Let us pray for a generous welcome of the victims of human trafficking, of enforced prostitution, and of violence.

Pope Francis – February 2019

Although we try to ignore it, slavery is not something from other times.
Faced with this tragic reality, no one can wash their hands of it without being, in some way, an accomplice to this crime against humanity.
We cannot ignore the fact that there is as much slavery in the world today as there was before, or perhaps more.
Let us pray for a generous welcome of the victims of human trafficking, of enforced prostitution, and of violence.

Recemos por la acogida generosa de las víctimas de la trata de personas y de la prostitución forzada y de la violencia.

Papa Francisco – Febrero 2019

Aunque tratemos de ignorarlo, la esclavitud no es algo de otros tiempos.
Ante esta trágica realidad, no podemos lavarnos las manos si no queremos ser, de alguna manera, cómplices de estos crímenes contra la humanidad.
No podemos ignorar que hoy hay esclavitud en el mundo, tanto o más quizás que antes.
Recemos por la acogida generosa de las víctimas de la trata de personas y de la prostitución forzada y de la violencia.

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Washington’s Catholic Bishops Support Bill to Repeal Death Penalty

OLYMPIA – The Catholic Bishops of Washington State submitted testimony Tuesday, February 5 in support of Senate Bill 5339, which seeks to repeal the death penalty and require that life imprisonment without the possibility of parole become the sentence for aggravated first degree murder convictions.

“Our country’s legal system is far from perfect when it comes to imposing the death penalty,” said Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle. “This past fall, our state’s Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional as it had been implemented in an arbitrary and racially-biased manner. Senate Bill 5339 removes the unconstitutional language and moves Washington state towards greater justice and respect for life at all stages.”

The Bishops have long been on record as opposing capital punishment, while stating their deep concern for families and loved ones of victims of violent crimes. “All citizens have the right to be protected from those who commit the crime of murder,” said Archbishop Sartain. “The act of murder cries out for an appropriate punishment, but the death penalty merely adds violence to violence, perpetuating an illusion that taking one human life for another can somehow balance the scales of justice.”

The Catholic Church’s consistent belief is that every human life is sacred from conception until natural death – this principle has energized the Bishops’ efforts for decades to abolish the death penalty.

The Catholic Bishops of Washington State are Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and Auxiliary Bishops Eusebio Elizondo and Daniel Mueggenborg of Seattle, Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, and Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima.

The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Washington.

Magnificat

WHAT IS MAGNIFICAT?

Magnificat is a program of faith formation for all the people who want to learn more about their Catholic Faith. Through classes of theology taught by teachers specialized in different topics we are looking to enhance the spiritual growth of each student as well as in the in-depth study of the pastorals and theological aspects of our faith in order to awaken in each on the desire of server to the Lord bybeing Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God’s Love in the distinct ministries that we serve in, and continue to learn how to teach our catechetical programs with children.

Magnificat is the single largest initiative that brings together Spanish and English leadership here in the Diocese of Yakima on a monthly basis. We are the only diocese in the region to have such a large, consistent and robust gathering of catechetical leaders. You are key in building up Magnificat and in helping its future leadership in building a more unified instruction and a more unified witness that brings together the large Hispanic Catholic Community with our more historical and very vibrant English-speaking community!

“Credo ut intelligam, intelligo ut credam”

“I Believe to understand, understand to believe”

Saint Augustine of Hippo 

KNOW MORE ABOUT V ENCUENTRO

Encuentro started in 1972 as an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a tool to reach out to the growing and emerging Hispanic presence in the United States. The first three "Encuentro" processes in 1972, 1979 and 1984 engaged Hispanic communities in the United States in how we, as a Church, could better evangelize, welcome and receive the gifts of immigrant communities migrating north from Mexico as well as Central and South America. The fourth Encuentro in 2000 was a celebration of the many diverse communities from around the world: Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands as well as Mexico and Latin America. Its focus moved from evangelization to celebration and appreciation.  This fifth "Encuentro" process is almost the reverse of the first three "Encuentro" processes of the 1970s and 1980s.  Rather than asking about outreach to the Hispanic community, this fifth "Encuentro" is about the formation of the Hispanic community as missionaries who can evangelize North America with the singular love that comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This fifth "Encuentro" is meant to emphasize how the Hispanic community is not an "object" of the Church's missionary impulse but is now the spark and initiator calling everyone – including the North American anglophone community – to deeper discipleship. 

