Writing, followed by Department Chair, Director of General Education, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement. In the last six years, Smith helped secure more than $33 million in grants and gifts to the university. As OSVi’s Director of Strategic Alliances, Matt will manage existing relationships while generating new opportunities on a national basis with Catholic institutions, service providers, start-up businesses, and Catholic ministries.