A Youthful Community: Theological and Ministerial Challenges

[The Latino/a community in the U.S. is the youngest in the nation. Ministry to this youthful community demands that attention be paid to the acculturation process taking place among Latinos/as and its effect on their religious worldview. While it is true that Latinos/as, especially the youth, are accomodating in many ways to the values of the dominant culture in the United States, still their religiosity, birthed out of the peculiar circumstances of the Conquest, continues to play a unique role in the identity of Latino/a Catholics. Effective ministry will need to develop new strategies that acknowledge shifting values yet respect the resilience of popular religion.]