By Paula Day

Ministry to the growing Hispanic population in the archdiocese of Atlanta began a new era July 1 when Father Edward Salazar, SJ, became the diocese's first Vicar for Hispanics and Mrs. Susana Jimenez became director of the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Apostolate succeeding Sister Pilar Dalmau, ACJ.

As vicar, Father Salazar will work in collaboration with Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, on behalf of the Hispanics in the local Church.

Father Salazar says his role will be pastoral, carrying out Archbishop Marino's directive to him: "Be my pastoral heart for the Hispanic community." Mrs. Jimenez will be director of the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Apostolate replacing Sister Pilar who has been reassigned by her religious congregation to ministry in North Carolina.

"When Sister Pilar called and welcomed me to the archdiocese, I told her I wasn't staying," Father Salazar recalls. That was 18 months ago. In February of this year Sister Pilar approached him about the possibility of becoming director of the Office of Hispanic Apostolate and he declined. He proposed, rather, that two people, working as a team, carry out archdiocesan-level services to the Hispanic community, and Archbishop Marino accepted the proposal. Mrs. Jimenez and Father Salazar now make up that team: she directs the diocesan office, he ministers in a pastoral capacity.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Father Salazar was ordained June 22, 1974 for the Society of Jesus' southern province with provincial headquarters in New Orleans. His parents reside in San Antonio. He has an older brother, four younger sisters and four younger brothers. A high school CCD lay teacher, who had a great influence on him, first introduced him to the Jesuit order.

Ministry to Hispanics has been the focus of Father Salazar's entire training and priestly work. As a theology student he was involved with Portuguese immigrants from the Azores at St. Clare Church, Santa Clara, CA. The summer after his ordination he spent in "barrio" ministry at Guadalupe Church in San Antonio. He coordinated and co-directed a pastoral study program for a month during each of the summers of 1975-1978. Traveling throughout Mexico, living with Mexican families and in Mexican Jesuit communities while studying Mexican history, culture, liberation theology and the Spanish language. From 1976 to 1978 he was regional director PADRES (Priests Associated for the Religious, Educational and Social Rights of Chicanos/Hispanics), for Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Father Salazar also served as associate pastor in Houston and El Paso, TX, parishes from 1975 to 1980. Before coming to Atlanta he was pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Shrine in El Paso.

While attending a meeting of the National Association of Hispanic Priests in October, 1986, Father Salazar met and became friends with Father Joseph Fahy, CP, and Father Jorge Cristancho, priests ministering in Atlanta. Shortly thereafter he began a five-month sabbatical to study, informally, retreat and renewal ministries at Ignatius House, a Jesuit retreat center in north Atlanta. It was not long before he was helping with Spanish Masses at the federal penitentiary, the Cathedral of Christ the King and St. Philip Benizi parish in Jonesboro.

Father Salazar has been a presence at various events in Atlanta that support the "seamless garment" approach to life issues. During last December's upheaval at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary he gave moral and spiritual support to the families of the Cuban detainees. He participated in the January 22 memorial service sponsored by Georgia Right To Life as well as in the National March for the homeless, Feb. 27.

"I thought I should be consistent in my support for all life issues," he said. In the course of these activities he has met Glenmary priest, Father Gerry Conroy, and learned of his work with the Southeast Center for Justice. "When you put yourself out to be present to the poor," he said, "you meet others with similar concerns and build a network of support."

Although Mrs. Jimenez and Father Salazar are "still germinating ideas" about specific approaches to their task, Father Salazar said both are "intent on listening and discerning what the greatest, most immediate needs are." He sees Mrs. Jimenez's role as one of creatively bringing about the implementation of the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry issued last November by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The plan, a result of a long consultative process, puts forth a model of Church that focuses on community, evangelization, missionary activity and education for leadership.

Speaking of Mrs. Jimenez, Father Salazar said, "She is a woman of faith, of conviction, and commitment, and as a church woman and family person, we can look forward to her being a model for what the NPPHM is promoting -- the role of women in the Church, and the values of family in the Hispanic culture." He believes, because of her Cuban background with its experience of uprootedness, that Mrs. Jimenez will bring a certain empathy for those with a similar background who are arriving now.

"I am also interested in consulting with the deans and the personnel in the deaneries to find out what they see as the more pressing needs because of the growing presence of Hispanics in the archdiocese," he said.

"Where Hispanics encounter closed doors or misunderstanding in the archdiocese I would see my job as facilitating a mutual understanding and means to best minister to them."

"I have a deep concern for continuing Sister Pilar's excellent work in advocating for a giving personal support, as the archbishop's representative, to Hispanics priests, sisters, deacons, and lay people in a position of ministry. I want to begin by going to them."

Father Salazar is particularly elated by the enthusiasm he has found among Hispanic young people in their desire to be part of and contribute to the Church.

"They need to be a priority," he said. "Many, if not most, are bilingual and can serve as a bridge between the two cultures."

Likening Atlanta to a "boom town," Father Salazar expressed concern that in its affluent economy "the poorest of our society, for example, the Hispanics -- the more recent arrivals -- that they not be forgotten." On the other hand, he admitted being impressed by the amount of concern shown by the more affluent Hispanics in the area for their less fortunate brothers and sisters, in particular the Cuban detainees and their families, agricultural and factory workers, and refugees.

As in other parts of the country, Father Salazar has observed here in the "Bible belt" what he calls a hunger among Hispanics for a deeper Biblical spirituality. He believes this provides an opportunity for ecumenical cooperation to nurture scripture study and a solidly-based scripture spirituality.

Father Salazar said he is committed to the post for three years with the possibility of remaining another three. He said he is quite aware how much his work as vicar will benefit from the groundwork of previous directors of the Office of Hispanic Apostolate, Father Richard Kieran, Father William Hoffman and Sister Pilar, as well as from the work of the archdiocese's Hispanic Pastoral Council.