Who benefits from Fe y Vida’s work?

Professional ministers serving Hispanic youth and young adults, Hispanic young adult leaders ministering to their peers, youth ministers, and catechists are the primary groups of people benefiting from Fe y Vida’s programs and services. The Hispanic people, the entire Catholic Church, and society benefit by having young Hispanic Catholics committed to the life and mission of the Church.

How does Fe y Vida accomplish its mission?

Fe y Vida accomplishes its mission through four primary ministries: formation programs, research, publications, and advocacy.

1. Formation programs
Over 3,500 people participate annually in Fe y Vida’s leadership formation programs and workshops for ministry with Hispanic youth and young adults. For more information about the programs Fe y Vida offers, click here.

2. Research
Fe y Vida’s Research Center conducts research useful for Hispanic youth and young adult ministry. It is also a clearinghouse for statistics and resources helpful for understanding this population, identifying their pastoral needs, and devising effective ways to empower them. To learn more about the publications and services of Fe y Vida’s Research Center, click here.

3. Publications
The main publications of Fe y Vida are:

•  The Witnesses of Hope collection—published by Saint Mary’s Press in both English and Spanish versions—includes three series of books for pastoral ministry with Hispanic youth and young adults in the United States.

•  La Biblia Católica para Jóvenes (BCJ)—published with Editorial Verbo Divino in Spain—and supplemental resources that help Hispanic youth and young adults to know the Word of God, pray with it, and live it from the heart.

•  Pastoral resources and essays, published by Fe y Vida.

For more details about Fe y Vida’s publications, click here.

4. Advocacy
Fe y Vida is promoting and implementing a ten-year national initiative to expand and improve ministry with Hispanic youth and young adults in dioceses and parishes, together with the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La Red) and other organizations. It is also a key collaborator in the preparation of the First National Encounter for Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and is a vocal advocate for Hispanic youth in the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

How many dioceses have been served by Fe y Vida?

Fe y Vida’s research, publications, and advocacy ministries cover the entire United States, and some of its publications, like La Biblia Católica para Jóvenes, also reach the countries of Latin America. Its programs department serves from 20 to 25 dioceses each year at the local level through leadership formation programs, planning and consultation services, and leadership-oriented workshops. In addition, Fe y Vida offers an annual Summer Program, with participants from 25 to 30 dioceses. To do all of this, Fe y Vida counts on a mobile pastoral team willing to serve throughout the nation.    

How are Fe y Vida’s operations funded?

In 2004, formation programs, workshops, and book sales together only made up about 19% of Fe y Vida’s operating income due to the limited financial resources of the population served. An additional 36% came from grants for particular projects, and the remaining 45% was provided by contributions from Fe y Vida’s partners and individual donors. If your organization would like to support Fe y Vida’s mission of “Empowering young Hispanics for leadership in church and society,” click here to learn about our Fund Development Program, or here to learn about making a personal contribution.