Spanish Immersion for Priests

What is unique about Sacerdos´ program is its integral nature.

A typical class day consists of intensive but well-parceled language instruction using different pedagogical modalities. This is completed by "clinics" by priest-teachers on how to celebrate the sacraments in Spanish and homily preparation or by actual pastoral experiences in local parishes, or family or community settings.

Perhaps most importantly, the day centers around the communal celebration of the Eucharist and moments of prayer. The priests and seminarians are not lodged in private houses, and thus a real fraternal community is created in which the participants pray and study together.

In order to refresh body and soul, various days of the week are planned as cultural outing days. These days are much more relaxed, in which the participants can assimilate Mexican language and culture more by osmosis than by instruction.

Highlights include the concelebration of Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and cultural visits to the pyramids and the picturesque towns of Mexico.

Opportunities for guided pastoral ministry on the weekends, going to celebrate the sacraments in the nearby parishes -- depending on the interest and skill of each -- will expose one to the religiosity, spontaneity and hospitality of the Mexican people.

Participants will imbibe a greater love for the Spanish language, an enthusiasm for the faith, Mary, the Church and the Holy Father, and for the priesthood itself, through contact with the Mexican people.

More information and application forms are available by:
Email: cursodehispanidad@legionaries.org
Phone: (914) 749-3949
FAX: (914) 749-3939

Curso de Hispanidad
582 Columbus Ave
P.O. Box 158
Thornwood, NY 10594
U.S.A.

Reserve your place as soon as possible since places are limited.

Words of Praise

"I found the Curso de Hispanidad to be extremely valuable. Its pastoral focus on preistly ministry to Latinos in the United States was right on target. The language study was challenging without bieng overly burdensome. The information on Hispanic culture and religious experience were particularly useful. As I celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this year I recognize that without my participation in the Curso de Hispanidad I would be at the periphery of this observance rather than at its heart, which is where I want to be. And, in addition to all of that, the times for prayer and fellowship with my brother-priests was a great blessing."

-The Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, Bishop of Oakland

"I just wanted to let you know that I´m back from the Curso de Hispanidad. The Curso was a wonderful experience of both learning and fraternity. I feel that I significantly improved my Spanish language ability, and learned a great deal about the Mexican people and church. The Legionaries whom we met and studied with could not have been more welcoming and hospitable. Fr Michael Shannon, Brother Devin Roza and Prof Ismael Gomez were great teachers and comrades."

- Very Rev. Sean Ogle, Episcopal Vicar, Diocese of Brooklyn, NY

"David and I are considering continuing with the course next year, if possible. We enjoyed it tremendously, and are now using Spanish in our ministry…. The orientation of the program toward liturgy and Sacraments was particularly helpful."

- Rev. Dr. John Edward Mulvihill, Highwood, IL
Rev. Dr. David J. Mulvihill, Zion, IL

"I am happy to endorse the Curso de Hispanidad. Being at this year´s curso has resulted in some important personal benefits for me. Not only was the exposure to Mexican life and culture wide and varied, but the language instruction was very well done. In addition, the experience of living for a month in a hispanic country has resulted in a number of insights that has led to some very helpful personal growth as well."

- Rev. Bob Schriber, St. Mary, Mother of the Church, Garner, NC

"The third year seminarians from Kenrick School of Theology returned from their experience at the Curso de Hispanidad with enthusiasm and new skills in the Spanish language. This was our first attempt to train men in Spanish language and culture through an immersion experience and we were pleased with the outcome. Your staff has been most amenable to adaptations which will help tailor the course to our needs and, happily, we expect to continue our collaboration with you. Your concern for our men and your hospitality were exemplary by any standard."

- Rev. Edward J. Richard, MS, JD, DThM,
Vice Rector and Dean of Students, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO

"I began Curso de Hispanidad without any previous courses in the Spanish language. I was amazed at the progress I made after just six weeks of classes in Mexico. The small size of the program allowed me to work at my own pace with my professor and thus to advance as much as possible. Before leaving for the Curso, I never imagined that upon my return I would desire to continue my study of the Spanish language, but that is precisely my sentiment as I return for another year of seminary
formation."

- David Skillman, Seminarian, Archdiocese of St Louis

"Through the classes, conferences and missions of Curso de Hispanidad, I have received not only a stronger proficiency in Spanish language, but also an in-depth exposure of the values and richness of Mexican culture; a very valuable tool for my future ministry to Mexican Hispanic immigrants in the local Church of Dallas, Texas. For this I am grateful."

- Vincent Anyama, Seminarian, Diocese of Dallas

"The Curso de Hispanidad offers a great opportunity to immerse oneself in Hispanic studies. It gave me a good first step towards being able to minister to the Hispanic communities developing in the United States, both through an understanding of the language and the Hispanic attitudes towards life, family, faith,and the Church."

- Eric Olsen, Seminarian, Archdiocese of St Louis

Course methodology
Interactive and multi-level approach:
-language classes and workshops
-emphasis on pastoral usage and Hispanic idiosyncracy
-engaging cultural exploration
-hands-on pastoral ministry
-practical pastoral planning

Unique features
-ample opportunities for guided pastoral ministry in a Hispanic culture: parish, family and community settings
-small class size with plenty of individual attention and help
-convenient access to personally enriching cultural and religious sites
-fraternal and priestly environment, with time dedicated to communal liturgy and prayer
-on-site analysis of potent pastoral programs for Hispanic communities

The Venue
Centro Cultural Interamericano, Mexico City, Mexico
Located in the quaint district of Tlalpan
Well-equipped facilities
Beautiful grounds

Cost
US$2,995 covers tuition, room, board, books and entrance fees and transportation to all programmed cultural visits. (Optional extension: US$600 per week.) Personal spending for meals and activities on excursions days are separate.
Air fare not included.
US$400 down payment due March 15.
An additional US$400 is due April 15.
Remainder due June 1.

