WELCOME Hispanic Ministries
"El Viñedo” means “The Vineyard,” and we believe we are cultivating God’s Kingdom. At the Ascension we’ve been called to serve God’s people by growing a community where everyone—regardless of ethnic, language or social background—feels at home. Our English service on Sunday morning is just a part of that vision. Pluss, once a month the diocesan Hispanic missioner offers Eucharist in Spanish.We also celebrated several festivals special to the Hispanic community, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe (patron saint of Mexico and Latin America), Las Posadas (a traditional Mexican Christmas pageant with music and prayers), and the Misa de Fieles Difuntos, the traditional Christian Mass for the Faithful Departed.
English Language Classes
Currently, intensive classes of basic English language instruction are offered at the Ascension—for those who have never had any exposure to English and for those who speak some English. One-on-one instruction is given to 4 to 20 men, women and teenagers, on anything from numbers, colors, traffic signs, to how to talk to your employer. We’ve even coached a student in how to ask a girl for a dance!
Social Services Assistance
Whenever asked, we accompany Spanish-speaking area residents to doctor’s appointments, the WIC or food stamp office, the Social Security office or other government agencies, to act as interpreters and advocates, explaining to them the intricacies of American red tape. We also explain things to non-Hispanics, such as Hispanic surnames—which sometimes cause confusion in our computer systems. We interpret over the phone for anyone who needs to talk to their employer, a car repair specialist, the power company, a baby sitter, school teacher, landlord. We are in emergency rooms of hospitals when called upon, and we’ve intervened in DHR cases and traffic situations.
This is the fourth wave of immigration into Montgomery (after the Native Americans, Europeans and Africans). We can make Montgomery a “shining city on a hill,” a positive example for other cities, if we pursue this experience with prayer and peace and purpose.
That’s why we envision a clearinghouse of services and information for the community at large, located at the Ascension, where survival skills, literacy in English, spiritual growth and social development can be fostered. Will you prayerfully join us in this work?
How You Can Get Involved
· Prayer
· Action
· Worship with us
· English instructor - Literacy Program
· School interpreter
· Prison ministry
· AA program in Spanish
· Cursillo in Spanish
· Donations
· Survival skills program
· Computers
If you would like to help with this ministry, please sign-up through the Ministries Summary & Sign-Up page on this website.
