Gulf Pine Catholic

24 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 23, 2018 Diocesan representatives attend Regional Encuentro meeting in Miami On February 22-24, five delegates from the Diocese of Biloxi’s Hispanic Ministry program attended the Southeastern Regional Conference at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Miami, FL for the V Encuentro ( V Encounter ) to make their voices heard and show their commitment to this project that will find solutions to help spread the gospel. Deysi Martinez from St. Alphonsus in Ocean Springs, one of the five delegates, said that, even though there has been lots of work because many people on the coast have been doing local research and mis- sionary work since June of 2017, she is happy to participate in this program because she shares its goal to “discern ways in which the Church in the United States can better respond to the Hispanic/ Latino presence, and to strengthen the ways in which Hispanics/Latinos respond to the call to the New Evangelization as missionary disciples serving the entire Church.” Sister Maria de Jesus Zavala from Saint John the Evangelist in Gulfport said, “One of the phrases that echoed a lot during our meeting and that touched my heart in a personal way, was ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel’ (1 Cor 9:16). This phrase helped me renew my baptismal commitment and at the same time as a reli- gious sister, to continue serving the people of God with great joy, and dedication in this way I will be carrying out my duty to continue evangelizing...being an instru- ment of conversion of those who do not believe and those who have left…” Olga Rivera, a delegate from Sacred Heart in Pascagoula, said the experience was a source of hope for her. “The dialogue with other groups in the region helped me in many ways, including knowing, new manuals, guides and books that other groups are using and that can also serve us,” she said. “We have a great commitment from the entire Hispanic community and at the same time the commit- ment to continue working for all those that continue to come,” said Gil Diaz another delegate from Sacred Heart in Pascagoula. Father Everardo Torres from Sacred Heart in Hattiesburg would like to give special thanks to all the pastors of the par- ishes that have a Hispanic Ministry pro- gram. “I would like to give special thanks to his Excellency Bishop Louis Kihneman III, Bishop of Biloxi, for trusting me as the Diocesan Coordinator of the Program and a deep appreciation to Father Sergio Balderas, for his advice and support. “The Regional Encounter was a great experience for me. Sharing with many lay people, leaders who have been serving in the Hispanic Ministry for many years, and who hold a lot of experience, with the priests who were leading different Diocesan delegations, and more important, listening to the voice of the shepherds of these dio- ceses, enriched the path of faith, opened new horizons and increased hope,” added Father Torres. “To see 17 Dioceses working together, finding new ways to serve better God´s people, shows the true face of the pilgrim Church, a Church who works as one fami- ly, a Church who sees each other like true brothers and sisters. The work that we did during the Regional Encounter brought people together, united communities, par- ishes, and dioceses.” The next activity will be the National Encuentro, in the city of Grapevine, Texas. The dates are September 20-23, where new ideas and solutions will arise for Bishops in the United States to consider implement- ing at a diocesan level. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the Evangelization con- tinue guiding us and protecting us during this process of the V Encuentro . Pictured above from Left to Right: Father Fernando Cano, V Encuentro National Coordinator, Deysi Martinez , Sister Maria de Jesus Zavala, Father Everardo Mora, Olga Rivera and Gil Diaz. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, preaches during Mass. May you and your family have a Blessed Easter