Media CenterCRS Announces 2019 Hispanic Heritage Partner Award Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Brittany Wichtendahl
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
410-951-7450
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, October 4, 2019 – In recognition of the dedication and commitment of members of the U.S. Hispanic ministry community, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has chosen six recipients of its 2019 Hispanic Heritage Partner Award.
The Hispanic Heritage Partner Award, which is given each year during Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizes the partnership of Hispanic ministry leaders for their work in promoting global solidarity with the Hispanic community across the U.S. CRS recognizes and values the partnership of these leaders in their dioceses, lay apostolic movements, and Hispanic associations.
The winners of the CRS 2019 award include: Father Rafael Capó, the director of the southeast U.S. Bishop’s Office for Hispanic Ministry for Regions V and XIV; Lia Salinas, the director of Hispanic Ministries for the Archdiocese of Baltimore; Gabriela Karaszewski, the director of the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Mirna Ochoa, the coordinator of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Most Rev. Gerald R. Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino; and Carmen Ramos, CRS Liason for Asociación Jóvenes Para Cristo (Young Adults for Christ).
“These leaders and their communities have helped create lasting change in Latin America and around the world, said Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for Mission and Mobilization. “Their work has spread justice, ministry and charity around our own borders. Their solidarity is an example for all in the Church.”
2019 Hispanic Heritage Partner Award Winners List:
Father Rafael Capo
A key partner for CRS during the V Encuentro, Fr. Rafael Capó is the director of the southeast U.S. Bishop’s Office for Hispanic Ministry for Regions V and XIV. In addition, he’s the director of the southeast Pastoral Institute of Formation (SEPI). Through his efforts, the southeast V Encuentro Process included a CRS call for solidarity and advocacy to respond to the needs of those on the periphery locally and globally. He has traveled with CRS to Colombia, participated in TV and radio interviews, organized letter writing campaigns and participated in advocacy visits to Capitol Hill.
Lia Salinas
As the director for Hispanic Ministries, Lia Salinas has worked in the Archdiocese of Baltimore as a passionate advocate for issues focused on global justice. She has organized advocacy visits to Capitol Hill, written letters, made phone calls, and paved the way for members of the Hispanic community in Baltimore to participate in CRS advocacy trainings. Lia has also had the opportunity to share her CRS experiences at several regional conferences, including the Mid-Atlantic Congress.
Gabriela Karaszewski & Mirna Ochoa
In their positions at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Gabriela Karaszewski and Mirna Ochoa have collaborated with CRS to encourage young adults to act in solidarity on behalf of those less fortunate them around the world. By using CRS resources such as Rice Bowl/Plato de Arrox, the young adults in Gabriela and Mirna’s ministries have incorporated Lenten practices into their youth groups. This fall, they will host a first-of-its-kind training in the Archdiocese that will be available to both of their ministries in English and Spanish.
Bishop Gerald R. Barnes
Bishop Gerald R. Barnes Barnes has been a long-time supporter and advocate of Hispanic ministry and of the Hispanic community in his diocese. He supported the CRS Advocacy Letter Signing Action at the Regional V Encuentro where over 2,000 letters were collected and was instrumental in the successful inviting of the regional bishops to participate. Bishop Barnes was previously the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration and Refugee Services as well as the Committee on Hispanic Affairs.
Carmen Ramos
Carmen Ramos is the previous president of the lay apostolic organization Asociación Jóvenes Para Cristo/Young Adults for Christ (AJPC). The organization supports ministries in multicultural faith communities by creating leaders focused on fighting for justice, peace and charity. After Carmen joined CRS on a trip to Tanzania, she became the CRS Liaison for the Asociación. This year, through Carmen’s collaboration, CRS has been invited to present and promote an advocacy action at AJPC’s annual gathering.
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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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