Our Church of the future will be one of diverse population, culture, and language. This diversity is already knocking on our door and will affect each of us in our ministry. We must be ready to embrace it.

We are increasingly aware of the needs of the Latino populations in the United States, as well as opportunities for an infusion of new spirit and energy into the Church. The rapid increase of immigrants from Latin America to regions of the Maryland Province demands coordinated, ministerial attention to pastoral, educational and social justice needs. Demographically, however, the second generation, those children born here to foreign-born parents, will dominate the Latino scene for years to come. Many organizations and individuals, both religious and secular, throughout our province are already involved in innovative and successful outreach to Hispanic families. The goal of our Latino and Migration Ministry Consultation is to identify and comprehend the impact of those efforts and to assess opportunities and plan for ways we can contribute to the overall effort.

The consultation is also about us as Jesuits and colleagues seeking to understand our own identity and resources in the coming decade so we can choose projects that will assist the Church in welcoming these new arrivals and helping them lead lives of faith, discipleship and freedom.