'Renacer Dos Mil' spreading throughout Diocese

By PAUL QUIRINI- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Hispanics in the Albany Diocese have been getting a feel for Renew 2000 from clergy who know what ministering to Hispanic people is all about:

* Rev. Isaac Calicchio, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Troy, brings 30 years of educational and pastoral experience in Central America to his role on the diocesan core committee of Hispanic Renew, and

* Rev. Francisco Molina, originally from the Diocese of San Vicente, El Salvador, who now works in Jersey City, New Jersey, has been meeting with Hispanics in the Albany Diocese regularly during the past several months as they prepare for Renew 2000.

Close relations

"This is bringing the Hispanic community in various places much more close," Father Calicchio said. "They have a natural inclination to socialize. They want to talk, and they want to share."

A group of nearly 30 Hispanic parishioners from St. Patrick's Church in Albany, St. Anthony's in Troy and Sacred Heart/St. Columba's in Schenectady has been gathering for orientation and preparation in Spanish.

Meanwhile, Father Molina has been using videos and small group discussions to help educate Hispanics about Renew 2000 -- "Renacer Dos Mil" in Spanish -- and his style seems to be working, Father Calicchio pointed out. Although most of these meetings are conducted primarily in Spanish, which is Father Francisco's native language, Father Calicchio helps to translate, if needed.

Coming together

Hispanics in St. Joseph/St. Michael the Archangel/Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Amsterdam have participated in Hispanic Renew preparation meetings with these parishes, with Modesto Colon as coordinator.

The other parish in the Albany Diocese with a large Hispanic population, Nativity/St. Mary's Church in Stuyvesant, is joining the Renew 2000 effort with parishioners from St. Mary's Church in Hudson, according to Rev. Joseph Falletta, former pastor of Nativity/St. Mary's who is now in charge of Hispanic Ministry.

As Renew 2000 begins, Father Calicchio anticipates that Hispanics will find it easy to speak with one another about their faith and welcome others to meetings and other parish events. He mentioned as an example how parishioners of St. Anthony's showed hospitality toward visitors from other parishes during a recent charismatic Mass at St. Anthony's.

"It will not be hard for Hispanics to share prayer and faith. Hispanics will tell stories of faith, personal experiences," he said.

Socializing

The Hispanic community also seems to have a greater tendency to gather socially after liturgical celebrations, and Father Calicchio believes this will come into play as Renew 2000 commences.

"They have a natural inclination to socialize," he said.

Father Calicchio, who spent 30 years teaching in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, looks forward to working with Hispanics through Renew 2000 and seeing how their cultures and their faith overlap.

"Renew 2000 is bringing the people closer together and making them aware of their Hispanic traditions as well as their Catholic traditions," he said.

(St. Patrick's in Albany and St. Anthony's in Troy have scheduled a mission for Nov. 9-12, with the first and second days taking place at St. Patrick's, and the third and fourth days at St. Anthony's. The mission will consist of prayer, singing and testimony.)

(09-17-98) [[In-content Ad]]