Ethnic Affairs
Celebrating the various backgrounds and cultures in the world and within our Catholic faith helps our students reflect the communion of love and life found in the Holy Trinity – one God in Three Persons – the greatest example of unity in diversity.
Our Mission
but should reflect their joy at being one in Christ.”
– Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman
Resources
What is the Padrinos Program?
Padrinos is the Spanish word for Godparents. Just as the role of a Godparent is to serve as a friend and a guide on the road to Christian living, a member of this program serves a friend and a guide throughout the Catholic school process.
The program’s intent is to strengthen the connection between Hispanic families, especially those that are predominately Spanish speaking, and the school community.
Who are Padrinos?
Padrinos are a group of parents that represent the school with the Hispanic community and assist in giving support to current and new families of the school community.
What do they do?
Padrinos assist their school by taking on three vital roles:
- Marketing:
- Attend events that promote the school to Hispanic communities.
- Offer insight and ideas as the school develops marketing materials.
- Share benefits of a Catholic education and what the school offers.
- Recruit:
- With the messages and materials prepared, Padrinos identify and reach out to Hispanic families and invite them to visit the school.
- Help explain the process of applying to the school and, if needed, tuition assistance availability.
- Mentor:
- Welcome new families to the school community and offer advice and support throughout the school year.
- Provide current and new parents with the proper tools and resources to take full advantage of all the school has to offer.
Padrinos can also help the school community find ways to enrich our shared Catholic faith with cultural traditions from Latin American countries.
Acknowledging that the Catholic Church literally translates to meaning “a universal church”, our schools celebrate the various backgrounds and cultures in the world and within our Catholic faith. The Ethnic Affairs division serves as a resource and additional support for multicultural activities at our schools.
This calendar attempts to capture many important dates within our universal community.
The Ethnic Affairs division continuously identifies resources to better help our students recognize that they’re all created in the image of Christ. One resource being implemented at various is the Created in Christ Curriculum by the Sophia Institute.
Explore the Catholic response to racism with 16 easily adaptable lessons presented at elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Students will consider how sin is at the root of racism and how Christ helps us overcome sin and work for holiness, peace, and justice in the world. Themes include the dignity of the human person, the virtue of justice, and how the Church’s teaching on solidarity, subsidiarity, and forgiveness can help us effectively address racism. Created in Christ.