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A Primer of Pastoral Spanish is designed to provide clergy, religious and laity alike with the tools to be pastoral among Spanish-speaking people. This primer is modeled after Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish (1953), whose author, Margarita Madrigal, bases her methodology on creating with the language instead of memorizing it. Previous knowledge of Spanish is not necessary, although, as you will discover, you already know thousands of words in Spanish. The vocabulary you know in English is the foundation on which you can build your knowledge of Spanish vocabulary. There are thousands of English words that become Spanish words if you can recognize the slight change that takes place from one language to the other. For example, you will learn how to conjugate a verb in Spanish to the first-person singular of the past tense by dropping a letter from its translation in English and adding an accent. There are 40 units in this primer. If you were to study each unit 30 minutes a day throughout Lent, for example, think about how far you could progress. Each unit consists of four sections: Vocabulary, Prayer or Culture, Cornerstones, and Vocabulary Review. There are four Check Your Progress units. These present more Challenges based on the grammar, vocabulary, and culture you learned in the previous units. The answers to the Challenges are at the end of these units.
Michael J. McGrath is professor of Spanish at Georgia Southern University and the translator of The Art of the Game of Chess (CUA Press).
" A Primer of Pastoral Spanish is a valuable resource for English-speaking seminarians, priests, and all those involved in ministry to hispanohablantes! (Deacon) Dr. Michael McGrath has not only knowledge of Spanish and how to teach it, but an in-depth experience of the diverse Hispanic cultures and how to evangelize within those cultures. You will see reflected throughout this excellent book his great pastoral heart for working with the Spanish-speaking children of God!"
~Brett Brannen, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum and author of To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood
" A Primer of Pastoral Spanish by Michael J. McGrath comes to us as a helpful tool for those English-speaking bishops and priests who pastor Spanish-speaking parishioners to improve their proficiency in the Spanish language. McGrath introduces some interesting techniques for learning the ins and outs of Spanish grammar, spelling, and idiomatic expressions. The language in which the Liturgy, confessions or spiritual direction take place can erect or break down cultural and intellectual barriers between clergy and laity. This book helps bridge those barriers especially in parishes with a thriving presence of Hispanic/Latino faithful. It would be a good asset for English-speaking bishops, priests and deacons to be able to communicate with their flocks in their own language so they can clearly hear their shepherd’s voice, and I think A Primer of Pastoral Spanish can help clergy to make an effort to accomplish such a purpose."
~Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Washington
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