Centro Guadalupe is "Great Gift" to Hispanic community Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick will inaugurate the Archdiocese of Newark's new Hispanic Pastoral Center and Institute, Centro Guadalupe, with a Mass at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 11, 1998 in Union City, NJ. Auxiliary Bishop David Arias, O.A.R., D.D., said the center is a great gift to the Hispanic community. "The formation that this center will provide the Hispanic community will be felt throughout the Archdiocese." The Center, a five story building, will provide pastoral and religious training opportunities for the almost 400,000 Hispanics in the Archdiocese of Newark. The Pastoral Center will conduct retreats in Spanish for the 65 parishes in the Archdiocese with Hispanic congregations. "It will benefit both our parishes and its leaders by helping them to deepen their spirituality," said Bishop Arias. The Center will also provide formal religious education for parishioners. Theological and biblical studies will be utilized to develop leadership skills. Students can choose a 4-year institute program or opt for a series with shorter courses. Bishop Arias feels the center will be a source of pride for the Hispanic community of the Archdiocese. He points out that it is named for the Patron Saint of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe. The inaugural Mass will be held on the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 11, 1998, and the center will hold an Open-House the next day on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saturday, December 12, 1998. There will be entertainment, including a Mariachi band, and refreshments available for those who would like to tour the facilities and learn more about the Center's programs. The center has overnight lodging facilities for 70 people, ten conference rooms, a 500-seat auditorium, a chapel, and dining facilities. For more information call (201) 348-8400.
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