BY DEACON CHRIS GUTIÉRREZ, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Deacon Chris Gutiérrez is the director of the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry and serves as a deacon at St. Michael Parish in Sebree. FILE PHOTO

Zoom was a word that just about a year ago, I had not even heard of, or if I did, I was just not paying attention. Everything was going fine gathering in person for years. Reluctantly though, and just like many other ministries, I have befriended Zoom, the video conferencing platform. It has now become a welcomed companion, a tool to be used to communicate, connect, pray and share the Gospel with others.

Hispanic Catholics throughout our diocese have also had to adapt to the new reality. It has been a rocky learning process, especially when most do not have laptops and must rely on smaller screens on their phones.

Even in the midst of a pandemic and limitations throughout 2020, wonderful things and connections did take place through screens in our diocese. The men’s and women’s Hispanic groups of Christ Renews His Parish have continued to meet through Zoom. The praying of rosaries and novenas through Facebook Live and also Zoom have become a new normal. Talks and segmented retreats in Spanish have also taken place and continue.

Just last month during Advent, we had the blessing of Fr. Julio Palarino leading a couple days of Advent reflections through Zoom. We had 49 participants for these Advent reflections. Fr. Julio, a priest from the Archdiocese of La Plata in Argentina, visits us every year during the month of January. We were blessed to have him not only lead these talks in preparation for Christmas but also at times accompany other groups.

I want to conclude simply by commending all of our priests involved in Hispanic ministry for all their efforts not only in streaming services in Spanish, but for being creative in finding and learning new ways in how to evangelize during these difficult times.

May God bless all of our continuing efforts and methods.

Deacon Chris Gutiérrez is the director of the Diocese of Owensboro’s Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. Learn more at owensborodiocese.org/ministerio-hispano.

Originally printed in the January 2021 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.