Executive Summary Overview: The U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program will fund religious sisters from Latin American congregations who will come to minister among Latino immigrant populations in a mission diocese in the United States. The program is made possible through Catholic Extension s partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which has the goal of enhancing congregational vitality for religious sisters from the Global South. Therefore, while the sisters are ministering in the U.S., they will receive education and various trainings. This program will be mutually beneficial to the participating congregations and the faith communities in this country where they come to serve. This program will include 10 participating mission dioceses that will each host a group of 3 sisters from a particular Latin American congregation that your local bishop has vetted and approved. The 3 sisters may have diverse jobs in the diocese, but need to be able to live together as a community. Timeline: This program will take place in two stages covering a five-year period, with an initial 3-year pilot phase, that can be extended 2 additional years. The program will begin in 2014 and end in 2019. Funding Overview: Participating dioceses will receive funding to cover the following: Funding for the salary of the three sisters. Funding for the benefits of the three sisters (health insurance, retirement, etc). Legal & immigration fees for processing their religious worker visas. Cost of education & language training for the three sisters. Travel costs for the bishop s interview with congregation s superior general or provincial. Participating dioceses would receive approximately $125,000 per year to cover these costs. Over five years this would total more than $600,000. Two-way Benefits: This partnership seeks to accomplish the following benefits for the Church both in the Global North and the Global South: Latin American-based congregations that send their sisters to minister in the U.S. will advance the vitality of their congregations. The visiting sisters will receive theological, language, cultural, and pastoral leadership training and education. They also will have the experience of ministering collaboratively with other religious, clergy and laypeople, which will prepare them to serve in their new assignments when they return home. Mission dioceses of the U.S. that receive the visiting sisters will be able to reach many marginalized Catholics through their work, particularly in growing Hispanic Catholic communities and, over time, develop new lay leaders for ministry, as well as create new interest for vocations of service in the Church among young women and men. Catholic Extension Page 2
What steps should you take for your diocese to participate? Discuss this opportunity with your bishop. Please review the full program details, and the required expectations of the local diocese, both financial and administrative. Your diocese may initially contact Erika Cedrone to express interest or ask questions, ecedrone@catholicextension.org. We strongly encourage you to declare your interest to Catholic Extension, even if you are unsure whether your diocese can or will proceed. Your diocese will have an opportunity to formally request funding to participate in this initiative. If selected, your diocese and bishop can begin the process of selecting an appropriate Latin American religious congregation with whom to partner. Financial Overview Stage 1 Stage 2 Organization Commitment Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Total Hilton & Catholic Extension Salary & Benefits* (3 Sisters) $96,000 $96,000 $96,000 $96,000 $96,000 $480,000 Legal Fees & Visa $13,500 $6,750 $20,250 Education/Training $21,000 $21,000 $21,000 $21,000 $21,000 $105,000 Bishops' Interview $1,500 $1,500 $3,000 Total $132,000 $117,000 $125,250 $117,000 $117,000 $608,250 Participating Diocese** Residence/Utilities, phone $13,000 $13,000 $13,000 $13,000 $13,000 $65,000 Ministry Supplies $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $25,000 Vehicle $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $12,500 Dioceses' Total $20,500 $20,500 $20,500 $20,500 $20,500 $102,500 Program Total $152,500 $137,500 $145,750 $137,500 $137,500 $710,750 *Benefits should include the diocese s standard package for full-time employees (minimally medical & dental insurance, and retirement and/or pension contributions). **The diocese will be responsible for providing basic necessities for ministry including safe housing, supplies, telephone, internet, insured car, etc. Costs may vary depending on location. Catholic Extension Page 3
Commitments of Each Participant: Apart from the financial contribution that dioceses will be asked to make, there are also administrative considerations to ensure that the sisters are welcomed into a supportive environment and have opportunities to be integrated into the diocesan and parish communities where they serve. Catholic Extension will ask each of the diocesan and parish leaders to commit to the following plan as part of their terms of participation. Bishop/Diocese Commitment: Bishop or his appointed staff will travel to country of origin to meet with superior and discuss potential placement, scope of ministry and goals of placement. This will require: o Creating a clear job description (translated in Spanish) by the diocese. o Identifying the person who the sisters will immediately report to while in the U.S. o Ensuring that the sisters can live together in community Prior to the sisters arrival, the bishop will meet with the local pastor of the area