Hispanic Commission
The Hispanic Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond was established in January of 1996 by the Bishop in order to assist him and our diocese to welcome, empower, form, affirm the faith, and reach out to the Hispanic Community. The Commission, in cooperation with the Office for the Hispanic Apostolate and all offices, parishes and institutions of the diocese, seeks to raise the consciousness of the diocesan Church to the richness, contributions, and needs of Hispanics, and to support our Church in becoming more Catholic in the integration of all cultures, the many faces in God’s house. Its creation reflect the principles expressed in Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation, ECCLESIA IN AMERICA.
The Commission is made up of 12 Hispanic leaders of different countries of origin and regions of the diocese. Members are appointed to a three-year term, renewable for three more years. The Commission is governed by its Constitution. (PDF)
Presently, the members of the Hispanic Commission are:
- Chair: Benny Malavé of Puerto Rico, parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport News
- Vice Chair: José Ortiz of Puerto Rico, parishioner of Incarnation in Charlottesville
- Ricky De Jesús of Puerto Rico, parishioner of Sacred Heart in Richmond
- María García-Lara of Mexico, parishioner of St. John in Highland Springs
- Regina Gómez, a Panamenian American, parishioner of St. Luke in Virginia Beach
- Eduardo Guerrero of Mexico, parishioner of St. Joseph in Martinsville
- Germán Morales of Venezuela, parishioner of St. Gerard in Roanoke
- Alberto Torres of Puerto Rico, parishioner of St. Augustine in Richmond
- Vance Trznadel of Honduras, parishioner of Holy Trinity in Norfolk
History of the Commission and its role in the diocese
Since its beginnings, the Hispanic Commission has played an important role in the development of Hispanic Ministry in our diocese. Original Commission members received formation in accordance to the documents on Hispanic Ministry promulgated by the Catholic Bishops of the United States.
As part its inception during the late 1990s, the Commission visited parishes with a Mass in Spanish to make an analysis of the needs of the Hispanic Community. After consulting with the different diocesan agencies, and using the framework of reference of the national vision of Hispanic ministry as well as the specific experiences of our diocese, the Commission developed the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry (PDF), which was promulgated by the Bishop of Richmond at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on June 6, 1999.
The Commission also helped to disseminate information based on the 2000 Census to increase Hispanic participation in the broader Church. It has served as the principal diocesan body to foster the vision of Encuentro 2000, an event organized by the US Catholic Hispanic Community and sponsored by the US Catholic Bishops during the Jubilee year in Los Angeles in response to Ecclesia in America.
Although the Hispanic Commission will continue to work on special projects, its primary function focuses on bringing the voices of the Hispanic community to our Bishop and serving as a sounding board for the activities of the Office for the Hispanic Apostolate.