Regional Summer Seminar on Formation for Hispanic Ministry

Vision of the Seminario

As the Hispanic population in California, Hawaii, and Nevada continues to grow, the Regional Summer Seminar on Formation for Hispanic Ministry seeks to be a space of encounter, enrichment, study, prayer, consultation, and networking that gathers the directors and representatives of the formation programs of three ecclesial groups:

• Archdioceses and dioceses

• Catholic universities

• Independent ministry institutions

What does the Seminario do for its members?

As a regional grouping, the Seminario regularly asks its members: what can we do better together than apart? All participants have an active voice, and everyone can make contributions so that a true dialogue among us grows and opportunities for mutual enrichment can develop.

In all the Seminarios we have been accompanied by theologians and specialists (sociologists, educators, demographers) who have helped facilitate our reflection: Prof. Hosffman Ospino, Dr. Ken Johnson-Mondragón, Professors David and María Teodocia Hayes-Bautista, Dr. Arturo Chavez, Prof. Paul Jiménez, Prof. Brett Hoover, Sister Rosalía Meza, Fr. Allan Deck and others.

Organization of the Seminario

The Seminario is an initiative of Loyola Marymount University which is coordinated by a Steering Committee. This initiative has the support of the Bishops of California, Hawaii, and Nevada. The Steering Committee members are volunteers. In 2025, the Seminario was supported by a generous donation from the Martin Gang Institute, a joint venture of American Jewish Committee-Los Angeles and LMU. In other years, publishers and foundations have supported the Seminario.

Why are presentations at the Seminario given in English?

In order to make presentations as accessible as possible to all who work in the administration of Hispanic ministry formation programs, presentations are given in English. At the same time, the Seminario is English/Spanish bilingual and welcomes questions and discussion in either language.

How did the Seminario start?

In 2007, Bob Hurteau at LMU was looking for a grant to create a forum to assess the progress of Hispanic ministry formation programs, in order to improve the quality of those programs. At the suggestion of Fr. Allan Deck, S.J., the forum was designed at the regional level. After the foundation agreed to fund the seminar, three people with extensive experience in Hispanic ministry formation were invited to join Bob to form the first Steering Committee:

Carmen Cervantes Former Executive Director Instituto Fe y Vida

Paulina Espinosa Former Director, Office of Evangelization & Adult Faith Formation, Diocese of San Bernardino

Humberto Ramos
Parish Life Director
Epiphany Parish, South El Monte

The first Seminario was held July 28-30, 2008 at LMU with the participation of nearly 40 people who are responsible for Hispanic ministry formation programs in 13 of the 14 (arch)dioceses of California and Nevada. In the beginning, it was not thought that the Seminario would continue year after year, but at that first meeting the group decided to meet again the next year. Two other volunteers were credited to the Steering Committee, and so in 2026 we are celebrating nineteen years of the Regional Summer Seminar on Formation for Hispanic Ministry.

Where have the Seminarios been held?

• 2008 – Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

• 2009 – Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, California

• 2010 – Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Las Vegas

• 2011 – St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota

• 2012 – Vallombrosa Retreat Center, Menlo Park, California

• 2013 – Mission San Antonio de Padua, Jolon, California

• 2014 – Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference Center, Zephyr Cove, Nevada

• 2015 – Saint Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers, California

• 2016 – Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California

• 2017 – Maryknoll, Los Altos, California

• 2018 – El Carmelo Retreat Center, Redlands, California

• 2019 – St. Paul Newman Center, Fresno, California

• 2020 and 2021 – Online, via Zoom

• 2022 – Online, in-person and hybrid at El Carmelo, Redlands y Cristo Rey, Citrus Heights

• 2023 – Online, in-person and hybrid at San Bernardino Diocesan Pastoral Center and St. Bernard Catholic Church, Tracy, California

• 2024 – Saint Anthony Retreat, Three Rivers, California

• 2025 – Online, via Zoom

Who are invited to the Seminario?

Those responsible for Hispanic ministry formation programs in Region XI (California, Hawaii, and Nevada).

How do participants receive their invitations?

The Steering Committee sends letters to bishops informing them of the names of those invited to the Seminario. Invitations are sent to those individuals via email. Ministry formation personnel from Archdioceses and Dioceses, universities and independent pastoral institutes are invited.

What sorts of people are on the Steering Committee?

On the Steering Committee there are members who serve a three-year term and one permanent member (from Loyola Marymount University, the institutional organizer of the Seminario). In recent years, there have also been Adjuncts to the Steering Committee. These are people whose presence is useful to the Steering Committee either because of an expertise or because of holding a regional office. Adjuncts are not required to attend all Steering Committee meetings.

Are the Steering Committee members volunteers?

Yes, all the members (those serving a three-year term of service, the permanent member, and the adjuncts) are volunteers.

Other than the permanent member, how are the members of the Steering Committee appointed?

When there is a vacancy on the Steering Committee, a request is made to the assembly at the Seminario for recommendations of new members. Subsequently the Steering Committee makes a decision on the recommendations and invites the new member to join the Committee.

What is the decision-making process for selecting the topics that will be taken up at a Seminario?

Each year at the conclusion of the Seminario the assembly proposes topics for the next year. Suggestions from Bishops are also received. During the year, the Steering Committee is in charge of coordinating the development of the selected topics.

Steering Committee

Dominador Bombongan; Mayra Torres, Diana Rivas; Gerardo Rojas; Elsy Arévalo; Delmy Ruiz
|Adjunct for Higher Education Affairs: Robert Lassalle-Klein |Adjunct for the California Catholic Conference: Ken Johnson-Mondragón |Coordinator of Worship and Music: Carlo Argoti

Carmen Cervantes (entonces) Directora Ejecutiva Instituto Fe y Vida

Paulina Espinosa (entonces) Directora Oficina de Evangelización y Formación en la Fe para Adultos Diócesis de San Bernardino

Humberto Ramos
Director de Vida Parroquial Parroquia Epiphany, Sur El Monte