v encuentro Archives - Diocese of Venice

El programa de Formación en español regresa en septiembre 2025

Posted on August 29, 2025August 29, 2025 by Bob Reddy

Durante el proceso de Escucha del V Encuentro Diocesano en principio incorporado a la Diócesis de Venice por el Obispo Frank J. Dewane, se identificaron tres objetivos pastorales: formación en la fe, jóvenes y coordinación de las diferentes realidades pastorales. En respuesta a uno de ellos y durante los últimos ocho años se ha desarrollado un Programa de Formación en español, llegando a cientos de participantes cada año.

La próxima sesión 2025-2026 iniciará este 5 de septiembre y se centrará en el 1700 aniversario del Credo de Nicea, enunciado por primera vez en la ciudad de Nicea (ahora Iznik, Turquía) en el año 325 d.C., durante el primer Concilio Ecuménico de la Iglesia Católica. Es el Credo que rezamos en las Misas Dominicales y que es una hermosa síntesis de nuestra Fe.

La motivación para que año tras año los fieles regresen para una nueva sesión no ha disminuido ni tampoco el compromiso de aprender más sobre la fe católica.

La mayoría de los estudiantes del programa de formación son personas muy humildes que, después de un largo día de trabajo, logran reunir la energía para asistir a las clases de formación, incluso sin tomarse el tiempo para comer algo. Es el esfuerzo de muchas personas lo que hace que este programa sea posible. Se da reconocimiento especial a los voluntarios en las secretarías y a los diversos Movimientos que ofrecen un refrigerio para los participantes.

Habrá un total de ocho clases de 7 p.m. a 9 p.m. los viernes (jueves durante la Cuaresma) hasta el 26 de febrero de 2026. El costo de todas las clases es de $35, incluido un catecismo para aquellos que no lo tienen. También hay becas para aquellos que no puedan cubrir el costo. Los estudiantes que se registren y asistan a un mínimo de 7 clases en una de las parroquias participantes o en línea mediante el uso del APP (www.pastoralhispanavenice.com) calificarán para recibir una certificación diocesana.

El beneficio de tener el programa de formación en español es que facilita la instrucción de aquellos laicos que tienen alguna responsabilidad pastoral: especialmente catequistas, miembros de grupos parroquiales o de Movimientos. Además, permite un ámbito de discusión abierto.

Cada año al final del programa, se alienta a quienes obtuvieron certificados a usar su nuevo conocimiento para evangelizar dentro de sus familias y en la comunidad parroquial.

Las clases de Formación en la Fe se dividen en seis regiones geográficas de la Diócesis para permitir un acceso más fácil al curso. A los estudiantes se les ofrece la opción de participar de las clases en persona o en línea, usando el APP de Pastoral Hispana. Los instructores incluyen sacerdotes, religiosas, diáconos y laicos.

Las parroquias anfitrionas este año son: Ave María en Ave María; Our Lady Queen of Heaven en La Belle; St. Paul en Arcadia; Sacred Heart en Bradenton; St. Leo the Great en Bonita Springs; St. Peter the Apostle en Naples; St. Elizabeth Seton en Naples; St. Jude en Sarasota; St. Michael en Wauchula; St. Margaret en Clewiston; St. John XXIII en Fort Myers; Holy Cross en Palmetto; y Jesus the Worker en Fort Myers.

Dentro del marco del Año de la Oración y como preámbulo para el Año Jubilar 2025, la última sesión se centró precisamente en la vida de oración. Con el título “La Oración Cristiana en el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica”, se animó a los participantes a lograr una conexión más profunda con Dios y su fe, mientras descubrían los aspectos clave del Año Jubilar. Más de 400 personas se registraron para el curso, y 238 alumnos obtuvieron una certificación diocesana, lo que significa que completaron las clases requeridas y aprobaron los exámenes de cada una. Desde que se inició el programa en el año 2017, se han otorgado 2,210 Certificados Diocesanos, con más de 4,012 personas participando en por lo menos algunas de las clases. Algunos de los cursos anteriores están disponibles gratuitamente para aquellos que se registren en la Aplicación y exploren la sección de “cursos anteriores”.

Para obtener más información sobre el Programa de Formación, visite www.pastoralhispanavenice.com.

Spanish-language Faith Formation program success continues

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Bob Reddy

During the past seven years the Hispanic Ministries outreach of the Diocese of Venice has strived to meet the needs of those desiring to be better formed in their Faith through a focused formation program, with hundreds participating each year.

Father Claudio Stewart, Diocesan Hispanic Ministries Director, said this formation program has been recognized as one of the largest Diocesan-level outreach efforts in the nation which directly includes the Hispanic Catholic community.

“Through the last seven years, we have observed the community’s desire to learn, their eagerness to integrate more within our Catholic Faith and their motivation to become more involved as a community,” Father Stewart explained. “They do find the time to participate and make the effort to learn by using the Pastoral Hispana App to access the classes and relevant supporting documents. Their commitment and dedication serve as guidance to continue offering our formation classes year after year.”

