Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope

Program Summary

How does our faith call us to live differently, love more deeply, and help bring healing to our world? How does encountering Christ in one another lead us to become people of hope in difficult times? This JustFaith program invites your small group to immerse yourselves in the foundational teachings of your Christian faith and discern how it calls you to transform your life and our world. Along the way, the program materials highlight the unique and diverse gifts that Spanish-speaking communities bring to the Church, celebrating a few of the many teachings, traditions, and faith leaders that help all of us to see God a little more clearly.

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope includes eight sessions and an encuentro, or encounter, in the local community. Each session explores a key Christian principle based on seven themes of social teaching. Opportunities to include your own denomination’s specific teachings regarding the week’s topic are provided each session, with specific options provided from Roman Catholic, UMC, PCUSA, ELCA, UCC, and Episcopal traditions. Sessions include an interactive Scripture study, a celebration of a tradition from a Spanish-speaking community or witness for faith-rooted justice, and a guided discernment of action steps based on the day’s learnings. Throughout each week, participants will engage in reflections and spiritual practices around the upcoming session’s theme.

Session Content

Session 1: Dignity of the Human Person: Through community guidelines and an activity around active listening, participants practice recognizing and honoring the image of God in one another – even when they disagree.

Session 2: Caring for Creation: The group reflects on humanity’s original vocation of caring for God’s creation and considers the costs of neglecting this responsibility. They also learn about opportunities to honor the legacy of Berta Cáceres and support other Indigenous leaders protecting our sacred land, air, and water.

Session 3: Solidarity: The group engages with the Advent tradition of Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging, and considers God’s call to solidarity with those experiencing injustice, poverty, and shelter today.

Session 4: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers: It has often been said that “work was created for people, but people were not created for work.” The group learns how workers, particularly farmworkers, are demanding justice and respect, and discerns how they can support their efforts.

Session 5: Preferential Option: After hearing from a guest speaker working for justice, peace, and healing in the local community, participants engage in a biblical reflection on God’s special care for those experiencing poverty and oppression.

Session 6: Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The group gathers for a community dinner, sharing foods that reflect their cultural heritage, family traditions, and childhood memories. As they do so, participants discuss the interrelated themes of food, family, and the heavenly banquet as illustrated in Scripture.

Encuentro in the local community: Participants visit a local organization working for peace, justice, and healing in the community.

Session 7: Rights and Responsibilities: Participants celebrate the legacy and witness of St. Oscar Romero as they consider what it means to follow Jesus’ instructions to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

Session 8: Hope-filled Action: Participants discern two goals for how they will put their faith into action in response to their JustFaith journey: one they will complete as an individual, and one they will complete together as a group.

Who Is This For?

Churches and communities with both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parishioners: With a bilingual facilitator or the help of an interpreter, this program can be conducted bilingually. All materials are in English and Spanish, but participants may need an interpreter’s assistance to facilitate interaction with one another. Guidance is provided on facilitating shared dialogue with individuals who speak only English or Spanish.

Predominantly Spanish-speaking communities: This program can be conducted entirely in Spanish. It can be a great way to empower lay leaders and energize your church to lead your entire community in addressing the social concerns that affect your parish or congregation. Additionally, it can strengthen intercultural dialogue among Spanish speakers from different regions and backgrounds, as well as provide an opportunity for adult intergenerational relationship-building.

Predominantly English-speaking communities: This program can be conducted entirely in English and can help prepare English-speaking churches to seek justice alongside their Spanish-speaking neighbors. The program also celebrates the spirituality of various Spanish-speaking cultures and presents wisdom and voices not typically highlighted in United States churches.

In-person and virtual communities: Although developed primarily for in-person communities, Encuentro y Esperanza can be easily adapted for a virtual setting.

Download the Program Booklet and Overview: