Bishop Soto featured in video on new USCCB Spanish-language Facebook page

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a Spanish-language version of its Facebook page as part of the U.S. church's ongoing effort to reach Hispanic and Spanish-speaking Catholics.

"Hispanics make up 16 percent of the total U.S. population, almost 40 percent of U.S. Catholics, and 50 percent of Catholics under the age of 25," said Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Communications. He called it "critically important" to engage this group through social media to provide them with accurate information that helps them grow in their faith.

The page was launched Sept. 11 to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The page can be found at www.facebook.com/USCCBEspanol. It features a video message from Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif., chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Cultural Diversity.

The U.S. bishops "are grateful for the rich contributions of culture and faith that Hispanics bring to this country and to our Catholic Church," he said, inviting Hispanics to use the new page to "communicate and dialogue with us." Content will include photos of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata's missionary work and an essay from Time magazine about her work with the poor in Latin America