Abstract
This paper examines the discernment of undocumented Hispanic men to the diaconate within a diocese facing growing Hispanic populations and a shortage of Spanish-speaking clergy. Using ethnographic research, theological reflection, and historical analysis, it argues that this reality should be discerned not as a pastoral problem but as a response to concrete community needs. Interpreted through four theological perspectives (sacred vocation, divine initiative, unconventional divine choice, and the community-oriented nature of diaconal ministry) the study proposes that welcoming undocumented men into formal discernment and formation for the diaconate constitutes a faithful and ecclesial response to the Church’s mission.
Recommended Citation
Palma, Anisabel. 2026. Called from Within the Community: The Vocation of Undocumented Hispanic Men to the Diaconate. Obsculta 19, (1) : 39-60. https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/obsculta/vol19/iss1/10.
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