INTEGRATION OF LATINO IMMIGRANTS IN CATHOLIC PARISHES: A FEW EMERGING INSIGHTS FROM THE 2011-2013 NATIONAL STUDY OF CATHOLIC OF CATHOLIC PARISHES WITH HISPANIC MINISTRY

HOSFFMAN OSPINO, PHD – Boston College

CMS – Washington – Feb 24, 2014

Measuring Parish Integration: Trends

Toward some criteria to measure integration of Hispanics in

Catholic parishes

Note: The following criteria and analysis emerge from data collected through the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry. These observations are to be treated as preliminary.

Hispanic leaders in decision-making positions

Parental participation in children’s faith-formation initiatives

Structural stability Intercultural Competency Use of language

Parish Integration: Low Level

Parishes with low levels of integration… Have few Hispanic leaders in decision-making

positions compared to the total Hispanic population in the community. The ratio tends to be 2:1

Fewer Hispanic families are officially registered Are communities that recently have merged, formed

a new cluster, or recently changed organizational structure

Have fewer parents involved in their children formation programs

English is predominant; major emphasis on bilingual activities; Spanish is used primarily with immigrants

TRENDS

Parish Integration: Middle Level

Parishes with middle levels of integration… Have more Hispanic leaders in decision-making

positions, although the number does not exactly correlate to the percentage corresponding to the total Hispanic population

More Hispanic families are registered At least half of all Masses on Sunday are in Spanish More parents are involved in in their children

formation programs. Catechists are familiar with Hispanic culture(s) and situation

English predominance increases (60% use); Spanish is used largely with immigrants; less use of bilingual

TRENDS

Parish Integration: High Level

Parishes with high levels of integration… The number of Hispanic leaders in decision-making positions

matches or exceeds the percentage of the Hispanic population in the community

Parish administrative staff (e.g., Secretary) tend to be Hispanic Usually have a Hispanic permanent deacon and/or a Hispanic priest 63% have Hispanic secretary, 43% have Hispanic deacon At least half of the parish is Hispanic Have a higher number of apostolic movements Parish is less likely to have merged/clustered recently Have high levels of parental involvement in children formation

programs. Catechists are familiar with Hispanic culture(s) and situation

English predominance increases (60% use); Spanish is used largely with immigrants; less use of bilingual

TRENDS

Concluding Observations

Empowering Hispanic leaders to serve in decision-making positions facilitates integration

Structurally and administratively stable parishes are better to integrate Hispanic Catholics into the life of the Church

Parishes that involve parents and other adults in faith-formation activities of children and youth (e.g., religious education programs, Catholic schools) are more likely to facilitate integration

Most integrated parishes use Spanish to serve the immediate needs of the immigrant population, yet English is increasingly used as the common language for parish life. This reflects the impact of the growing post-immigrant Hispanic population

Release of Findings - TimelineNational Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry

(NSCPHM)

Executive Summary – May 2014 Specialized Reports – Summer 2014

Pastors DREs Parish Directors of Hispanic Ministry Catholic Schools and Parishes with HM (Fall

2014) Book Analysis – Liturgical Press (late 2014,

early 2015) Book with pastoral theological framework to

analyze multicultural parish phenomenon – Fordham University Press (2015)

For more information, contact:

Hosffman Ospino, PhDAssistant Professor of Theology and Religious

Education Principal Investigator, NSCPHM

BOSTON COLLEGESchool of Theology and Ministry

ospinoho@bc.edu617-552-0119

Boston College’s STM website:www.bc.edu/stm