Young Adults: Pastoral Juvenil Hispana celebrates 15 years of ministry

By Yazmin Mani | Guest Columnist

Have you attended a quinceañera? What do you think that might look like during a pandemic? The young adults involved in Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (PJH) wrestled with the same question as they planned the quinceañera of their ministry this fall. Inspired by Pope Francis’ “Christus Vivit,” they allowed the Holy Spirit to move and conquer hearts for the glory of God through the digital world. “Youth is more than simply a period of time; it is a state of mind… In her, it is always possible to encounter Christ ‘the companion and friend of youth,’” Pope Francis writes in the apostolic exhortation.
Quinceañera is the 15th birthday celebration of a young person in the Hispanic/Latino community. It has pre-colonization origins, later adapted by the church to offer gratitude for God’s grace. August of 2005 marked the establishment of diocesan support for PJH in the Diocese of Austin. That was when the position of coordinator for Pastoral Juvenil Hispana was established in the diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry.
PJH is ministry with and for Hispanic youth and young adults. Beginning in the late 1990s, Hispanic young adults met locally within various parish and city-wide ministry groups. Salesian Sister Guadalupe Medina was there from the beginning.
“I felt that a number of young adults were ready. They were committed, enthusiastic, responsible and willing to serve. With a little bit of guidance, they organized a board and were able to move forward,” she said. “They planned their activities, sharing the responsibility with the different groups from the parishes. Schoestatt Father Jesus Ferras helped them and guided them. I was amazed and happy to see how they continued to work, plan and carry a number of activities with success.”
Over the last 15 years, PJH has positively affected countless Hispanic youth and young adults. Many, like Tito Neri and Mara Malvaiz, have found their lives changed or followed a vocation to religious life or the priesthood.
“I was able to overcome my fear of starting something big,” Neri said.
Malvaiz said she hopes PJH continues to grow.
“I hope (it) continues to grow and be active … the love of God is eternal and such spaces are needed. The space to share in a community of young adults that speak the same language and that want to learn about their faith and live the love of God,” she said.
Juan Antonio Torres Martinez has participated in “Obreros de Cristo” at Sacred Heart Parish in Austin, the PJH Council and the Schoenstatt Movement.
“PJH helped me to strengthen my faith and have an encounter with Christ through the formation that is shared. PJH continues to help me take on life, through the eyes of faith and my relationship with God, doing things that are pleasing to Jesus,” he said. “I hope PJH continues to … help young people encounter Christ personally through peer-to-peer evangelization.”
Mauricio Mondragon, a parishioner at St. William Parish in Round Rock, said PJH has helped him grow in the faith and discover his talents.
“PJH continues to teach new experiences in the reality of the young person today and how to advance forth with such changes for a better tomorrow. Another thing PJH has helped me with is being a good leader, an example of sharing ideas of the past and present. Within PJH, I see a solid foundation emphasized in the young person as the principal protagonist, empowering leadership and most importantly, a strong foundation on the faith and spirituality with God as the center of our lives,” he said.
PJH maintains its youthfulness because it grounded in the Lord, who is, the companion and friend of youth. Sister Medina said from the beginning PJH has been very active.
“The group met regularly. They planned activities for all the young adults of the various parishes. They had a monthly Mass. They also planned Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in different parishes,” she said.
Considering social distancing guidelines and other Covid-19 protocols, the young adults got creative for the quinceañera. Sister Medina has encouraged creativity in ministry activities over the last several months.
“I would tell them: Do not be afraid, move on, organize yourselves and plan activities. Celebrate life, enjoy working together and helping each other,” she said.
A week of celebratory events on social media culminated on Aug. 28 with a quinceañera Mass celebrated by Bishop Joe Vásquez at St. Mary Cathedral. Social media posts sharing founding documents, a photo slideshow and a presentation by current PJH spiritual adviser Father Everardo Cazáres were each viewed hundreds of times.
The Mass was celebrated on the feast of St. Augustine, a sinner with a heart restless for God’s love. Bishop Vásquez, Father Cazáres and Father Greg Gerhart joined 80 young adults plus many young adults joined via a livestream. Within 48 hours, the recording of the livestream reached more than 800 viewers.
Because of the pandemic precautions, there was no reception, but as attendees left, they were given a cupcake, a prayer card and a commemorative pen to remember the celebration. As St. Augustine reminds us, “There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.”
With this quinceañera, PJH participants recognize the past and, full of hope, they look to the future of this important ministry and the young people it touches.

Yazmin Mani is the diocesan coordinator of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana in the Youth, Young Adults and Campus Ministry Office. Contact her at (512) 949-2466 or yazmin-mani@austindiocese.org.