U.S. Hispanic priests meet, discuss pastoral challenges

Published: 2006-10-18

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- More than 100 U.S. Hispanic priests met in Philadelphia Oct. 9-13 to discuss the pastoral challenges of serving the nation's rapidly growing Hispanic Catholic population. The five-day meeting was the 17th annual convention of the Asociacion Nacional de Sacerdotes Hispanos (National Association of Hispanic Priests). Philadelphia's Cardinal Justin Rigali, who celebrated an Oct. 9 Spanish-language Mass for the group at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, told them their ministry "is of tremendous importance for the future, not only of the Hispanic community in the United States, but the whole church." The cardinal urged them to "be a bridge in what you do and what you say." There are approximately 4,200 Hispanic priests ministering in the United States, serving a Hispanic Catholic population of roughly 25 million, according to the group's president, Father Andres Mendoza of Lubbock, Texas.

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