The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, was on hand for the opening prayer and spoke to the group about the importance of their ministry.
Father Lozano presented a history of Hispanic Ministry efforts in the Diocese to Bishop Provost and to Rev. Jose Burgues, director of the Southeastern Pastoral Institute (SEPI) located in Miami.
Dioceses of Louisiana represented, in addition to Lake Charles, were Alexandria, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Shreveport and New Orleans. These meetings are held with the purpose of sharing ideas and offering support for each other on-going projects, activities and future plans. Each diocese presented its progress on current projects and offered its future plans. Training and information regarding provincial, regional and national issues that affect Hispanic Ministry are also available.
“We discussed several on-going issues during the meeting but one of the highlights was the presentation by Father Burgues of the Community Evangelization School,” Father Lozano said. “This is a program that, if brought to Louisiana, would expand the methods of evangelization and would benefit small communities where it is hard for people to travel.
“Requirements for these “Evangelizers” are that they must attend the School of Ministries, a 20 weekend courses offered by SEPI and a weekend training to begin teaching,” Father Lozano continued. “It was decided that each diocese would select personnel believed capable of teaching these basic courses and ask for a SEPI instructor for the training where they will receive the materials needed to start.”
The Southeastern Pastoral Institute includes 30 dioceses in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Caroline, Tennessee and Kentucky. It was created in 1978 to assist the bishops of Regions V and XIV of the United States in their pastoral ministry to Hispanic Catholics. It is an educational and service organization that assists these dioceses to develop and train leaders in their faith and culture for the integration of the Hispanic community in the life of the Church and society.
