Hispanic Catholics give themselves a hand. (News).

NOTRE DAME, Indiana--Arturo Rodriguez, president of United Farm Workers and successor of the revered leader Cesar Chavez, taught the participants at May's Roots and Wings--the Congress of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NCCHM)--to applaud in an organized manner.

The recommendation was a symbolic gesture of a new era for the Latino community in this country. On the one hand, the term "organized" seems to strive to dispel the stereotype of Hispanics as disorganized and informal.

But the symbol reached further: the rhythmic applause, slow at first and gaining in speed, conjured images of waves of people emerging and on the move--precisely the theme of the congress: "Emerging Voices, Urgent Choices: The Power to Serve."

One of the main objectives of the congress was to engage Hispanic leaders from civic society (in the areas of politics, business, media, and education) in dialogue with Catholic leaders in pursuit of common goals for the Latino community.

Two previous Roots and Wings Congresses (in 1992 and 1997) had reflected on the issues of cultural identity and leadership. The novelty of this edition was the involvement of civic society.

In many ways, this congress also constituted a joyful celebration of the growing sense of maturity and ownership of leadership in society and in the church of the Hispanic community, which is becoming a force that can no longer be ignored by politicians and business. The political, media, business, and education leaders, for their part, urged the active participation and engagement of the Latino Catholic community.