Hispanics

are recognized as the fastest growing minority group in

the United States. Their presence has prompted area

churches to rethink their outreach ministries in a new

way.

One of the

first to respond was Holy Trinity Catholic Church in

Peachtree City, which instituted a Spanish Mass several

years ago, and continues to expand its programs to

address the needs of the Hispanic Community.

A recent

survey conducted at the church netted 188 responses from

participating Hispanics, but estimates put the number of

individuals being served at close to 1,000, with Sunday

Mass attendance increasing weekly.

Elsie

Ramos-Fuente, a native of Puerto Rico and a Peachtree

City resident, heads up the Hispanic ministry office,

which recently opened at Holy Trinity. With the support

of the Rev. John Walsh, Holy Trinity's pastor, and the

Rev. Fernando Molina-Restrepo, parochial vicar,

Ramos-Fuente has created a welcoming place at the church

where an open door and a friendly "Hola!" draws

local Hispanic Catholics together.

oly Trinity

currently offers sacramental preparation classes,

confessions in Spanish on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and

religious education classes for children set to begin

Aug. 19. Also on staff is Linda Velez who handles

referrals to local social services agencies and

coordinates the religious education program.

A project

targeting Catholics in the Huehuetenango Diocese of

Guatemala began with the Hispanic ministry and was soon

embraced by the entire parish. Children in the school of

religion collected change to donate to programs in the

Southern diocese, and in May a 10-member fact-finding

group visited the area to assess its needs. The results

have united the parish in support of financing a school

breakfast program for children attending schools run by

the Huehuetenango Diocese.

five-member team, led by Walsh and Molina-Restrepo,

recently attended "Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in

God's House" in Los Angeles where 5,000 Catholics

called together by United States bishops focused on

diversity and multiculturism in today's church.

Parishioners participating included Ramos-Fuente, Joan

Velsmid, Marie Mulvenna, Michele Varisco and Marta Ramos.

According

to Mulvenna, this was the fourth Encuentro. "It was

fabulous," she reported. "It was very exciting

to see so many cultures and ethnic groups participating

in Encuentro." She explained that

"Encuentro" was initially founded to help

"unify a diverse Hispanic Catholic population."

The

four-day celebration of diversity opened with a mariachi

band and a Celtic prayer, Mulvenna said. A Polish

community from San Francisco presented a drama in honor

of the Black Madonna and successive sessions included a

Filipino choir, a Tongan penitential ceremony, and an

African-American prayer service featuring gospel music.

Holy

Trinity will host its annual multicultural festival of

food, music and dance in late September. The event has

grown in size and popularity over the years to include

representatives from about a dozen countries.

To contact

the Hispanic ministry office at Holy Trinity, phone

770-487-7672.