100425-WPVI-VIS-CATHOLICCHURCH

[Music] Archbishop Nelson Perez led mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. They come here to celebrate faith, but also the culture. It's the 51st year the Arch Dascese of Philadelphia has held the annual Puerto Rican Mass. It goes back to the first substantial population of people that spoke Spanish in Philadelphia. They were from Puerto Rico. Now the mass is a melting pot of Spanish-sp speakaking communities. There's people from lots of different Hispanic cultures that come together. It's a grand celebration. The arch dascese has a long history of connecting with the Hispanic community. Casel Carmen is one of five family service centers within Catholic Charities of Philadelphia. Majority of our services are provided in Spanish. It was established in 1954. Good night biscuit. More than 70 years later, it remains a neighborhood staple. The community is growing and the need is growing. Correct. There's a bilingual preschool. How many classrooms do you have here? We have seven classrooms, 89 students total. A food pantry provides nourishment three times a week. As soon as we get food, it's out the door. Within the Latino community, the need has grown for access to food. There's a boutique for young children and new parents. A pink penguin. How much does everything cost? So, everything's free. You may not have the financial means, but to still have some autonomy, I think that's empowering. And the converted chapel inside the former convent provides educational opportunities for adults. ESL class, money management and budgeting, healthy eating, stress relief. They have seen an increased need recently. Church is a community and I think specifically the Hispanic population in Philadelphia knows that. Since 2000, Philadelphia's Hispanic population has nearly doubled in size. The Mexican community is growing. The Central American community is growing. South America, we see the grow of the community, bringing families to mass. The arch dascese now has 37 parishes across the region offering mass in Spanish. They're very strong in their faith. Father Francesco Maria Demo is the pastor of St. William Parish in Longest. He estimates more than 500 parishioners for the weekly Sunday morning mass in Spanish. We have five masses in English and we get 500 with one mass in in Spanish. We hit basically the number of five masses in English. The rising number of Hispanics coming to church could balance the declining numbers in the Catholic Church. I can have the most beautiful building, but if the people don't assemble together, it's not the church. A recent Pew Research study showed a 7% decline in adult Catholics in Pennsylvania since 2007. Do you think that the Hispanic community could have a role in keeping these doors open? Definitely. It's one of the reasons the arch dascese has prioritized Spanish-sp speakaking priests [Music] to pray in your own words, your mother tongue with which you work, you cry, you fight. It makes it much more personal. Family is the driving force behind the growth of the church. I see a lot of youth coming. The parents really want their children to come. That's what saves the church. Father Francesco is Italian trained as a missionary in Philadelphia. Does being in this church help people gain a sense of community? They're dying for it. He found his mission in Philadelphia's northeast neighborhood. Went up 100 members since I came here. Seminarians visit the church for training. They come with me to learn what parish life is all about. And he's the liazison to the 37 parishes that offer Spanish services. Those are the three hats I have. And I'm and that's why I'm bald. I'm losing hair day by day. St. William is one of the parishes where Archbishop Nelson Perez was pastor. He has been very much involved with Hispanic ministry spiritually, physically. I mean, this church, you just have to tap into them. They're very grateful. Religion is something that is very important. The culture and the faith are really blended together in the Hispanic heritages. The late Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope, and Pope Leo is known for his missionary work in South America, creating even stronger connections between Hispanic culture and the Catholic Church. faith is very much integrated into the life at home and then they bring that to church. Wow, that's an amazing experience.