March 10, 2015. Instituto Fe y Vida (Fe y Vida) announced today its affiliation with Lewis University, in Romeoville, IL, a De La Salle Christian Brothers university, starting May of 2015. This affiliation, which includes opening offices on the Lewis University campus, will lead to innovative strategies to strengthen and advance Fe y Vida’s mission to empower young Catholic Latinos for leadership in Church and society. Today, Latinos make up more than half of the young Catholic Church in the United States.

A new dawn for Fe y Vida’s ministries is in the works. Emerging from this restructuring, Fe y Vida will focus on pastoral formation programs and resources for ministry with Catholic Latino youth and young adults in the US, and on bringing the Word of God to Latino young people and families throughout the Americas. The first official activity of Fe y Vida in its new home will be the 2015 Annual Summer Program, which will take place at Lewis University, June 28-July 4. This will be the 21st Summer Program; about 120 young adult leaders along with diocesan and parish ministers are expected to attend.

Dr. Carmen M. Cervantes, Executive Director of Instituto Fe y Vida, said of this new stage in the life of the Institute: “This is an exciting and dynamic time for Fe y Vida just at the time of the 20th Anniversary of its foundation. It is a kairos, bringing countless blessings and new opportunities, although hard decisions had to be made.”

Br. James Gaffney, FSC, President of Lewis University, welcomes this new relationship with Fe y Vida: “Instituto Fe y Vida, under the very capable leadership of Dr. Carmen Cervantes, is nationally known for its work and publications in support of Hispanic youth and young adult ministry. The various dimensions of this new partnership will benefit Lewis University and Fe y Vida in numerous, enriching ways that advance our respective Missions. We are excited about the opportunities that will emerge from this new collaboration and we look forward to welcoming Fe y Vida to campus this spring.”

Br. Larry Schatz, FSC, Provincial, Christian Brothers of the Midwest, and President of Fe y Vida Board of Directors, expressed the following: “In terms of the Lasallian Catholic Mission that both Lewis and Fe y Vida carry out so well, this is a significant ‘win-win’ for both institutions.”

The most difficult part of the restructuring plan was the closing of the Research and Resource Center, and consequently the elimination of the position held by Ken Johnson-Mondragón. Fe y Vida thanks Ken for his nearly sixteen years in this ministry, especially for his research and publications that are raising national awareness of the importance of targeted service to young Catholic Latinos. Starting in April, Ken will become a member of Fe y Vida’s Senior Pastoral Team and a consultant for Fe y Vida.

For more information, contact Joe Matty: jmatty@feyvida.org