ST. AUGUSTINE | A group from the Diocese of Palm Beach gathered Sept. 23-26 with delegates at the Regional Encuentro of the Southeast Pastoral Institute in St. Augustine. Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez joined them to help facilitate full participation of Hispanics/Latinos in the mission of the Church.
The Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry is the U.S. bishops’ organization that coordinates and supports Hispanic ministry in the 30 dioceses (in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) through the three pillars of evangelization, formation and communion. SEPI, which is based in Miami, is its formation branch.
In two of the Sept. 26 events, Bishop Rodríguez celebrated Mass with St. Augustine Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier at the rustic altar of the Marian shrine of Mission Nombre de Dios, and carried the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament through the historic streets of St. Augustine. The shrine marks the place where the Catholic faith took root in the United States more than 460 years ago.
There were nine delegates from the Diocese of Palm Beach, including Father Duván Bermúdez, director of Hispanic ministry. On social media, Bishop Rodríguez express gratitude to them for representing “us with such joy during these days. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the mission of our Church. May Jesus continue to guide our steps and make us true artisans of hope and builders of communion.”
For more on the diocese's Hispanic ministry, visit www.diocesepb.org/ministriesoffices/ministries/hispanic-ministry/ and follow on Facebook.
