Great success with the first Migrant Agriculture Pastoral Leadership Program

Intermountain Catholic

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Alejandro Siller-Gonzalez (standing), who is in charge of the Migration and Farm Worker programs and Continuing Education for Ministry for MACC in San Antonio, Texas, visited Saint John Bosco Mission in Delta to conduct a seminar for Hispanic leaders. IC photo/Laura Vallejo

DELTA — During three days of learning, sharing, expressing feelings and being grateful, dozens of Catholic Hispanic leaders gathered at Saint John Bosco Mission in Millard County for the first migrant Agriculture Pastoral Leadership seminar, provided by the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC).

The seminar was presented by Alejandro Siller-Gonzalez, who is in charge of the Migration and Farm Worker programs and Continuing Education for Ministry for MACC and Sister Lourdes González, also from MACC, which is based in San Antonio, Texas.

MACC helps educate leaders in culturally diverse dioceses and in society, offering multicultural formation programs that can lead to a bachelor's or master's degree in pastoral ministry.

The seminar in Delta was organized by the Diocese of Salt Lake City Office of Hispanic Ministry. It is the first of a two-part program in which Hispanic leaders from around the diocese will be learning how to be better leaders and to be stronger in God.

"When I try to control things – either making myself a victim or victimizing – it's not good at all. When we are community, we need to care for each other. We need to put God in front of everything. With respect we can recognize things and make our community stronger," Siller-Gonzalez said.

This is the part of the communication that is in direct relation with the leadership which can be divided in two styles: passive or dictatorial.

"Some organizations that use the dictatorial style are the military, the police, the firemen, so this style is just one person who says what to do," Siller-Gonzalez explained. He then asked the attendees if they have worked in this style.

"My dad," said one. "In the factory where I work," said another.

The attendees also were engaged in team activities. In one of them, teams of five had to blow up 25 balloons and, with tape, make a tower that had no support. Everybody had a lot of fun and in the end everybody was successful.

"We all learned something from everybody and that's what is important: To learn to work always as a team," said Siller-Gonzalez.

He continued giving examples about the importance of being a leader in the communities while having God always as the base.

"Everyone can be a leader, right?" asked Siller Gonzalez, receiving a chorus of "yes" as an answer.

"Communities always are looking for leaders, because there are needs to be addressed and there are goals to be reached," said Siller-Gonzalez. "Jesus was a leader. He had a lot of love, he was dedicated, he had patience, he had respect, he knew how to listen and how to communicate, he had wisdom that came from praying, he was compassionate. We can be his disciples and learned always from his example."

Guadalupe Hurtado, a parishioner at Saint John Bosco Mission, said she was very grateful for the seminar.

"This is a great opportunity for us to learn more as leaders, especially because we live far away from the Pastoral Center (in Salt Lake City)," she said. "This is the time to be grateful for the opportunity that they are offering us to be prepared to be able to serve better our communities."