Latino/Hispanic Ministry
A concise, people-centered description of the ministry: who it serves, what it makes possible, and why it matters in the life of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.
Scripture for the work
“’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Luke 10:27
Mission
Through shared discernment with Spanish-speaking communities, we prioritize initiatives that inspire energy, cultivate possibility, and empower leaders to articulate and bring their visions to life.
Who It Serves
We assess and meet physical and spiritual needs of Spanish-speaking individuals in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan area.
Get Involved
To learn more, contact Tamika Gerhardt.
New announcement
Migration with Dignity
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is pleased to announce Migration with Dignity, a diocesan ministry of material, social, and spiritual support for our immigrant brothers and sisters. Migration with Dignity is part of the Latino/Hispanic Ministry under the Gaudet Umbrella, joining a growing network of ministries committed to building relationships, strengthening communities, and living into our call to beloved community.
La Diócesis Episcopal de Luisiana se complace en anunciar el Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad, un servicio diocesano de apoyo material, social y espiritual que respalda a nuestros hermanos y nuestras hermanas inmigrantes. El Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad forma parte del Ministerio Latino/Hispano que se encuentra bajo el marco de los Ministerios de la Sombrilla de Gaudet, uniéndose también a una red en pleno crecimiento de ministerios comprometidos a construir relaciones y fortalecer comunidades como respuesta de vivir nuestro llamado de ser una comunidad de amor.
Dyosèz Episkopal nan Eta Lwizian kontan anonse “Migration with Dignity.” Se yon ministè , oubyen yon mouvman nan dyosèz la ki bay sipò materyèl, sosyal ak espirityèl pou frè ak sè imigran nou yo. “Migration with Dignity” fè pati Ministè Latino/Ispanik la ki anba Gaudet Umbrella, ansanm ak yon bann lòt misyon/aktivite ki angaje nan bati relasyon, ranfòse kominote yo, epi kontinye konstwi yon kominote kote nou youn renmen youn lòt.
Apply for a Migration with Dignity Emergency Assistance Application
Migration with Dignity provides emergency assistance through churches and community organizations already supporting migrants and migrant families in need.
Requests may be made by a church or organization on behalf of an individual. Assistance is limited to $500 per individual.
The requesting church or organization is responsible for determining the need, verifying the circumstances, and identifying the appropriate use of funds.
To learn how your congregation can be a part of this movement, please contact Tamika Gerhardt.
Para saber cómo su feligresía puede formar parte de este movimiento, por favor comuníquese con Tamika Gerhardt.
Pou aprann kijan kongregasyon paw la kapab patisipe nan mouvman sa a, tanpri kontakte Tamika Gerhardt.
Founding Leadership Team
St. Anna’s Episcopal, New Orleans
St. George’s Episcopal, New Olreans
Trinity, New Orleans
St. Margaret’s Episcopal, Baton Rouge
Application
English
Migration with Dignity Emergency Assistance Application
Spanish
Solicitud de Fondos de Emergencia del Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad
Haitian Creole
Aplikasyon pou Èd an Ijans “Migration with Dignity”
Across southeastern Louisiana, Episcopal congregations have spent years building trusted relationships with immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and the community organizations that serve them. What began as individual parish ministries has grown into a collaborative network, and Migration with Dignity gives that work a shared home so that we can respond more effectively to increasingly urgent and complex needs.
Por todo el sureste de Luisiana, las feligresías episcopales se han dedicado por años a construir relaciones confiables con los inmigrantes, con aquellos que solicitan asilo, con personas refugiadas y con las organizaciones comunitarias que los atienden a través de sus servicios. Lo que comenzó como una iniciativa individual de los ministerios parroquiales, ahora se ha expandido hasta convertirse en una red colaborativa y el Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad ofrece un hogar común a esta labor donde podamos responder con mayor eficacia a necesidades muy complejas y cada vez más urgentes.
Nan tout sidès Eta Lwizian nan, kongregasyon Episkopal yo pase plizyè ane ap bati relasyon konfyans ak imigran, moun kap chèche azil, refijye, ansanm ak òganizasyon kominotè kap ede yo. Nan kòmansman, misyon saa te selman nan kèk pawas. Aprè yon ti tan, li vin tounen yon kokenn chenn rezo kote nou mete tèt nou ansanm pou ede moun ki nan bezwen. “Migration with Dignity” bay travay saa yon pwen komen, pou nou kapab reponn pi byen ak bezwen yo ki vin ap vin pi ijan e ki vin pi konplèks chak jou.
Thanks to a $15,000 grant from Episcopal Migration Ministries, Migration with Dignity has established an Emergency Assistance Fund for immigrant families. Assistance may include travel costs for family reunification, legal consultations and filing fees, emergency food and household supplies, and urgent medical care.
Gracias a la subvención de parte de los Ministerios Episcopales de Migración por la cantidad de $15,000, nuestro Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad ha creado un Fondo de Emergencia para proveer la ayuda oportuna cuando las familias enfrenten crisis derivadas de las adversidades por las medidas de control ante la aplicación de las leyes de inmigración. Esta asistencia podría incluir gastos de viajes para la reunificación de familias, gastos de asesoría legal y costos de tramitación, para la compra de alimentos y artículos del hogar en situaciones de emergencia, así como la atención médica urgente.
Migration with Dignity jwenn yon sibvansyon $15,000 nan men “Episcopal Migration Ministries,” pou mete sou pye yon fon Èd Ijans pou nou kapab bay èd rapid lè yon fanmi ap fè fas ak pwoblèm ki gen rapò ak imigrasyon oubyen lòt pwoblèm. Èd saa ka depanse pou vwayaj pou reyini fanmi yo, konsiltasyon avoka ak frè pou dosye legal, manje ak pwovizyon pou fami an, ansanm ak swen medical.