So why are we doing this in the Diocese of Yakima? First and foremost we are doing this with all of our Magnificat leaders in both English and Spanish because for the Spanish-speaking side of the Church to know how to reach the entire Church – especially the English-speaking side – it's important that we do the process together and have the conversation across the traditional language and cultural divides. The Diocese of Yakima is now nearly 75 percent Hispanic with the majority of our worshippers going to Mass in Spanish – not English. 

Goals of V Encuentro:

• For the Hispanic community and the English speakers to come in unity and into discipleship with Jesus Christ
• Extend the invitation to English speakers to initiate a program or a service for V Encuentro
• Make the commitment to work together to build up the Church in this new moment here in Central Washington

Magnificat 

¿QUÉ ES MAGNIFICAT?

Magnificat es un programa de formación en la fe para todas las personas que desean aprender más sobre su fe católica. A través de las clases de teología impartidas por maestros especializados en diferentes temas, buscamos mejorar el crecimiento espiritual de cada estudiante, así como en el estudio a fondo de los aspectos pastorales y teológicos de nuestra fe para despertar en cada uno el deseo de Servir al Señor por ser discípulos misioneros: Testigos del amor de Dios en los distintos ministerios en los que servimos, y continuar aprendiendo cómo enseñar nuestros programas catequéticos a los niños.

“Credo ut intelligam, intelligo ut credam"

“Creo para entender, entiendo para creer”

San Agustín de Hippo

APRENDE MÁS SOBRE V ENCUENTRO

Encuentro comenzó en 1972 como una iniciativa de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos como una herramienta para llegar a la presencia hispana creciente y emergente en los Estados Unidos. Los primeros tres procesos "Encuentro" en 1972, 1979 y 1984 involucraron a las comunidades hispanas en los Estados Unidos cómo nosotros, como Iglesia, podríamos evangelizar, recibir y recibir mejor los dones de las comunidades de inmigrantes que migran hacia el norte desde México y Centro y Sur America. El cuarto Encuentro fue en el 2000 fue una celebración de las diversas comunidades de todo el mundo: África, Asia y las Islas del Pacífico, así como México y América Latina. Su enfoque pasó de la evangelización a la celebración y el aprecio. Este quinto proceso de "Encuentro" es casi el reverso de los primeros tres procesos de "Encuentro" de los años setenta y ochenta. En lugar de preguntar acerca de llegar a la comunidad hispana, este quinto "Encuentro" trata de la formación de la comunidad hispana como misioneros que pueden evangelizar a América del Norte con el amor singular que proviene de nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo. Este quinto "Encuentro" pretende enfatizar cómo la comunidad hispana no es un "objeto" del impulso misionero de la Iglesia, pero ahora es la chispa y el iniciador que llama a todos, incluida la comunidad anglófona de América del Norte, a un discipulado más profundo.

Entonces, ¿por qué estamos haciendo esto en la Diócesis de Yakima? En primer lugar, estamos haciendo esto con todos nuestros líderes de Magnificat tanto en inglés como en español, porque para que el lado hispanohablante de la Iglesia sepa cómo llegar a toda la Iglesia, especialmente al lado de habla inglés, es importante que hagamos el proceso juntos y mantengan la conversación a través del lenguaje tradicional y las divisiones culturales. La Diócesis de Yakima es ahora casi un 75 por ciento hispana, y la mayoría de nuestros fieles van a Misa en español, no en inglés.

Nuestras metas con el programa de V Encuentro:

• Para que la comunidad hispana y los hablantes de inglés vengan a la unidad y al discipulado con Jesucristo
• Se hace una invitación a personas de habla inglesa para iniciar un programa o servicio de V Encuentro
• Hacer el compromiso de trabajar juntos para desarrollar la Iglesia aquí en el centro de Washington.

Friends:

As noted in a recent message from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the sexual abuse scandal in the Church has been and continues to be a “moral catastrophe.” It summarizes the pain and scandal caused by those clergy and laity ministering in the church who sexually abuse minors and vulnerable adults. Even more the “moral catastrophe” stems from the failure of us as a body of bishops to have better accountability for our oversight of our flock and of each other. I am so very, very sorry. 

I want to uplift Pope Francis’ message for all of us to consider as we work together to create better structures of accountability, especially in the case of bishops who abused minors or failed to act in the face of abuse in their own dioceses. These are moral failures and criminal acts that need careful attention.  Please find attached to this message the following:

Pope Francis Letter to the People of God  ENGLISH | SPANISH

Cardinal DiNardo Message to the U.S. Church  ENGLISH | SPANISH

Be assured of my prayers for all of you. Kindly place in prayer all victims of sexual abuse too. They and the healing of their pain need to remain our key focus. 

+Bishop Joseph Tyson
Diocese of Yakima