The refrain of a popular Spanish hymn proclaims, "I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church." With this as a keynote, Hosffman Ospino draws on the deep conviction among Hispanic Catholics that they are called to be the Church--locally, nationally, and globally--and provides a basic introduction to the nature and mission of the Church.
In La Iglesia, the Church's origin, structure, history, and mission are explored in light of the experience of Hispanic Catholics in the United States. Hoffsman Ospino, professor of theology and religious education at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry, explains what every Hispanic Catholic in the United States needs to know about being part of the People of God, connecting his message to the everyday experience of people in their families and faith communities. Topics include:

• the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ
  
• the role of the Holy Spirit
  
• the marks of the Church
  
• the vision of the Church in Second Vatican Council
  
• Pope Francis's vision of the Church as a community of disciples
  

Part of the Ave Maria Press Recursos para el ministerio hispano series, La Iglesia is perfect for lay ministers, catechists, people in the RCIA, and leaders of small faith communities as a helpful resource to deepen their experience of being a Christian in community and to make important connections between the mystery of Jesus Christ and that of his Church.
While many Spanish-language resources are imported from other countries, this book emerges from the pastoral reality of Hispanic Catholics in the United States.
Summary points and questions suitable for reflection and discussion are provided at the end of each chapter, making the book ideal for individual or group study.
The book is available only in Spanish. El estribillo de un canto popular en espa ol proclama: "Yo soy la Iglesia, t eres la Iglesia, somos la Iglesia". Con esto como tono, Hosffman Ospino elabora sobre la profunda convicci n entre los hispanos cat licos de que son llamados a ser Iglesia--local, nacional y globalmente--y esto proporciona una introducci n fundamental a la naturaleza y la misi n de la Iglesia.
La Iglesia, el origen, la estructura, la historia y la misi n de la Iglesia se estudian a la luz de la experiencia de los hispanos cat licos en los Estados Unidos. Hoffsman Ospino, profesor de teolog a y educaci n religiosa en la Escuela de Teolog a y Ministerio de Boston College, explica lo que todo cat lico hispano en los Estados Unidos debe saber sobre ser parte del Pueblo de Dios, conectando el mensaje de la experiencia cotidiana de la gente en sus familias y comunidades de fe. Los temas incluyen:

• La Iglesia como Cuerpo M stico de Cristo
  
• El papel del Esp ritu Santo
  
• Los rasgos de la Iglesia
  
• La visi n de la Iglesia en el Concilio Vaticano II
  
• La visi n del Papa Francisco sobre la Iglesia como comunidad de disc pulos
  

Como parte de la serie de Recursos para el ministerio hispano de Ave Mar a Press, La Iglesia es perfecto para ministros laicos, catequistas, personas que est n en RICA, y l deres de peque as comunidades de fe, como un recurso til para profundizar sus experiencias de ser cristianos en comunidad y hacer conexiones importantes entre el misterio de Jesucristo y el de su Iglesia.
Mientras que muchos recursos en espa ol son importados de otros pa ses, este libro surge de la realidad pastoral de los hispanos cat licos en los Estados Unidos.