Region V

Geography

Region V includes the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee;the Archdioceses of Louisville, Mobile, and New Orleans; and the Dioceses of Alexandria,Baton Rouge, Biloxi, Birmingham, Covington, Houma-Thibodaux, Jackson, Knoxville, Lafayette LA, Lake Charles, Lexington, Memphis, Nashville, Owensboro, and Shreveport.

Pastoral Profile of Region V in Hispanic / Latino Ministry

Diocesan personnel dedicated to Hispanic ministry in the Region:

• • • In offices of Hispanic Ministry:[1] 29
    • Responsible for Pastoral Juvenil Hispana: 4
    • In ethnic / multicultural or other specialized offices: 6
    • Office personnel assisting these leaders: 6

Estimated Hispanic Catholic population:

• 250,000 immigrant Hispanic Catholics
• 273,000 Hispanic Catholics born in the U.S.
• 19% of the Catholics in the Region are Hispanic / Latino

Parishes with Hispanic / Latino Ministry: 244

Masses in Spanish

• Weekly Masses: 294
• Once-a-month Masses: 17
• Average attendance per Mass: 209 (12.4%of all Hispanic Catholics)

Among Catholic children from 0 to 17 years old:

• 27% are Hispanics / Latinos born in the U.S.
• 4% are immigrant Hispanics / Latinos
• In K-8 Catholic schools, 5% are Hispanics / Latinos
• In Catholic high schools, 4% are Hispanics / Latinos

Hispanic / Latino ecclesial ministers serving in the Region:

• Immigrant priests: 76
• U.S.-born priests: 15
• Religious sisters and brothers: 65
• Deacons: 45
• Lay ecclesial ministers: 185

The V Encuentro in Region V

• Sent 109 delegates to the National Encuentro, including 2 ENAVE / ERAVE and 12 bishops
• The Regional Encuentro was celebrated with 82 delegates and 5 bishops
• 13 Diocesan Encuentros were celebrated, with total attendance of 2,573
• 146 parishes / organizations conducted the five sessions and 94 held a Parish
• 2,579 leaders from 146 parishes received training for the V Encuentro in 105

Main areas of new outreach in parishes through the V Encuentro:

• Hispanic / Latino young adults
• Migrants and campesinos in rural areas
• English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos

[1]May include personnel in other offices when their responsibility is for the Latino community, such as the Director of Hispanic Catechesis.

Episcopal Region V is thankful to God for the V National Encuentro process, which has strengthened communion in pastoral ministry (“Pastoral de Conjunto”) between the dioceses in the provinces of New Orleans, Louisville, and Mobile, as well as the Southeast, thanks to the leadership and coordination efforts of its Southeast Regional Office (SEPI).

The process has also brought forth a new wave of committed leaders, especially young Hispanics, with formation initiatives, the development of a Pastoral Juvenil, a growing number of formation programs, including schools of ministries and online courses. There have been new initiatives for the accompanying Latino youth and young adults (e.g. local and diocesan retreats and programs) and Hispanic engaged and married couples, connecting diocesan plans with the V Encuentro. The process has especially strengthened the identity and responsibility of the Hispanic community regarding missionary discipleship.

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