By Michael Motes

Mission Catolica, a week-long mission for the archdiocesan Spanish community was well received according to Father Ruskin Piedra. The initial sessions drew an attendance of over 300 with more than 700 participating in the Mass on the last evening of the event.

During his week in Atlanta Redemptorist Father Piedra, who conducted the mission had a chance to spend most of his time with Spanish-speaking Catholics. His general impression of the Spanish Catholic community was one of many needs and great potential.

“I have discovered that the Spanish community of Atlanta is very hungry for ministry in its own language and culture,” Father Piedra said. “They want more unity among themselves and desperately want a place they can call their own.”

He pointed out that very little in the way of printed data is available in Spanish and that audio-visual aids are non-existent. “They particularly want religious books such as lives of saints and liturgies. They’re really in left field as far as reading material goes,” Father Piedra said.

“The aged, especially, are lost. They have a great deal of trouble learning English. The middle group, those between youth and aged, are predominantly professionals and in Cuba, or Columbia or wherever they came from, they had a title and felt they could give to the community. Here they have become second-class citizens.”

“Outside of the normal tensions anyone would undergo, the Spanish have a great deal of psychological tension and this can even lead to repercussions in family life. Throughout the city, there is one big cry for ministry. They also need one central place they can go to and one person to whom they can turn.”

While the mission was not geared to youth, Father Piedra talked with quite a few young persons during his week in Atlanta.

“The youth are mostly bilingual and this is a big help for them. But they, too, have a great problem of establishing a value in society. They are hanging on a log in the middle of the ocean direction-wise and constantly being tossed about,” he said.

The missionary’s days were full while here. He met with groups of women throughout the city during the day and conducted a mission each evening. He also visited the Federal Penitentiary and celebrated Mass for the Spanish inmates. His few spare moments were devoted to private sessions with those who visited him at the Cathedral rectory.

Asked what advice he would offer the Spanish on improving their situation, Father Piedra said that the mission was a great beginning.

“The planning for this week began months ago and it has been arranged entirely by members of the Spanish community. This is an excellent beginning toward informing the entire community of the needs of the Spanish.”

He said that planning crews visited the several Spanish neighborhoods in Atlanta and asked the people what they wanted in the way of a week-long mission.

His suggestions, based on what he was told by the Spanish, are quite lengthy. His “top priority” suggestion is for a spiritual director to be assigned to work with the Spanish. He also suggests that a center be established where books would be available and where guidance counselors and other advisors would be on duty. He cited a center in Tampa, Fla., as a good example of such a gathering place.

“If there was organization, many apostolic programs could develop. The Spanish are really very hungry for work within the Church,” Father Piedra said.

The most moving experience to Father Piedra was “the crying need for direction” he observed while in Atlanta.

Ordained in 1960, Father Piedra has served as a Redemptorist missionary in Tampa for the last 13 years, seven as an assistant pastor and six as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He has served as spiritual director to the Cursillo Movement and worked with Search, Youth Encounters and Family Encounters, both in Spanish and English.