Rather than duplicate existing services, we work alongside partners already serving immigrant communities, such as Familias Unidas en Acción NOLA, Project Ishmael, and Home Is Here NOLA. These partners identify needs and make referrals so that assistance reaches people quickly, responsibly, and with dignity. St. Anna’s, Trinity, and St. George’s in New Orleans and St. Margaret’s in Baton Rouge have committed to serving as the ministry’s founding leadership team.
En lugar de duplicar servicios existentes, colaboramos junto a las organizaciones que ya están ofreciendo servicios a las comunidades de inmigrantes, a saber: Familias Unidas en Acción NOLA, Project Ishmael y Home Is Here NOLA. Estas organizaciones en su compromiso colaborativo, identifican las necesidades y hacen los referidos pertinentes para que la asistencia llegue de manera rápida, digna y responsable a las personas. En adición, las iglesias St. Anna, Trinity y St. George en Nueva Orleans y la iglesia St. Margaret en Baton Rouge, se han comprometido a actuar como el equipo de liderazgo fundador del ministerio.
Olye nou kreye sèvis ki egziste deja, nou travay ansanm ak patnè ki deja ap sèvi kominote imigran yo, tankou Familias Unidas en Acción NOLA, Project Ishmael, ak Home Is Here NOLA. Group sa yo idantifye bezwen yo konsa pou èd la kapab rive jwenn moun yo byen vit, avèk responsabilite, epi nan diyite. St. Anna’s, Trinity, ak St. George’s nan New Orleans, ansanm ak St. Margaret’s nan Baton Rouge, pran angajman pou sèvi kòm premye ekip lidèchip misyon saa.
But this is more than an emergency fund. Migration with Dignity also seeks to educate our congregations on immigration issues and to encourage public services of prayer and witness, always respecting the dignity of those with whom we walk.
Sin embargo, todo esto se encamina más allá de ser un fondo de emergencia. El Ministerio de Migración con Dignidad también busca por los procesos educativos para nuestras feligresías acerca de los asuntos de inmigración y fomenta las celebraciones de actos públicos de oración y testimonios, siempre respetando la dignidad de aquellos con los que compartimos nuestra peregrinación.
Misyon saa plis pase yon fon èd ijans. “Migration with Dignity” ap ede edike kongregasyon nou yo sou kesyon imigrasyon epi ankouraje sèvis piblik lapriyè ak temwayaj, pandan nap respekte diyite moun nap sèvi yo.
We invite you to connect, serve, and share: to be formed in compassion and cultural humility, to build relationships across our congregations and partners, to respond to neighbors in times of crisis, and to tell stories of welcome and resilience that inspire others to join in God’s work of reconciliation, justice, and hospitality.
Les invitamos a crear vínculos, a servir y compartir: a ser moldeados por la compasión y a formarse en la humildad cultural, a construir relaciones entre nuestras feligresías y nuestros colaboradores y así responder a las necesidades de nuestras comunidades vecinas en tiempo de crisis. Contemos historias de acogida y resiliencia que inspiren a otros y a que se unan a la obra de Dios por la reconciliación, la justicia y la hospitalidad.
Nou envite ou konekte, sèvi, epi pataje avèk nou. Konsa nou ka aprann e grandi ansanm nan konpasyon ak imilite kiltirèl; bati relasyon atravè kongregasyon nou yo ak patnè nou yo; reponn ak bezwen vwazen nou yo lè yo nan bezwen; rakonte istwa akèy ak rezilyans ki kapab ankouraje lòt moun patisipe nan travay Bondye pou rekonsilyasyon, jistis ak ospitalite.
To learn how your congregation can be a part of this movement, please contact Tamika Gerhardt.
Para saber cómo su feligresía puede formar parte de este movimiento, por favor comuníquese con Tamika Gerhardt.
Pou aprann kijan kongregasyon paw la kapab patisipe nan mouvman sa a, tanpri kontakte Tamika Gerhardt.
More About This Ministry
Our ministry for the Latino/Hispanic community is a grassroots initiative aimed at assessing and meeting the spiritual needs of individuals in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan areas within the Diocese of Louisiana. We recognize the importance of increasing and deepening the presence of The Episcopal Church among Spanish-speaking Christians. To achieve this, we will identify key stakeholders and potential leaders and empower them to build a team of disciples who will foster multilingual communities focused on worship, fellowship, faith formation, and social support. Through mutual discernment with this community, we will prioritize areas of work that inspire energy and excitement, supporting leaders as they articulate and achieve their vision. As our initiatives grow and develop, we will continue to add new areas of work until the community becomes self-supporting and sustainable as a long-term core ministry of our Diocese.
Karla duPlantier
Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Latino/Hispanic Ministries, kduplantier@edola.org
Latino/Hispanic Communities in the Diocese
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge
St. Margaret’s has multiple ministries under the umbrella of “La Mesa,” which means The Table. La Mesa includes two ten-week cycles of English and Spanish classes each year, which give students the opportunity to learn each language and then practice over a shared meal, at the table. La Mesa also includes several bilingual masses throughout the year in which the rector leads much of the mass and the Eucharist in Spanish while lay persons read Scripture and the prayers of the people alternating in both languages. The sermon is pre-recorded in Spanish by clergy from around the Episcopal Church and a brief translation is given in English after the recording is played during the mass. In the summer and holiday seasons, La Mesa hosts conversation circles that allow students to continue to engage in language and cultural activities and special celebrations such as the feast of the Virgin de Guadalupe, Las Posadas, and Tres Reyes.