SEPI workshop ‘first step’ in developing ministry for Hispanic children in Diocese of Covington

Multimedia Correspondent

Staff Writer

“Once a person, no matter the age, develops a relationship to God — that will stay with them for the rest of their life.” This is the belief of Silvia Schmidt, diocesan Hispanic minister, and one of the core motivations for the Hispanic Ministry Office’s collaboration with SEPI (Southeast Pastoral Institute) — with the goal of catechizing both the children in Hispanic communities within the Diocese of Covington, and the catechists that interact with them, as well.

The “first step” in this developmental journey happened Aug. 28–30, with a set of SEPI workshops aimed at catechists from the five parishes in the diocese with notable Hispanic populations. These workshops provided information on developing “inculturated prayer and workshop experiences” for Hispanic children, developing their relationship to God and involvement in the Church, and included a live demonstration of prayer with children from St. Anthony Parish, Taylor Mill — which hosts a large population of Guatemalan parishioners.

The goal of the diocese’s involvement with his programming is an act of “killing two birds with one stone,” according to Mrs. Schmidt. “I believe in forming the adults, so that they can form the children.” In this way, the programming tackles both adults and youth in the communities — with hopes that better formation among adults will carry to children.

Community building is also an important aspect of the workshop, as representatives from different parishes come from different cultural backgrounds — Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran, etc. — all came together from their different parishes and engaged with one another through the workshops.

“For me, it’s the beginning of something bigger,” Mrs. Schmidt said. “To bring all the Hispanic parishes together, so that we can work as a team in the future for other projects … I’m very happy and very excited. I know there will be challenges, but everything went well.”