In the United States, many parishes struggle meet an increasing need for Spanish-speaking leaders in their parishes. This program sponsors religious sisters from Latin American congregations to serve among Latino immigrant populations in the United States.
Catholic Extension Society has partnered with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to provide education and leadership development to increase their ministry’s impact for marginalized populations.
Learning to Lead
Dominican Sister Yelitza Ayala Gilot arrived in Texas with two other sisters from her order in Puerto Rico in 2014. The trio were all members of the U.S. Latin American Sisters Exchange Program’s first cohort.
In a poor area where only 5 percent of the population is Catholic and immigrants were increasing, the sisters immediately saw the hardships.
“Immigrants worked so many jobs and had no time for family,” Sister Yelitza said.
So the sisters created a religious education course at Our Lady of Sorrows, where children and parents learn side by side. They also visited parishioners at their homes to help keep them close to the Church.
As a result, Sister Yelitza saw families grow together in faith. She also expanded her own knowledge:
With every person I meet, I have learned so much about our Church, which is so diverse. I have seen Christ in each person.”