St. Rita Church members who earned certificates in the Renovación parish renewal program from Marian University report feeling prepared to lead within their parish. Four parishioners, along with their pastor Father Michael Tobin, received certificates this spring from the university in Indianapolis.

Renovación, meaning renewal in Spanish, is a two-year program designed to form missionary disciples among Hispanic and Latino Catholics. Through online courses and some in-person work, participants studied Scripture and the Hispanic church in the U.S., led spiritual retreats, and created small faith communities.

“It helped me to see what the parish needed and how the parish works,” said Cindy Esparza. “I was able to see the need for a Hispanic youth group. That got me very interested. I am now a youth leader.” Esparza participated with her husband, Armando Avalos. While enrolled in the program, Avalos discerned a vocation to the diaconate. The couple is now part of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s diaconate formation program.

Avalos expressed his desire to engage men “especially about the importance of being involved in the church and Bible groups.” The couple, who have three children aged 18, 16, and 11, emphasized recognizing young people's role within the church. “I’d heard that youth are our future. I learned our youth are our present," said Esparza. "If we don’t do something for them now, we won’t have them in our future."

Father Tobin expressed pride in his parishioners’ participation in Renovación which provided them with historical context for their ministry work. “I think it comes as a great surprise to learn about American Catholic Church history and Hispanics' presence," he noted. "It gives people a sense of pride and rootedness.”

This knowledge lays a foundation for providing much-needed leadership within their community according to Father Tobin, who also serves as vicar for Hispanic ministry for the Archdiocese of Louisville. He emphasized stewardship responsibilities within the Hispanic community: "We have to be responsible for finances, piety and reverence of worship; we must also focus on evangelization."

Oscar Castellanos, director of Marian University's program highlighted that every parish with Hispanic ministry needs some type of leadership formation program like Renovación due to its emphasis on "missionary commitment." He added that after two years participants are invited "to create or enhance a ministry program or idea." St. Rita opted to establish a youth group led by Esparza.

A second cohort from St. Rita alongside one from St. Edward Church has enrolled in Renovación according to Castellanos.

The Renovación program is funded through nearly one million dollars grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., a private foundation awarding grants aimed at enriching Christians' religious lives across the United States.