Date of Award
Spring April 2015
Access Restriction
Research Projects
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Theology
School or College
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
Brett C. Hoover
Abstract
Within Hispanic families there is a growing gap – a disconnection between Hispanic immigrants and their U.S. born and raised children. The cultural gap formed between these two groups has caused many U.S. Hispanic teens to disconnect from “Catholic” as a marker of identity. In order to help Hispanic teens establish a Catholic identity, the local church community needs to help families bridge the gap between teens, parents, and the Church itself. Through the exploration of mestizaje and the incorporation of lo cotidiano and accompaniment in catequesis familiar, parents in conjunction with the Church community can help engage teens in Church life. By creating a space for parents and another for their teens, each will receive sound faith formation relevant to their respective realities. Parents will gather to learn about their teens’ Catholic identity and how to help their teens embrace it, while their teens meet separately to learn more about their faith in a space they feel comfortable created for them. Thus, a holistic approach that addresses each group’s needs may lead to genuine involvement and understanding.
Recommended Citation
Flores, Dulce, "Speak English, Pray in Spanish: Forming Cultural Bridges between Hispanic Teens and Parents" (2015). LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations. 175.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/175
