Hispanics are recognized as the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Their presence has prompted area churches to rethink their outreach ministries in a new way.

One of the first to respond was Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, which instituted a Spanish Mass several years ago, and continues to expand its programs to address the needs of the Hispanic Community.

A recent survey conducted at the church netted 188 responses from participating Hispanics, but estimates put the number of individuals being served at close to 1,000, with Sunday Mass attendance increasing weekly.

Elsie Ramos-Fuente, a native of Puerto Rico and a Peachtree City resident, heads up the Hispanic ministry office, which recently opened at Holy Trinity. With the support of the Rev. John Walsh, Holy Trinity's pastor, and the Rev. Fernando Molina-Restrepo, parochial vicar, Ramos-Fuente has created a welcoming place at the church where an open door and a friendly “Hola!” draws local Hispanic Catholics together.

oly Trinity currently offers sacramental preparation classes, confessions in Spanish on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and religious education classes for children set to begin Aug. 19. Also on staff is Linda Velez who handles referrals to local social services agencies and coordinates the religious education program.

A project targeting Catholics in the Huehuetenango Diocese of Guatemala began with the Hispanic ministry and was soon embraced by the entire parish. Children in the school of religion collected change to donate to programs in the Southern diocese, and in May a 10-member fact-finding group visited the area to assess its needs. The results have united the parish in support of financing a school breakfast program for children attending schools run by the Huehuetenango Diocese.

A five-member team, led by Walsh and Molina-Restrepo, recently attended “Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House” in Los Angeles where 5,000 Catholics called together by United States bishops focused on diversity and multiculturism in today's church. Parishioners participating included Ramos-Fuente, Joan Velsmid, Marie Mulvenna, Michele Varisco and Marta Ramos.

According to Mulvenna, this was the fourth Encuentro. “It was fabulous,” she reported. “It was very exciting to see so many cultures and ethnic groups participating in Encuentro.” She explained that “Encuentro” was initially founded to help “unify a diverse Hispanic Catholic population.”

The four-day celebration of diversity opened with a mariachi band and a Celtic prayer, Mulvenna said. A Polish community from San Francisco presented a drama in honor of the Black Madonna and successive sessions included a Filipino choir, a Tongan penitential ceremony, and an African-American prayer service featuring gospel music.

Holy Trinity will host its annual multicultural festival of food, music and dance in late September. The event has grown in size and popularity over the years to include representatives from about a dozen countries.

To contact the Hispanic ministry office at Holy Trinity, phone 770-487-7672.

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