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BOSTON (OSV News) — Throughout the last few years, Hispanics Catholics have been recognized as the largest growing population in the U.S. Catholic Church — accounting for nearly 71% of the growth of the Catholic population in the United States since 1960.

The Pew Research Center estimates that there are 63.7 million Hispanics living in the United States, about 31 million of them self-identify as Roman Catholic.

But, even though Hispanics account for more than 42% of U.S.

Catholics, the number of U.S. born Hispanics serving the church — as lay ministers, women and men religious, seminarians, priests and deacons — has remained relatively low. Looking to increase the number of young Hispanic Catholics serving the church, diocesan offices, theologians and educators are exploring ways to invest in this population, with a renewed hope of revitalizing ministries and faithful engagement throughout the U.S.

Catholic Church.

One such program is Haciendo Caminos, a fi