Page 31 - Catholic Extension Magazine Spring 2020

Extension | Spring 2020 31

In the past decade, Catholic listening to, suffering with, giving Jaime Torres, center, associate director
Extension has had close ties to hope to and sharing our lives with of faith formation for the diocese, provides
several communities of women the immigrants. Our best contri- strong lay leadership and inspiration to adults
religious. In 2011, a group of Sisters bution is our prophetic witness of and young people.
of the Missionary Carmelites of unity and joy.”
Saint Teresa arrived in the town of In 2020, a second group of through workshops and one-on-
Hamburg to serve in Holy Spirit Mexcian sisters arrived with the one mentoring, especially using
Church, which is the only Catholic USLASEP to continue ministering the medium of music.
presence for miles. When the to Hispanics. These sisters of Mis- Catholic Extension also funds
sisters began their ministry, with sionary Charity of Mary provide laypeople who work in a variety
their salaries funded by Catholic pastoral care, teach classes, engage of pastoral ministries, helping
Extension, the parish started the youth and mentor Catholics in extend the arm of the Church on
growing. Soon they needed a isolated areas. many fronts. We support leaders
larger space and with a Catholic in campus ministry and in the
Extension grant, they renovated an LAITY BRING DIVERSE SKILLS last 10 years have funded nearly
old tire shop into a new church. Catholic Extension supports lay $300,000 in the diocese for cam-
In 2014, three sisters from leadership in the diocese in many pus ministries, helping to develop
Mexico arrived in the diocese ways. In the last decade, Catholic future leaders in the Church.
through Catholic Extension’s U.S.- Extension has funded several posi- Catholic Extension is grateful to
Latin American Sisters Exchange tions, including two through our all these courageous and inspri-
Program (USLASEP) for a five-year Hispanic Lay Leadership Initiative. ational leaders for the role they
commitment to serve Hispanic One leader, Jaime Torres, is the play in sustaining the presence of
communities. They worked in diocese’s associate director of faith the Church in dire circumstances,
rural parishes, creating religious formation. A former gang member, for rolling up their sleeves at all
education and faith formation pro- Torres, who is also a rapper, works hours of the day and night and for
grams and promoting vocations. with young people who face the being such dedicated servants to
One of the three, Sister María same challenges he once did and Catholics who face unique and
Teresa de Loera, said, “We are brings them closer to the Church sustained hardships.