Overview

In this urgent and inspiring book, Blind Spot: The Evangelizing power of Latino Culture, Deacon Charlie Echeverry of Los Angeles makes a bold claim: Latinos are the most influential cultural force in the Catholic Church in the United States today--and unlocking their potential can transform, even save, our post-pandemic Church. But how can this be accomplished? Echeverry proposes insights to help ministry leaders--especially those who are not Latino and may feel unsure of how to engage this growing community--implement effective strategies in their own parishes and dioceses. At the same time, Latino readers will recognize their own stories reflected here and find encouragement to claim their place at the center of renewal. Echeverry doesn't just give statistics--though they are striking (40 percent of all US Catholics and 57 percent of Gen Z Catholics are Latino). What sets Blind Spot apart is his dynamic tour through Latino culture, where faith, family, and resilience converge. He shows non-Latinos how Latino Catholics are ""living in the hyphen""--Latino and American, traditional and modern, Catholic and culturally Catholic--and how this dual identity can become a source of creative energy and spiritual renewal for the wider Church. Drawing on his own Latino American Catholic story; extensive experience as a senior executive with companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Univision, and AOL; and years of pastoral leadership, Echeverry distills seven game-changing insights that parish leaders can adapt to their unique communities and challenges. Blind Spot is not a step-by-step ""how-to"" manual. Instead, this book offers powerful, strategic wisdom--rooted in data, lived experience, and lessons from the wider culture--that will spark creativity and action in any pastoral setting. Here you will explore seven key insights into Latino culture that will transform your Catholic community: 1. Cultural Duality Is a Superpower: When something resonates with Latinos, especially younger ones, they amplify it beyond their own community. 2. Spanish Is a Tool, but Culture Is a Gateway: Connection comes more from shared experience than from language alone. 3. Latinos Are Hungry for Formation, Leadership, and Belonging: Those who move easily between Latino and Anglo communities act as bicultural superconductors, driving powerful ministerial impact. 4. Cultural Catholicism Can Be an Impediment to a True and Lasting Catholic Culture: Customs and traditions enrich, but they can also mask the need for deeper understanding of the faith. 5. Talent > Time > Treasure: Latinos may give less financially, but their sacrificial generosity, commitment, and leadership potential are abundant and underleveraged. 6. Communion Is Far Greater Than Community: True unity requires more than parallel tracks of ministry divided by language. 7.Don't Stress the Differences; Build on the Commonalities: Latino diversity is vast, but effective engagement doesn't require overly detailed strategies. With passion, clarity, and conviction, Echeverry offers a vision of renewal that centers on the Latino Catholic heart. His message is clear: For non-Latinos, this book is an invitation to learn from and collaborate with a community that is shaping the Church's future. For Latinos, it is a clear call to embrace the responsibility of leadership that is vital for the Church's renewal.

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9781646804337

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Deacon Charlie Echeverry is the founder and CEO of Black//Brown, a consulting studio that helps major companies drive growth through culture-forward business strategies. He preaches and speaks across the country and is a producer of feature films, documentaries, and television series. He is the host of Living the CALL, a podcast exploring the intersection of faith and cultural influence. His work has been featured on EWTN, The Lila Rose Show, America magazine, Our Sunday Visitor, Relevant Radio, Guadalupe Radio, and Catholic Answers, among others. Ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2017 by Archbishop José H. Gómez, Deacon Charlie's apostolate includes media, homelessness, evangelization, apologetics, pro-life advocacy, and Latino ministry. He lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and children. deaconcharlie.com Facebook: @charlie.echeverry X: @DcnCharlie Instagram: @dcncharlie LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlieecheverry

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