Immigration fears drive youth voices in book contributions
CHARLOTTE — After a production process of more than nine months, youth leaders from the Diocese of Charlotte gathered at the Diocesan Pastoral Center for the unveiling of a book that will serve as a guide in conversations about mental health and faith.
At the Feb. 7 workshop, young Hispanic ministries leaders connected with peers from 11 dioceses across the southeast to present the “Easter Book,” a bilingual text that each year applies the Paschal mystery to a topic participants consider important. This year’s book is “Mind, Soul and Heart: Let’s Talk About Mental Health Without Fear,” and its purpose is to open healthy conversations about mental health from the perspective of faith, explained Gabriella Escalante, Southeastern Pastoral Institute (SEPI) youth ministry coordinator and the workshop leader.
“It’s not as much about explaining the conditions of mental health as it is about opening a safe and respectful dialogue connected to our faith,” Escalante said.
In May, leaders held a discernment discussion to choose the theme, which was selected because the youth felt the need to respond to the mental health crisis affecting so many young people. They noted suffering related to comparison, the impact of social media and the digital world, and current events.
“Young people at this moment tend to struggle with anxiety and depression and live under high levels of stress,” Escalante said.
Amid increasing immigration raids and enforcement of immigration laws, many immigrant youth also identified fear as something that is affecting their mental health and that they are trying to bring to light.
“This was 100% a factor,” Escalante said. “The immigration aspect can be one of the root causes of the problem.”
Each year since 1980, the Easter Book has brought together experts and youth to develop a teaching theme that is used in each SEPI diocese. SEPI is the educational branch of the
Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry, an organization of the U.S. bishops that coordinates and supports Hispanic ministry in 30 dioceses across the southeast. It offers programs in formation, evangelization and leadership for lay ministers and youth, including ministry schools, workshops and a master’s degree in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry in collaboration with Barry University.
SEPI’s Youth Ministry office oversees producing the book and invites different dioceses to participate. The process consists of four meetings spread over several months, usually from May to
February. Participants receive the book at the final workshop.
The Diocese of Charlotte has participated in the project since joining SEPI in 2001, with youth groups writing sections of the book and playing key roles in its development.
“The Diocese of Charlotte has never stepped away,” Escalante said. “The young people of Charlotte have such a unique and particular way of making faith appealing.”
At the presentation participants could not see the physical book due to shipping delays caused by winter storms, but they discussed how it can encourage conversations about mental health that break stigma while also showing the need to understand the topic both psychologically and spiritually.
The book, divided into a personal guide and a leader’s guide, includes resources such as reflections, prayers, music and theology tailored to each topic to assist in conversations and accompany youth.
Vicente Capistrano, director of communications at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Charlotte and a contributor to the book for the past two years, said the book helps leaders ask good questions and create conditions to normalize discussions about mental health. He said being part of the publication process for a motivational book that will be shared with people in different parts of the country has been rewarding.
“I never imagined this; it’s beautiful to be able to share it with others to help. It’s exciting,” Capistrano said.
The workshop included a recap of the production process, ideas for implementation, evaluations and activities to foster connection.
In addition to sharing experiences with facilitators, participants used the time to get to know one another and delve deeper into the topics discussed. They took turns openly talking about their experiences and exploring how to begin dialogues with people who feel anxiety or depression.
Rudy Reyes of St. Mary Parish in Greensboro said, “Although we feel fear at first, we can grow with the support of others.”
Similarly, Jackelyn Villamizar Serrano underscored the importance of peer support. “There are many who may need to hear something when they are going through a difficult time,” she said.
To encourage further dialogue, psychologist Gustavo Facio and Karla Rodriguez, who serves as coordinator of multicultural youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of St. Augustine, inspired young people to share the book’s message.
“Having the courage to say how you feel is the way we want to see you,” Rodriguez said. “You don’t have to hide parts of yourselves to conform to others.”
— Brian Segovia
CHARLOTTE — In 2025, 16 parishes and two Catholic ministries in the Diocese of Charlotte received $1,000 Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grants to assist people in need.
Grant recipients represented the geographic diversity of the diocese, with the 18 grantees located in nine of the diocese’s 10 geographic divisions. Locations of 2025 grant recipients included: Albemarle, Asheville (2), Belmont (2), Boonville, Charlotte (4), Clemmons, Eden, Greensboro, Lexington, Mint Hill, Morganton, Spruce Pine and Sylva.
A dozen of the grants helped fund parish food relief programs, including two weekend backpack programs that give supplies to students. The remaining six grants helped ministries that assist the homeless, offer utility assistance, host a parish-based health program, provide supplies for a community garden, and sponsored an educational event on opioid addiction.
These grants were made possible through the Lenten CRS Rice Bowl Collection. Each year, 25% of proceeds remain in the Diocese of Charlotte to help at the local level. The other 75% goes to Catholic Relief Services to help fund humanitarian assistance overseas.
Queen of Apostles Parish in Belmont received a grant for its Backpack Weekend Food Program. As project coordinator Julie Russo noted, “Children who would be hungry on the weekends are being provided well-balanced meals and are ready to learn Monday morning.”
In Lexington, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish used the grant to distribute Lenten Food Bags in the community. The program directly helps those in need and raises awareness of food insecurity in the community.
As program coordinator Marla Silbernagel explained, an additional benefit is “getting our parish name out in the community. We will be distributing paper grocery bags printed with our parish name and address.”
Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Charlotte used their grant funds for community outreach for students.
“The grant funds will be used to provide nutritious snacks for students at Druid Hills Academy, helping to ensure that children in our neighborhood have access to healthy options that support their well-being and academic success,” said parishioner Chanele Jackson, project leader and youth stewardship volunteer.
Grant recipients are appreciative that the program allows their ministries to do more. As Jackson said, “we are grateful for the trust you have placed in our parish and for the meaningful work CRS makes possible. This grant will allow us to continue serving our community with compassion, stewardship, and a commitment to justice.”
The 2026 CRS Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is grateful for all the parishes and schools that participate in the CRS Rice Bowl, which has been a program of CRS for more than 50 years.
Founded in 1943, CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is a member of Caritas International. For more information, visit www.crs.org.
— Joseph Purello, CRS Diocesan Director and Catholic Charities Social Concerns and Advocacy
