It seemed obvious to me that such a forum is necessary. Mexico and the US share a common border and millions of Mexicans now are part of the US church. The need for adequate ministry to the Mexican community continues to be a part of the ecclesial concern in the US. But there is more to the forum than simply Hispanic ministry. This forum is to be a place where the great experience of the church of the US and Mexico can begin to inform one another, on a pastoral level, about their respective histories and stories. Especially with regard to dealing with pastoral challenges of culture and church both countries have long, innovative responses that are not understood beyond their borders.

This forum would be made up of pastors, those who are in day to day contact with the needs of the church and who are working to meet those needs. The pastors who participate would be representative of groups or a wider body of priests to that their learning might be distributed in the widest possible audience.

As he looked at the possible ways this forum might be established it seemed obvious that making contact with some group parallel to the NFPC in Mexico would be most direct. Beginning in the spring of 1998 he began to call a variety of contacts in the US to find out where such a group might be. After speaking with several people at the USCCB, including Ronaldo Cruz of the Hispanic Ministry Office and Father James Ronan of the Latin American office he had a list of various organizations and offices in Mexico. Father Wolf faxed each of them a letter of introduction and a description of the project.

In June of 1998, Father Robert Silva and Father Donald Wolf went to Mexico City to make contact with these offices and persons. While in Mexico City we visited with the head of Religious, the Episcopal Conference Chairman, the Cardinal of Mexico City and the head of the Commission on Pastoral/Social issues. Our most productive visit was to the Cardinal of Guadalajara. He shared with us that there was really no priest group in Mexico with the same kind of membership or purpose as the NFPC. He suggested we make contact with the head of the Commission for Clerics who would be most helpful in pursuing the NFPC's concerns. While we attempted to do so we found that he was out of the country.

Following this trip Father Wolf faxed additional information to the head of the Commission, Archbishop of Morelia Alberto Suarez. In January of 1999 he traveled again to Morelia where he met with Archbishop Suarez and shared with him the NFPC's plans. He agreed that there was no real group in Mexico that was like the NFPC but that his commission would be very interested in meeting with a group of priests from the US to pursue such an agenda.

On 13th and 14th of May 1999 several priests and Father Donald Wolf from the NFPC and the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee of the USCCB met with Bishop Suarez and members of his committee in Mexico City. The agenda was focused on four areas: pastoral concerns of Mexicans and Americans, the possibility of the development of a Mexican Priests' federation, the exchange of resources, personnel, programs and training and support and treatment possibilities for priests in troubled situations. The information exchanged and the discussion generated around these issues made it clear that a great deal of good could be accomplished during such an encounter between Mexican and US priests. It was felt that a follow up meeting would be helpful in solidifying the relationship between both committees (Priestly Life and Ministry and the Commission for Clerics) and would lead to a solid base for establishing the forum.

A planning committee was established consisting of Father Cletus Kiley, staff to the USCCB Priestly Life and Ministry Office and Father Donald Wolf of the NFPC, Father Jesus Marquez and Father Victor Mercado of the Commission for Clerics. The topic of the meeting will be ongoing formation for priests in America and will center on the concerns about priestly life and formation in the multi-cultural responsibilities priests have throughout the Americas. This planning committee met in Mexico City December 6, 1999 to establish the agenda and schedule for the succeeding meeting, which took place in early March, 2000.

The topic of an organization for Mexican priests continues to be part of the NFPC agenda and is growing on the part of the Mexican priests. They are concerned that the NFPC develop a theological reflection on its purpose and relationship to the whole church as well as a practical organizational schema that might be helpful for the Mexican presbyterate. Both of these are areas of concern and development by the NFPC.

The prospects of a realistic, ongoing forum of concern is still some time away but the progress made is substantial. It will be important to continue working with the Commission for Clerics. They are the NFPC's most direct access to the priests of Mexico and will be the most direct avenue for developing a forum and establishing a Mexican priests group. According to Father Wolf, with the ongoing development of many new initiatives in the church in Mexico this is a useful time to be promoting such an organization.