1945 |
Office for the Spanish Speaking is established under the auspices of the National Catholic Welfare Council (NCWC) and promoted by Bishop Robert E. Lucey, Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas. |
1969 |
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) establishes the Division for the Spanish Speaking under the auspices of the Department of Social Development. |
1970 |
Archbishop Patrick Flores is named first U.S. Hispanic bishop. |
1972 |
First National Hispanic Encuentro calls for greater participation of the Spanish speaking in leadership and decision-making roles at all levels within the Catholic Church and for the establishment of structures for ministry to be implemented. |
1974 |
The Division for the Spanish Speaking of the Department of Social Development is elevated to the NCCB Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs. |
1977 |
Second National Hispanic Encuentro recommendations express the desire of grassroots Hispanics for a more responsive, multicultural, spiritually alive, united, and creative Church through a process of evangelization. |
1982 |
The Bishops Speak with the Virgin: A Pastoral Letter of the Hispanic Bishops of the United States is published, presenting the message of our pilgrimage through history, our reality, and our role as artisans of a new humanity, courage, and hope. |
1983 |
The U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter, The Hispanic Presence: Challenge and Commitment, is published. The U.S. bishops call Hispanic Catholics to raise their prophetic voices again in a Third Encuentro. |
1985 |
Third National Hispanic Encuentro process involves more than half a million Hispanics in a grassroots consultation that led to the development of the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry. |
1986 |
Prophetic Voices is published: The history and process for consultation of the Third National Pastoral Encuentro. |
1987 |
The Catholic bishops unanimously approve the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry. The Plan provides pastoral priorities and action for Hispanic ministry at the diocesan, regional, and parish levels. |
1990 |
Bishop’s Committee on Hispanic Affairs statement Leaven for the Kingdom of God is published. |
1992 |
First Congress of Roots and Wings takes place in Los Angeles, CA |
1995 |
Communion and Mission, a guide on small church communities, is published. |
1995 |
The U.S. Hispanic bishops convoke Hispanic Ministries directors and coordinators to commemorate and celebrate the collaboration and communion of fifty years of a national ministry effort. |
1995 |
Pastoral statement The Hispanic Presence in the New Evangelization in the United States is published. |
1996 |
Second Congress of Roots and Wings takes place in Chicago, IL |
1997 |
Synod of Bishops for America takes place. The U.S. bishops approve the convoking of a fourth national Encuentro. |
1998 |
One Faith, One Church, One America: Symposium with the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) on Catechesis ‘98 |
1999 |
Pope John Paul II promulgates Ecclesia in America in Mexico City. |
1999 |
Hispanic Ministry at the Turn of the New Millennium: A Report of the Bishops’ Committee on Hispanic Affairs is published. |
1999 |
Many Faces in God’s House: A Catholic Vision for the New Millennium, a parish guide to prepare for Encuentro 2000, is published. |
2000 |
Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God’s House is held in Los Angeles, California, with the participation of more than 5,000 church leaders representing 150 dioceses and 157 different ethnic groups and nationalities. |
2001 |
The Bishops’ Committee on Hispanic Affairs convokes the leadership in Hispanic Ministry to a National Symposium to refocus Hispanic ministry for the new century. |
2002 |
Encuentro and Mission: A Renewed Pastoral Framework for Hispanic Ministry is published. |
2003 |
III Congress of Roots and Wings takes place at the University of Notre Dame. |
2004 |
The Committee for Hispanic Affairs approves the preparation for the First National Encounter for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry. |
2006 |
Celebration of the First National Encounter for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry at the University of Notre Dame. |
2006 |
Best Practices in Diocesan Ministry among Hispanics/Latinos is published. |
2007 |
The Committee for Hispanic Affairs is replaced by the Subcommittee for Hispanic Affairs. |
2008 |
The Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs is incorporated into the USCCB new structure, under the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church. |
2009 |
Conclusions of the First National Encuentro for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry is published |
2009 |
Publication of the study on National and Regional Hispanic Catholic Ministry Organizational Initiatives: An Assessment; by William D. Dinges, PhD. |
2010 |
IV Congress of Roots and Wings takes place in Chicago. IL |
2011 |
Hispanic / Latino Bishops publish a letter addressed to undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. |
2011 |
Emerging Hispanic Catholic Leadership Gathering in San Antonio, Texas |
2012 |
The Ministerio Hispano Presente, Pasado y Futuro: Un Nuevo Comienzo is published. |
2012 |
National celebration in Chicago, IL to commemorate significant anniversaries on Hispanic Ministry, including the 21st Anniversary of the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry, NCADDHM. |