Vásquez said it was "amazing" how people came together, and how the eight dioceses in her Encuentro region were able to work alongside each other during the planning stages. She particularly highlighted how the more experienced people were able to share their expertise with younger members, and that while "we are a young church, but we also are an experienced Church."
Cantú and Noriega both said that young Hispanics need to be included in leadership positions and reminded of their particular talents. Noriega first began working in Hispanic ministry for her diocese at the age of 25, and she reiterated that it was extremely important to "make sure young people are sat at the table" and given positions on things like parish councils.
Cantú said that he often encounters discouraged youth, and that he himself felt similar growing up in a time where "it was a liability to be Hispanic." He said that when he was applying to seminary, he was praised by a religious sister for being bilingual and fully immersed in two cultures. This sister told him that he would be "a gift to the Church," and that he hopes the larger Latino community will "never forget that you are a blessing to the Church."
Callahan reminded the crowd to keep their doors open to the stranger, and to also be cautious about identifying only as "Hispanic Catholics." He believes the Latino Catholic community has the ability to lift up the entire Church, and should take steps to build bridges with the rest of the Church in the United States.
He advised people that even though the attendees of the non-Spanish Masses at a parish may look different from them, they should go out of their way to interact with them and get to know them.
"Let's build a united church, so we can start lifting up everyone in the Catholic Church in the United States," said Callahan, to loud applause.
Cupich, who led the morning prayer, had a slightly more optimistic look on the future of the Church than Cantú. Cupich said that he feels the Church in the United States is experiencing a "new birth," and the Latino community is a big part of this panel. The cardinal was critical of what he called an "overly rational, logical, cerebral" approach to God in American culture, and that "faith is not only about what we hold, but it is about who holds us."
This, explained Cupich, is where Latino culture comes in.
"The Latino experience is reminding us that faith is not only about what we hold, but who holds us," he said.
Cupich said that while like in any birth there are "pains" and "sacrifices," but he is convinced that the Church, as well as non-Catholic Americans, "will one day look back at the contributi you (Latinos) are making to our faith, and yes, to our nation, and rejoice at the new birth that has taken place."
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.