where the sisters will be assigned to ensure that the pastor is: o Appraised of the bishop s ministry goals for the sisters work o Committed to supporting the sisters ministry (Please see local pastor s commitments) o Open to collaborating with the sisters to support growth in the parish. The local bishop will schedule an annual meeting with the sisters and local pastor to discuss their ministry and reflect on their experience, and review their challenges and opportunities. The local bishop and pastor will meet with the sister s superior (ideally in the U.S.) in year three of the partnership to discuss progress and transition plan after year five. The bishop will identify participatory roles for sisters in diocesan-wide events or diocesan committees to involve sisters in diocesan culture (to be determined, on case-by-case basis). The bishop will ensure that relevant diocesan directors (i.e. Directors of Hispanic Ministry, Religious Education and Youth Ministry) will schedule semi-annual meetings with the sisters so that the sisters can learn about existing diocesan programs and ministry resources. The bishop will assign a contact person to the sisters who is a religious sister presently serving in the local diocese. Her job will be to visit the sisters when they arrive, and to contact them quarterly during the first year and annually in subsequent years during their stay. Local Pastor s Commitment: The local pastor will agree to participate in a cross-cultural competencies program at the beginning of the project. He will take this course at the same time as the sisters and invite at least one other key leader from the community to attend this course with him. (i.e. MACC Heart of Multiculturalism; USCCB Intercultural Competencies Workshop) The pastor will participate in periodic webinars, hosted by Catholic Extension, that will reinforce objectives for the program and offer relevant updates. The pastor will invite sisters to serve as parish council members during their time in U.S. to ensure that their ministry and presence remain visible. The pastor will identify and assign a volunteer from the English-speaking community to serve as an English tutor for the sisters to augment their language studies. Meetings will occur weekly. The pastor will meet with the sisters monthly to reinforce the synergies between the parish and the sisters ministry. The pastor will formally agree to the ministry budget for the visiting sisters prior to starting their ministry (only necessary if the budget includes a contribution from the parish). Catholic Extension Page 4
Latin American Congregation s Commitment: The congregation will select and send three of their sisters to the U.S. who meet the following criteria: o Women who are mature, collaborative, have a genuinely missionary spirit & openness to other cultures, and have the versatility to work in a range of pastoral ministries. o Women who have the aptitude to learn another language & take academic courses (Ideally they have at least a high school degree) o Women who are reasonably expected to be to able stay the for the duration of the program The congregation s leadership will consider how to use all of the sisters newly acquired skills in their next assignment (i.e. language, theological, stewardship, vocational skills) The congregation will offer sisters opportunities to visit their home country during the experience, so that they can reconnect with their congregation and families. The congregation will pay for this travel. The congregation will offer the sisters an adequate stipend to live on while they are in the U.S. Catholic Extension s Commitment: Manage the funding to support this initiative. Assign Catholic Extension staff to oversee and manage all details of the program, as well as liaise with the congregations and dioceses Coordinate language and cultural training at various universities and institutions to ensure that the sisters grow in their ability to serve as bridge-builders between cultures Coordinate academic educational opportunities at various universities each year to grow the sisters leadership competencies and confidence Cover expenses of meeting between the bishop, pastor and superior Conduct a minimum of two site visits during the program and formally evaluate the program each year to ensure that all goals are accomplished Host annual gathering of all 30 sisters to create network of support among themselves, as well as interact with other religious in the U.S. Church Coordinate & assign a mentor from the Association of Hispanic Women Religious Provide a platform for other communications among the sisters, including social media Catholic Extension Page 5
Sample Educational Curriculum for Sisters Funded through this Initiative Year 1 9-week Intensive (Shortly after arrival in U.S.) Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio, TX 4 weeks: English Course Part 1 1 week intensives: o Cross Cultural Competencies for Pastoral Ministers Workshop o Leadership in Hispanic Ministry 4 weeks: English Course Part 2; Conversational Practicum Other Potential Trainings/Gatherings 2 days: Training in creating vocational awareness 3 days: Retreat Years 2 & 3 Education program chosen according to sister s academic background, interests & English proficiency Sisters will earn certificate (equivalent of 9 credit hours) by taking 3 courses in years 2 & 3. Potential education providers include Catholic Extension s existing partners: o Mexican-American Catholic College, San Antonio, TX Format: On-campus intensives and online options, English or Spanish Concentrations: Catholic Leadership; Catechesis; Marriage, Family and Youth Ministry o Boston College, Boston, MA Format: On-campus intensives, English Only Concentrations: Hispanic Ministry; Pastoral Ministry o Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara, Berkeley, CA Format: On-campus intensives and online options, English or Spanish Concentrations: Practical Theology in: History of the Church, Catholic Social Teaching, Scriptures, Popular Religiosity, Tradition & Prayer, or Pastoral Counseling. Other Potential Trainings/Gatherings 3 days: Retreat 3 days: Training on Fundraising & Stewardship Year 4 & 5 Sisters complete 18-credit-hour certificate by taking 9 remaining credit hours in the concentrations and schools they selected above. They will do this by completing 3 courses in years 4 & 5. These credit hours may count toward a bachelor s or master s degree. Catholic Extension Page 6
Expected Outcomes After a total of 30 sisters have been deployed to 10 mission dioceses, with three sisters from the same congregation placed in each diocese for five years, we hope to achieve the following results. Outcome 1: Sisters generate vocational interest in religious life Young men and women will demonstrate increasing interest in vocations that involve full-time service in the Church. Outcome 2: Sisters develop new leadership skills and competencies The sisters will become bridge-builders by becoming more proficient in the English language, more knowledgeable of the U.S. culture and its models of church, and better educated through ongoing training opportunities Outcome 3: Sisters develop new lay leaders Groups of lay volunteers will be trained by the sisters, and one lay person will be selected or hired to coordinate the various ministries that the sisters establish, after they leave their assignment. Outcome 4: Sisters pave the way for a new national model The model will uncover best practices for nurturing the ministry and supporting the professional growth of international religious while they minister in the U.S. Outcome 5: Sisters generate substantial growth in parishes Parishes will experience an increase in the number of parishioners attending parish activities Outcome 6: Sisters create positive attitudinal changes among community members Those served by the sisters will have an increased sense of ownership of and belonging to their parish. Catholic Extension Page 7
Proposed Timeline Preparation Phase Catholic Extension identifies U.S. dioceses participating in this initiative & commits funding Bishop meets with superior general, and comes to an agreement with the congregation that will serve his diocese. (Note: Bishop may recommend a Latin American congregation that meets the criteria of the initiative, or he can request to meet with a religious congregation that Extension has identified) Visa processing begins with the support of legal counsel. Sisters receive visa through their consulate, and enter the U.S. Year One: Listening & Planning Sisters begin ministry in the U.S. after a diocesan orientation and training Sisters seek out and introduce themselves to community members and build rapport Sisters gather community members to assess and inventory existing community assets Sisters host meetings to listen to community s hopes and aspirations Through listening, sisters identify major pastoral needs and opportunities. Sisters begin to identify potential leaders within the community Sisters develop a strategic plan of action, which can be presented to bishop and pastor Sisters complete year one of their Educational Curriculum, and continue working on English with tutor. Year Two: Implementing Sisters start implementing and achieving their strategic plan Sisters organize specific pastoral programs for their community, such as youth, family or religious education ministries, etc. Sisters ensure that lay leaders identified in year one begin to receive training Sisters complete year two of their Educational Curriculum; continue working English with tutor Catholic Extension Page 8
Year Three: Evaluating & Reflecting Sisters grow the community s participation in the ministries they have created Sisters transfer some ministry responsibilities to emerging lay leaders in community Sisters conduct an evaluation of ministry progress and recalibrate their strategic plan Sisters present evaluation and revised plan to pastor and diocese Bishop shares this information with the sisters superior during their face-to-face visit; Bishop and superior also discuss transition plan at this meeting. Sisters complete year three of their Educational Curriculum, and continue working with English tutor Year Four: Empowering Others Sisters transfer more ministerial responsibilities to local leaders Ministries begin to be led and organized by local lay leaders, with support from sisters Sisters present a report to diocese highlighting new ministries and lay leaders involved Diocese drafts a job description and budget for full-time person(s) who will continue the sisters ministry after their departure Sisters complete year four of their Educational Curriculum, and continue working on English Year Five: Finalizing & Transitioning Diocese or parish starts search for leader(s) to coordinate ministries created by sisters Sisters conduct final evaluation of ministry and present results to bishop and pastor Sisters prepare the community and leaders for their departure Sisters complete year five of their Educational Curriculum, and continue working on English Year Six: Sustaining Ministry Outside funding discontinued; new leadership position(s) maintained with local funding The ministries created by sisters continue Catholic Extension Page 9