By Melisa Preuss-Muñoz
TUPELO – On the weekend of February 17 and 18, a group of Hispanic young adults from the Diocese of Jackson met for a workshop focusing on the 2018 resource book for Hispanic youth and young adults titled, Discern your vocation following Mary’s example, a bilingual book of pastoral resources for the Young Hispanic Ministry. The book was prepared by young adults under the guidance of staff from the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI). The purpose of this workshop was to share the final printed edition of the book, which includes a chapter called “different vocations,” written by the Jackson diocese’s own young adult ministry. The authors were also trained on using and promoting the book in their own parishes during the Easter season, with the goal of helping them transform from being passive parishioners to contributors and eventually, community leaders.
Each year since 1980, SEPI has coordinated the preparation and publication of a book in which the young adults apply the paschal mystery to a topic they choose and believe to be important and relevant in their own lives. To initiate the process of writing, adult advisers and youth representatives meet in the spring to select a topic. Then participants from various dioceses worked on the text of their specific chapter, guided by adult advisers. In previous years the writers have dealt with diverse subjects such as freedom, love, community, identity and evangelization.
Dioceses across the Southeast will use the 2018 resource book throughout the season. The authors of Discern your vocation following Mary’s example used church

documents, testimonies, and opinions of the Church as they delved into the issues. The book also includes prayers, songs, activities and projects.
Those interested in receiving a copy of the book and training on implementing the activities can contact Veronica Lopez, coordina

tor of Hispanic Young Adult Ministry at 769-447-4005 or veronica.lopez@jacksondiocese.org.