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Encuentro delegates share their experiences with Bishop Burbidge

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge greets diocesan delegates from the National Fifth Encuentro at the Diocese of Arlington Oct. 15. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Most of the 22 delegates from the recent National Fifth Encuentro
in Grapevine, Texas, met with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Father José E.
Hoyos, director of the diocesan Spanish Apostolate, to discuss their
experiences and hopes Oct. 15.

Bishop Burbidge opened the meeting with prayer and gratitude.
“Thank you for all being here, thank you for representing our diocese at the
National Encuentro,” he said. “I heard Arlington was standing proudly.”

The gratitude was reciprocated as each delegate shared their
responses to Bishop Burbidge’s questions about their experience at Encuentro
and what they want to bring back to the diocese. Many delegates pledged their
support to him as they replied.

“As a delegate I was part of the immigration breakout session,”
said Gilmer Paredes, a parishioner of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria. “In
the two meetings I participated in, we came to the conclusion that our diocese
already has a program, but we are asking to take those programs out to the
parishes, to take it from a central location out into the fields.” 

Paredes said the delegates asked for more support in relation to
the DACA program, as well. “As you know, it was canceled so most of the
participants were asking those with immigration programs to include more of the
youths in the DACA program,” he said.

Delegates, including Juan Pablo Zelaya, spoke about the need to
have more Hispanic priests in the diocese. Bishop Burbidge asked the delegates
to pray for vocations from the Hispanic community. “You have to help me with
that,” he said, adding that some seminarians are studying Spanish to help in the
community.

Leah Tenorio, director of Hispanic Ministry at Good Shepherd
Church, said the encuentro was inspiring. “I felt the bishops were part of what
was happening. The bishops supported the call to action.”

Tenorio participated in the immigration breakout session and
stressed the importance of changing the image of the immigrant in the media.
“The church can help to highlight the good immigrants, and we should involve
the youths and young adults to help through social media,” she said.

Bishop Burbidge said that the meeting did not mark the end of the
encuentro. “In a way, encuentro is just beginning,” he said.

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