What do prominent Catholic leaders say about Fe y Vida?

La Biblia Católica para Jóvenes will provide our ministers to young Hispanics with an indispensable tool: the Sacred Scriptures, in a language and in a form that they can use effectively in their work.
—Francis Cardinal George, OMI, PhD, Archbishop of Chicago

Fe y Vida has a clear awareness of its major strength in ministry—developing excellent materials to be used together with quality experiential learning opportunities, led by well-trained professional faculty. By staying true to what it does best Fe y Vida has come to be respected in the Church and in ministry circles as a voice of authority about Hispanic youth and young adults.
—Francis G. Padilla, MPA, President of Instituto Fe y Vida’s Board of Directors

The books and manuals produced by Fe y Vida are of high quality, present the material in a dynamic and participative manner, and speak to our reality and experiences as Hispanics in different stages of integration in the culture of the U.S. They are very useful for me as a professor in the Instituto’s programs and in my own ministry.
—Rev. Rafael Dávila, MM, Spiritual Director, St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston, TX

I feel so grateful that your efforts over the years, along with other researchers, are being made available to dioceses around the country. So many places where I have served in ministry to Hispanics have appeared to lack careful scholarship and adequate practical resources for successful planning for the special needs of Hispanics coming for worship and to find community. I look forward to using the resources that have been and are being developed by Instituto Fe y Vida. Blessings on your pioneering and much needed ministry!
—Rev. C. V. Peterson, Pastor of Saint Gabriel Parish, Port Orchard, Washington

•  The hands-on nature of the two programs has been exceptional in stretching the experiences of the participants, and helped them see new opportunities for ministry. The courses are grounded in Catholic theology balanced with practical activities that can be replicated for parish use.
•  The regular and on-going communication related to the different aspects of the program has enabled the diocesan office to frame a conversation about future responses to the pastoral needs of Hispanic youth and young adults in the diocese.
—Stan Cordero, Director of Youth Ministry, Diocese of Santa Rosa, CA

I believe the best sign of the effectiveness the program is having in the Diocese is exemplified in the participation of the young adult leaders attending the course. Their numbers have stayed strong with very little attrition to speak of. The application of what they are learning to their ministerial setting is taking place, though it needs more time and training to take roots. The participants arrive early and stay late. They are willing to be of service and are not shy about accepting leadership. They have some new language to identify their experiences in ministry; have a greater understanding of their faith and Catholic tradition, and are able to implement the techniques learned in the Initiation Course.
—Fr. Oscar Díaz, Director of Hispanic Ministry, Santa Rosa, CA

What do students say about Fe y Vida’s programs?

Fe y Vida’s Prophets of Hope model helped me to understand myself better and to understand others. Its various formation programs have empowered me and given me the knowledge and confidence to minister first at my parish, and now as a diocesan director.
—María-Elena Treviño-Ponce, Director of Youth Ministry and Catechesis, Yakima, Washington

Fe y Vida’s summer program allowed me to assume my mission as a Christian. Since then, I accepted my bishop’s invitation to work in Hispanic youth ministry, and today I am able to serve as vice president of the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La Red).
—Jesús Ábrego, Associate Director of Hispanic Ministry, Diocese of Beaumont, TX

Some of Instituto Fe y Vida’s instructors are a product of its Leadership Formation System. The Certification Program, the Symposium, and various Seminars have helped us to grow and share with others the knowledge acquired from the classes and from our pastoral experience.
—Abraham Solar, Hispanic Pastoral Associate, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Petaluma, CA

PasCon (Hispanic Young Adults Pastoral de Conjunto Diocesan Team) has promoted and raised funds to support Fe y Vida’s programs in our diocese. Thanks to these programs we now have capable and confident young Hispanic leaders.
—Alicia Avilés, Diocesan Coordinator of PasCon, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, TX