The 2023-2024 Formation Program of the Hispanic Apostolate focused on the National Eucharistic Revival, therefore, the theme of the classes was based on the celebration of the Holy Mass. For this purpose, the program utilized a resource from the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions titled “The Mystery of Faith: A Study of the Structural Elements of the Order of Mass.”

The benefit of having the formation program in Spanish allows the students the opportunity to better absorb the complexities of the Faith without the extra work of translating the information. This also helps streamline the instruction and allows for a more open discussion. At the conclusion of each program year, those who earned certificates are encouraged to use their new-found knowledge to evangelize in their families and the Parish community.

The Faith Formation classes are divided into five geographic regions of the Diocese to allow easier access to the course. Students are offered the option to participate in-person or online. Instructors included priests, women religious and Deacons. Each level becomes increasingly more sophisticated, challenging the participants to take a fresh look at the Catholic Church.

For the 2023-2024 session, a total of 564 Hispanic adults registered for the latest session of the program and participated in a least some of the session, with 223 earning a Diocesan Certification, meaning they completed all seven sessions and passed a final exam. Diocesan certificates were presented in June at regional locations.

One participant from Jesus the Worker Parish in Fort Myers said the formation program has helped her grow in love of the Universal Church and increased her passion for sharing her faith with others.

With the support of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, the Spanish Faith Formation Program sessions were developed immediately following the local consultation process of the V Encuentro in 2016 and 2017.

The V Encuentro was a multi-year outreach initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with a goal of discerning ways for the Church in the U.S. to better respond to the needs of the growing Hispanic population. The process involved consultations at the Parish, Diocesan, regional and national levels. A final report was submitted to the Vatican in September 2019 with recommendations for inclusive action at all levels of the Church in the U.S. These actions are now being implemented.

The idea behind the initial three-step Spanish Faith Formation Program within the Diocese was to quickly help bridge the gap in formation for Hispanics in the Diocese for whom English is not their first language. This gap had created isolation among some, and the new program became empowering to Hispanic Catholics who often felt they were outsiders in the Catholic Church within the U.S., primarily due to the language difference.

For the coming formation series, Father Stewart said the program will respond to the call of Pope Francis who invites us to dedicate a year to prayer in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025. Consequently, the classes will cover the fourth part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church “The Life of Prayer.”

Other actions taken since the local V Encuentro sessions have encouraged a broader outreach and inclusion in existing Parish and Diocesan events. This means having sessions in Spanish at conferences, bilingual programs, and other steps that express the unity of the Catholic Church in the U.S.

To learn more about other Diocese of Venice initiatives through the Hispanic Ministries Office, please email pastoralhispana@dioceseofvenice.org, or visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/offices/offices-departments/hispanic-apostolate.

Faith Formation in Spanish completes latest cycle

Posted on July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 by Bob Reddy

For the past four years the Hispanic Ministries outreach of the Diocese of Venice has strived to meet the needs of those desiring to be better formed in their Faith.

The Spanish-language Faith Formation Program recently distributed certificates of completion to 219 students, bringing the four-year total to more than 1,500.

Father Claudio Stewart, Diocese Hispanic Ministries Director, explained that the latest program “The Seven Sacraments” was a natural follow-up to the original Faith Formation offerings. That initial three-year program (2018-2020) included a series on the “Magisterium,” with a thorough explanation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church; “Revelation and Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures;” and the “History and Tradition of the Church.”

Spanish Faith Formation Program sessions were developed immediately following the local consultation process of the V Encuentro in 2016 and 2017 with the support of Bishop Frank J. Dewane.

The V Encuentro was a multi-year outreach initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with a goal of discerning ways for the Church in the U.S. to better respond to the needs of the ever-growing Hispanic presence. The process involved consultations at the Parish, Diocesan, regional and national levels. A final report was submitted to the Vatican in September 2019 with recommendations for inclusive action at all levels of the Church in the U.S. and are in the process of being implemented.

The idea behind the initial three-step Spanish Faith Formation Program within the Diocese was to quickly help bridge the gap in formation for Hispanics in the Diocese for whom English is not their first language. This gap had created isolation among some, and the program became empowering to Hispanic Catholics who often felt they were outsiders in the Catholic Church within the U.S., primarily due to the language difference.

The results were overwhelmingly positive as the program has shown there is a real desire for Hispanic Catholics to be formed in their Faith, Father Stewart explained. This is why the latest class was offered on the Sacraments and he was pleased that even during the Pandemic the interest to participate remains high with more than 350 taking part in at least one of the classes.

The benefit of having the formation program in Spanish was to allow the students the opportunity to better absorb the complexities of the Faith without the extra work of translating the information. This also helped streamline the instruction and allowed for a more open discussion. At the conclusion of each program year, those who earned the certificates were encouraged to use their new-found knowledge to evangelize in their Parish community.