Course Objectives

1. The student will be able to apply successfully the most important rules of Spanish grammar and assimilate basic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions that will enable him to understand written and spoken Spanish in the most frequent situations of ordinary life and particularly of sacramental ministry.

2. Every student will be able to read, listen, speak and write basic Spanish correctly.

3. Priest students will be able to celebrate the sacraments in Spanish and understand the peculiar elements that are involved in the celebration of the sacraments for Hispanics.

4. The students will capture the values present in Hispanic genius as well as familiarize themselves with the Hispanic character and temperament, history, religiosity and culture. Special emphasis will be given to the understanding of the Mexican character and temperament, history and culture, since Mexicans constitute more than half of the Hispanics in the United States. Students will return home with ideas about how to make the most of this dynamism in their own parishes.

5. Students will be able to plan and design an integral pastoral approach to Hispanic ministry which they will be able to concretize in their parish and diocese.

General Course Overview

The course is divided into four major modules that will be interwoven throughout the course:

A. Language module: Spanish grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic expressions; Pastoral Spanish: way of celebrating the sacraments & sacramentals for Hispanics; conversation

B. Cultural module: Classes in “Hispanidad” – history, culture, geography, political, economical and religious situation of Hispanic peoples – Spain and Latin America –, with a particular study of the situation of immigrants to the United States; cultural visits and guided tours to historical and archaeological sites; familiarization with typical cuisine

C. Pastoral ministry module: For priests, celebrating the Sacraments (including Baptism, Confession, Anointing of the Sick) and preaching homilies. For all, catechesis; participation in local religious devotions; visits with typical Mexican families

D. Pastoral planning module: Visits to a wide range of pastoral programs in the fields of education, youth work, women’s apostolate, social justice, evangelization and catechesis, vocations promotion.

Language Module
Track 1 offers priests and seminarians with little or no knowledge of Spanish basic classes in grammar and the most common vocabulary for Hispanic life.

Track 2 is for priests and seminarians with previous experience in Spanish. It offers advanced classes in grammar, idiomatic usage, and homily composition.

Learning methodology will be as varied as possible, aimed at improving the four skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing. This will include lectures, tutoring, conversation periods, readings, tapes, seminars, documentaries, news analysis, films and visiting with families.

Both tracks emphasize pastoral Spanish usage, particularly how to celebrate sacraments and sacramentals in Spanish

Cultural module
In collaboration with Mexico’s Anáhuac University, students will receive up-to-date and engaging classes on Latin American history, geography, society and culture, and religiosity. The spiritual, social and economic situation of Hispanics in North America will also be analyzed

Cultural visits and guided tours of historic sites will put the students in contact with the history of Mexico, the origins of its evangelization and the religiosity of its people.

Visits will include the most significant spiritual, cultural and archaeological sites in and around Mexico City. Additional excursions to historically important cities and towns further afield will combine relaxation with an appreciation of Mexican landscapes and cultural heritage as well as Mexican hospitality.

Pastoral Ministry module

Guided ministry in parish, family or community settings, suited to the ability of each one, will afford participants the opportunity to use their Spanish in real pastoral settings.

There will also be opportunities to collaborate in local parishes or a mission center, providing more sustained immersion experience.

For priests, there will be ample opportunity to exercise sacramental ministry. Seminarians will have the opportunity to help in catechesis, evangelization and other types of family and youth outreach.

Pastoral planning module
In addition to preaching and the sacraments, pastoral ministry involves a whole spectrum of services, involvement of laypeople, and coordination. Your planning of pastoral programs for Hispanics at home will be greatly enhanced by experiencing specific pastoral initiatives which have achieved success in bringing the faith to bear on the needs of different demographic groups and societal spheres.

The range of pastoral programs observed will be as varied as possible and may include programs in the areas of youth work, family apostolate, Christian education, catechesis, women´s apostolate, evangelization, mass media, social justice and vocation promotion. The programs are chosen for their effectiveness and consistency with the Hispanic mentality and character.

General Calendar
In order to provide the necessary variety and complementariness of activities, each week will have at least one day dedicated to pastoral ministry, and one day dedicated to a cultural outing. Here is a summary of the number of days dedicated to various activities:
1. Short pastoral experiences Daily
2. Regular class days 22
2. Intensive pastoral experiences 2
3. Cultural afternoon visits 4
4. Weekend excursions 2
5. Pastoral program afternoons 4
6. Free days 4

Daily Schedule
The proposed schedule for regular class days will be as follows:

6:30 Rise
7:15 Eucharistic Celebration
8:00 Lauds, Personal prayer
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Class/Study Period 1
10:00 Class/Study Period 2
11:00 Class/Study Period 3
12:00 Class/Study Period 4
12:45 Midday prayers, Lunch
2:30 Class/Study Period 5
3:30 Class/Study Period 6
4:30 Group study/Seminar
5:15 Music class
5:45 News analysis
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Pastoral experiences in small groups
9:00 Snack and conversation
9:30 Eucharistic adoration. Night prayer. Rest

Saturday will be a group pastoral ministry day (with time for more intense pastoral experience, such as rural missions) or cultural excursions further afield.

Sunday will be a free day, with communal Eucharistic Celebration in the morning.

More information and application forms are available by:
Email: cursodehispanidad@legionaries.org
Phone: (914) 749-3949
FAX: (914) 749-3939

Curso de Hispanidad
582 Columbus Ave
P.O. Box 158
Thornwood, NY 10594
U.S.A.

Reserve your place as soon as possible since places are limited.