Project Dignitas

Romero Center Ministries offers a program in Spanish geared to the Latino immigrant community. The program, “Project Dignitas” is rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, with a special focus on the teaching about the life and dignity of the human person.

Archbishop Oscar Romero devoted the end of his life to those who were crucified in the villages of El Salvador, with hope that they would move from crucifixion to resurrection. Inspired by his prophetic witness, Project Dignitas prayerfully invites participants to understand how Christ suffers in their communities that they may journey with Christ through the Paschal Mystery and into resurrection.

This program is specially designed with the particular circumstances of the Hispanic immigrant community in mind. We invite participants to reflect on the presence of God at important moments in their lives when they had to make difficult decisions such as migrating and leaving behind what was dear and familiar, amidst the struggles of adapting to a new culture, and when responding to the call to put their faith into action in their new home. The following are some of the components of Project Dignitas:

• A reflection on the principle of the dignity of the human person applied to the lives of program participants.

• Service opportunities in Camden, NJ, and surrounding communities in need.

• An activity simulation activity to understand and discuss unjust structures of our society.

• A theological reflection to explore the call to respond to situations of injustice in the lives of participants.

• A specific exploration of the ways God may be calling program participants to work for justice in their local communities.

Some of the groups that have participated in this program are RCIA, catechists, peace and justice committees, leaders of Hispanic ministry, community organizing leaders, and church groups wanting to learn more about Catholic Social Teaching and Social Justice.

If you have a group that would like to participate, we can adapt the program to your group’s needs. Project Dignitas can be adapted to a weekend retreat, a daylong retreat, and a series of weekly sessions.