The Faith Formation classes were divided into five geographic regions of the Diocese to allow easier access to the courses. Each region is under the guidance of a secretary, Azecena Calzada of Sacred Heart Parish in Bradenton; Luz Janeth García of St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs; Fatima Salto of St. Margaret Parish in Clewiston; Maria G. Muñoz of St. Paul Parish in Arcadia; and Deacon Roberto Landrón of St. Agnes Parish in Naples. Father Stewart said these key people deserve credit for their continuous work and dedication to the Formation Program.

Students could participate in-person or online, with videos produced with the assistance of Victor E. Michel and Sacred Heart Parish Youth Group in Bradenton. Instructors included nine priests and two women religious. Each level became increasingly sophisticated, challenging the participants to take a fresh look at the Catholic Church.

Father Stewart has reaffirmed there is more in the planning process for expanding Hispanic Faith Formation within the Diocese. However, the ongoing Pandemic caused delays in implementing some of those plans.

Other actions taken since the local V Encuentro sessions have encouraged a broader outreach and inclusion in existing Parish and Diocesan events. This means having sessions in Spanish at conferences, bilingual programs, and other steps that will help unify the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Venice. As this is the focus of Dioceses across the country, the goal is to create a stronger Catholic Church in the U.S.

“There is not supposed to be a separate Faith for English speakers versus Spanish speakers,’ Father Stewart explained. “We are all part of the same Universal Church – founded by Jesus Christ.”

To learn more about other Diocese of Venice initiative through the Hispanic Ministries Office, please email pastoralhispana@dioceseofvenice.org, or visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/offices/offices-departments/hispanic-apostolate.

Faith Formation in Spanish completes third cycle

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Bob Reddy

The final phase of an intensive three-year Spanish-language Faith Formation Program concluded in June 2020 with 358 earning a Diocesan certificate of completion. In the three years of the program a total of more than 1,300 earned certificates.

A faith formation class in Spanish takes place Jan. 28, 2020 at Sacred Heart Parish in Bradenton.

With the support of Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Diocese Hispanic Ministries Director Father Claudio Stewart, the Spanish Faith Formation Program sessions were developed immediately following the local consultation process of the V Encuentro in 2016 and 2017.

The results were overwhelmingly positive as the program has shown there is a real desire for Hispanic Catholics to be formed in their Faith. The 2019-2020 sessions, which covered the “History and Tradition of the Church,” were interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, thanks to technology, the final sessions of instruction were available and completed online.

The V Encuentro was a multi-year outreach initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with a goal of discerning ways for the Church in the U.S. to better respond to the needs of the ever-growing Hispanic presence. The process involved consultations at the Parish, Diocesan, regional and national levels. A final report was submitted to the Vatican in September 2019 with recommendations for inclusive action at all levels of the Church in the U.S. and are in the process of being implemented.

The idea behind the initial three-step Spanish Faith Formation Program within the Diocese was to quickly help bridge the gap in formation for Hispanics in the Diocese for whom English is not their first language. This gap had created an isolation among some, and the program became empowering to Hispanic Catholics who often felt they were outsiders in the Catholic Church within the U.S., primarily due to the language difference.

Father Carlos Reyes, Scalabrinian, Pastor of Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee, leads a faith formation class in Spanish on Feb. 24, 2020 in Immokalee.

The benefit of having the formation program in Spanish was to allow the participants the opportunity to better absorb the complexities of the Faith without the extra work of translating the information. This also helped streamline the instruction and allowed a more open discussion.

The formation program provided a structured and ongoing formation of the lay people with the goal of allowing people to be in contact with the Deposit of Faith (Depositum Fidei) – Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. At the conclusion of the processes, those who earned the certificates are encouraged to use their new-found knowledge to evangelize in their Parish community.

The Faith Formation classes were divided into four geographic regions of the Diocese to allow easier access to the courses. Instructors included 10 priests and two women religious. Each level became increasingly sophisticated, challenging the participants to take a fresh look at the Catholic Church.

The first phase in 2017-18 focused on the “Magisterium,” with a thorough explanation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The second course in 2018-19 was dedicated to the “Revelation and Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures.” The third course, which was completed in June, covered the “History and Tradition of the Church.”

Father Stewart has reaffirmed that while the initial three-part program is completed, there is more in the planning process for expanding Hispanic Faith Formation within the Diocese. However, the ongoing pandemic has caused delays in implementing those plans.

Other actions taken since the local V Encuentro sessions have encouraged a broader outreach and inclusion in existing Parish and Diocesan events. This means having sessions in Spanish at conferences, bilingual programs, and other steps that will help unify the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Venice. As this is the focus of Dioceses across the country, the goal is to create a stronger Catholic Church in the U.S.