Little Rock priest wins $50,000 award from Catholic Extension

Published: 2007-07-05

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CNS) -- Msgr. Scott Friend has been talking about the importance of Hispanic Catholics in Arkansas for nearly 20 years. After an eight-week course in Spanish, he started to minister soon after his ordination to the small but growing Spanish-speaking population in the state. With blue eyes and blond hair, "Padre Juero" (Father Gringo) was welcomed at south Arkansas parishes where he would celebrate Mass and lead Scripture study. His message to English-speaking parishioners is the same today as it was in 1989. "We must make our parishes a place of welcome, a home for our brothers and sisters," he said. "If we ask, 'Why don't these people learn English?' or if we refuse to deal with Hispanics until they are like 'us,' we will probably not see too many Hispanics in our churches." For his work championing Hispanic ministry in the state, Msgr. Friend was named the winner of the Catholic Church Extension Society's Lumen Christi Award. The award is given out each year to the top missionary in the United States who brings the "light of Christ" to the poor and underserved.

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