Hispanic Catholics can be leaven for the church, but that can only happen if they remain rooted in their faith, Cardinal George said in a Sept. 24 address at a national Hispanic ministry congress held in Rosemont. “You will be leaven not because you are Hispanic but because you are Catholic,” he said. But some Hispanic Catholics are leaving the church, lured by fundamentalist Protestant churches, and even more by the secularism that threatens all faiths. “Their temptation is to be Catholic only on Dec. 12 and Ash Wednesday, and forget everything else,” said Cardinal George. Dec. 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. More than 500 people attended the four-day event, which had as its theme “Raices y Alas” (“Roots and Wings”). It was organized by the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, an umbrella organization of more than 50 Hispanic Catholic movements and organizations, in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church. The goal was for people who work in Hispanic ministry to decide what that ministry will look like as Hispanics become more mainstream members of the U.S. Catholic Church. Hispanics already account for more than 35 percent of Catholics in the United States and more than 50 percent of Catholics under age 25, according to the USCCB. Participants in “Raices y Alas” included leaders in Hispanic ministry as well as representatives from colleges and universities, religious congregations and other institutions. To emphasize the integration of Hispanics in the church in the United States, the meeting agenda was organized around the five priorities the USCCB has set for all of its offices: Marriage and family; faith formation and sacramental practice; young people and vocations; life and dignity of the human person; and diversity with special emphasis on Hispanics. Sister Dominga Zapata, a member of the Society of Helpers and a board member for the conference, said it was important to focus on common issues with the bishops and the broader Catholic community. “How do these priorities affect and involve the Hispanic community? What do they require of the Hispanic community?” said Sister Dominga, who works with formation for permanent Hispanic deacons in the archdiocese and vocation ministry. “These are the priorities that affect everyone. Everyone is looking at these issues: African-Americans, Native Americans.” To make it relate better to the Hispanic experience, the formation area was expanded to include academic education, life and dignity focused on immigration and vocations focused on the baptismal vocation of all Catholics, said Carmen Aguinaco, president of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry. Aguinaco directs the Hispanic Ministry Resource Center at Chicago-based Claretian Publications. Hispanic Catholics are concerned about keeping young people — the second generation of immigrant families — engaged in the church, she said. “That is a really big issue.” Jaime Buscanan, also a board member, said the congress helped bring people in Hispanic ministry from around the country together to share their experiences and ideas and go forth renewed in strength for their mission. “The growth in the Hispanic population of Catholics has led to great needs for pastoral assistance and pastoral leadership,” said Buscanan, director of Hispanic ministry formation at University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary. “The church has become more aware of the impact Hispanic Catholics are going to have in the church,” he said. “The leadership is more open to investing resources in Hispanic leaders. We are no longer just finding a place in the church. We are the church — we are part of the church. Before, we were looking for a place to be Catholic. Now we are looking at how to make our contribution.” Aguinaco agreed. “In the past, when we talked about Hispanic ministry, it was about ministry to Hispanics from a position of superiority,” she said. “Now it’s about ministry Hispanics can have for each other and for the wider church. It’s almost like a coming of age.”