As El Puente Hispanic Ministry celebrates its 20th year in Jefferson City, the nonprofit is also looking toward the future.
The Catholic agency - whose focuses are helping people experience the healing love of Jesus and promoting human dignity through ministry in the Hispanic community - is preparing to meet challenges as calls for its services grow.
"The future is really something our board is grappling with," said Sister Barbara Neist, the organization's interim executive director. "How can we best assess the needs of people now? And how can we best meet them?"
The search for a permanent director should be completed by the end of November, Neist said. Hopefully, that person will bring new insight into the directions the ministry takes.
And Bishop W. Shawn McKnight, of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, strongly supports the ministry, Neist said.
"We want to keep collaborating with the diocese on how he sees needs and where we can help with those needs - because there are Hispanic populations in other parts of the diocese that are larger than here," Neist said. "The mission is the same - the respect for the dignity of persons, the presence and outreach to the Hispanic community. How that looks, we're not exactly sure."
There is pastoral work to be done in Cole and Moniteau counties, which El Puente serves - reaching out to Spanish speakers in their communities. And educational work. And the need to encourage estranged people to attend the church.
As the organization looks to the future, it will have to consider whether it needs to expand its reach, Neist said.
Sisters Peggy Bonnot, Margaret Snyder and Marianne Kramer (who has since died) founded the ministry in September 1999 to help the Hispanic population in Cole and Moniteau counties connect with better access to health care, faith experiences, educational opportunities and family life.
Bonnot and Snyder traveled to Arkansas to learn how communities in the state were welcoming and serving their growing Hispanic communities. The experience helped the sisters develop their model for El Puente.
Within a year of its establishment, the nonprofit's board had zeroed in on four areas of service: pastoral ministry, direct service, education and training, and family life.
Eight sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, based in San Antonio, have served El Puente.
This year marks not only the 20th anniversary for the local nonprofit, but the 150th anniversary of the Incarnate Word, which started the ministry in Jefferson City.
There is to be a celebration of both anniversaries during a bilingual Mass at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter Catholic Church, 216 Broadway St. in Jefferson City. The public is welcome to attend.
"It's the regular time, when the Spanish Mass (at St. Peter) is always held," Neist said. "But this one is going to be bilingual, and it will be celebrating the sisters."
Incarnate Word sisters have taught at a number of parishes in the diocese over the years, she said. There will be several people attending whom the sisters have taught in classes.
Music will be bilingual.
McKnight is to celebrate the Eucharist during the Mass. He invited his predecessor, Bishop Emeritus John Gaydos, to participate. Gaydos retired last year.
Gaydos speaks Spanish, so he'll preside during the Mass. He'll do the preaching in Spanish and English, Neist said.
Bonnot and Snyder are expected to attend the Mass.
Following the Mass, Spanish dancers are expected to lead a processional to the Selinger Center, where there is to be reception with light refreshments.