Office of Hispanic Ministry
“At this moment of grace we recognize the Hispanic community among
us as a blessing from God. We call upon all persons of good faith to share our
vision of the special gifts which Hispanics bring to the Body of Christ.”
It is the responsibility of the Office of Hispanic Ministry to promote this vision to minister to the Hispanics, especially to the newly arrived, whose peculiar history, culture, traditions and spirituality challenges the Church to minister them in their own language, which is the means of expression of the culture and of their faith.
The office’s mission is accomplishes in the following ways:
- Promoting an attitude of welcoming to all Hispanics in our Church, especially the newly arrived.
- Fostering opportunities of integration between Hispanic Immigrants and the rest of the parish community.
- Assisting Hispanic Immigrants in their efforts to make a good living in the US.
Married But Not Married?
Large Group Weddings May Be A way
Are you a Catholic person, living in a marital relationship, but not married by the Church? Would you like to get married in a Large Group Wedding Ceremony?
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan has approved once again a Group Wedding Celebration for February 2010. Deacon Juan Barajas, who will coordinate this effort, has scheduled some orientation meetings throughout the Archdiocese Fe to instruct interested couples of the process to follow if they are willing to participate in these group ceremonies.
Interested couple should attend one of these orientation meetings
- August 16, 2009 at 3:00 pm at Cathedral (Parish Hall) in Santa Fe (Bilingual)
- August 17, 2009 at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Albuquerque (Spanish)
- August 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm at Risen Savior Parish in Albuquerque (English)
- August 19, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Catholic Center in Albuquerque (English)
- August 30, 2009 at 2:30 pm at San José Church in Albuquerque (Spanish)
Some say they prefer not to get married by the Church because such and such were happily living together until they got married by the Church. Then the problems began and they divorced. The problem is not the marriage by the Church, but the attitude of the partners, who sometimes change or do not live their sacrament as they should.
It is not OK for couples to get together and have children with no commitment at all. On the other hand, Civil Marriage is for couples who do not have a church. Civil Marriage is a contract, and it can be broken. Catholics do not just get married civilly. They get married by their Church, exchanging their vows of love in front of God, and of their church community. Marriage by the Church is a sacrament, a sign of the grace of God, who manifests himself through the spouses. It is not a contract, it is a covenant which cannot be broken, but with the death of one of the spouses.
When Catholics enter into a marital relationship without been married by the Church, they are breaking the communion with their Church. This is why they should not receive Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the greatest gift we have received from Jesus, and there should be no reason in the world that should prevent us from receiving it. How sad, when something so beautiful, as the love of the couple, becomes sinful for not having the blessings of God.
Would you like to get married by the Church? Join us at one of the orientation meetings or for more information call us at 505-831-8152 or Contact Us through email.
Questions People Ask About Group Weddings 
Information Questionnaire for Group Weddings-2010
Archdiocesan Policy
Relating to Sexual Misconduct
including Sexual Harrassment
2006 Policy of the Archdiocese
of Santa Fe Relating to Sexual Misconduct including Sexual Harassment
2006 Política de la Arquidiócesis de Santa Fe Sobre la Conducta Sexual Inapropiada y el Acoso Sexual
Rev. Deacon
Juan Barajas
Director &
Associate Director
for Formation of
Hispanic Deacons
Phone: 505.831.8152
Contact Us
Elvia Becerra
Secretary &
Hispanic Youth Coordinator
Phone: 505.831.8147
& 505.831.8216
Contact Us
Mr. Sergio García
Coordinator of School of Ministries (Santa Fe area)
Marlene Torres
Representative for Catechesis for Hispanics
4000 Saint Joseph's Pl. NW
Albuquerque, NM
87120-1714