Interview With Deacon Yamid Blanco

• Why did you decide to work in the Catholic Church in the United States?.

In 2006 I got a call from a priest friend of mine from Colombia who was working in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He told me the most beautiful things about Milwaukee. He said; Milwaukee is a multicultural city which is located by Lake Michigan. He also said; Milwaukee is a European City which a lot of people from Germany, Irish, and Poland live in. Therefore, he encouraged me to join the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He said that, in the city, the Spanish population was growing a lot. He also said; Yamid the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is very organized.  That was very much the reason which helped to make the decision to come to Milwaukee to study to be a priest. I came to the States in July of 2007. I studied English as a second language for about 10 months. Afterwards I began Theology, and now I am in my final year of studies. I was ordained a Deacon in April and will be ordained a priest in May of 2012.     

• What is your work experience in the United States with the Latino community?.

I have not had a lot experience with the Latino Community of Milwaukee. I have been helping out at an Anglo parish since I have been in Milwaukee. I am sure I will be working with the Latino community after being ordained a priest. However I have a lot of friends from Mexico who have invited me to come and join them for Spanish Mass. Even I am going to an Anglo parish I have joined them for Mass once in a while. 

• Will you work in the Latino community in the future?.

As I said above I will be helping out at a Latino Parish “Community” when being a priest. 

• How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in your parish?.

I have not had that experience as of now. I hope I will be celebrating that with the Hispanic Community at my future Latino parish.

• What advice do you have for Latino (priest or seminarian) that come to work here?.

I will tell them that Milwaukee is a city which receives and embrace people from all over the world. I will also tell them that the people of Milwaukee – Anglos and Latinos - are very welcoming, gentle, and nice. 

• The 2010 United States Census states that more than 44 million of Latinos will be migrating to this country looking for better opportunities in life. What do you think about Latinos who are and will be migrating to the United States in future years?.

Migration is an issue that the United States has faced throughout decades. This is a country that has been receiving migrants, not only the wealthy and well-educated but also the poor and the needy as is happening today. This is the time in which a lot of people from Spanish Speaking Countries are coming to the United States with the dream of giving to their families better opportunities in life. We, as Christians, are to support every human being for we are all equal before God; we are the people of God.    

• What were and are the reasons for changes in religious practices in the Latino community?.

The most important reason why the religious practices in the Latino Community had to change and are still changing is because of the big mass of Latino population that began to come to America. Most of them were not really accepted by society so that the Church needed to do something remarkable to embrace and give them the dignity of human beings.