With graphic posted March 23. The differences make ministering to Hispanics a multicultural task and often involves reconciling tensions among people who speak the same language. It also means working with U.S.-born Hispanics who speak only English. N.M. The situation has been prompted by shifting population patterns as Hispanics leave the enclaves of previous generations. Now, Mexicans sing hymns alongside Puerto Ricans in New York and Salvadorans share pews with Mexican-Americans in southern California.
Mexican growth is very fast.
The Puerto Ricans look around and suddenly it looks like someone else is taking over,'' said Father Iriondo, who was born in the Basque region of Spain and has lived in the United States for more than 30 years. Many people in Hispanic ministry said that these tensions are manageable and part of the growing pains within the Hispanic community as the various national groups meld. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people of Mexican descent are the largest U.S. Hispanic group, accounting for 66.1 percent. Puerto Ricans are 9 percent, Central and South Americans are 14.5 percent, Cubans are 4 percent, and other Hispanics form 6.4 percent. Adding to the diversity, Hispanics cut across racial lines to include whites, blacks, Native Americans and people of mixed races.