In an effort to reach out to the growing Latino population in the United States, the Chicago-based Catholic Church Extension Society has debuted a new bilingual magazine, part of a larger initiative by the organization to connect to Hispanic communities.

Father Jack Wall, Catholic Extension’s president, acknowledged the growing influence of Latinos on Catholicism’s future in the United States. According to a press release from the organization, Latino Catholics in the United States currently represent more than 39 percent of the country’s Catholics. "We hope that this magazine will serve as a mirror to reflect the richness of faith, the vibrant hope and the depth of care and compassion that truly mark the lives of Hispanic Catholics," he said.

St. Anthony Messenger Press will release a new set of books on developing sister parish relationships in November. The books, Bridges of Faith: Building a Relationship with a Sister Parish, and its accompanying "journal" were written by Catholic Telegraph managing editor Dennis O’Connor. Using numerous stories written by O’Connor in The Catholic Telegraph, the books interject insights on twinning and other faith-based partnerships from parishes throughout North America.

Bridges of Faith provides faith communities just getting started in twinning programs ideas on how to carry out their partnerships, and it offers schools, parishes and other entities "best practices" from other faith communities that might be used in ongoing relationships.

For information, contact St. Anthony Messenger Press at 800-488-0488, or log onto their website at www.SAMPBooks. org.