About PJH

Pastoral Juvenil Hispana in the Diocese of Dallas accompanies Hispanic and Latino young people (roughly ages 18–35) in their journey of faith — fostering community, forming leaders, and strengthening parish life through culturally rooted formation, sacramental preparation, and diocesan collaboration. The ministry connects parish groups and movements across the diocese to share resources, plan events, and encourage long-term commitment to the Church.

Pastoral Juvenil Hispana in the Diocese of Dallas began as a diocesan response to the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino Catholic population and the need for coordinated youth and young-adult pastoral care. Over the decades the ministry was formalized within the diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult, & Campus Ministries and has worked alongside parish leaders, movements, and diocesan offices to form young Hispanic leaders and strengthen parish-based youth life. The ministry celebrated roughly 40 years of service in the diocese and today supports multiple parishes and parish movements across the diocese.

PJH Initiatives

PJH fulfills its mission through formation, community, and vocational outreach:

  • Leadership Formation & Mentorship – Through its Equipo Diocesano de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (EDPJH) and parish mentors, PJH offers training for parish coordinators and ministry teams. Initiatives like Taller de Mesas (leadership workshops) and the Retiro de Mesas equip young adults with pastoral skills, spiritual formation, and tools for comprehensive ministry.

  • Evangelization & Community Events – Regular gatherings, such as monthly leadership meetings, Día Deportivo (Sports Day), and the annual Christmas celebration, foster fellowship, faith sharing, and unity among parishes. These events create welcoming spaces for young adults to encounter Christ and build lasting relationships within the diocesan community.

  • Retreats & Spiritual Growth – PJH hosts annual retreats designed to renew faith, deepen discipleship, and strengthen the sense of mission among participants. Retreats often include themes of accompaniment, service, and discernment inspired by Church documents like Co-Workers in the Vineyard and Sons and Daughters of the Light.

  • Vocations & Discipleship Pathways – To help young adults discover their vocation in the Church and the world, PJH organizes monthly Horas Santas Vocacionales (Vocation Holy Hours) and Retiros Vocacionales. These experiences invite participants to pray, reflect, and discern how God calls them to live out their faith.

  • Networking & Accompaniment – PJH connects 15 parishes, two nonprofit organizations, and 18 ministry groups across seven deaneries, creating a diocesan network of leaders who share resources, collaborate, and support each other’s missions. This network strengthens the unity and visibility of Hispanic young adult ministry throughout the diocese.

Meet Gio Mandujano

Associate Director of Outreach

In this role, Gio collaborates with department staff as a visionary voice in strategic and research initiatives, and serves as the primary point of contact for Pastoral Juvenil Hispana. He partners closely with the Associate Director of Ministry Development to accompany and support parish and ministry leaders through on-site collaboration and formation.

A graduate of the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Gio brings over five years of ministry and administrative experience, most recently serving as Head of Young Adult Ministry at Comunidad Católica Merkaba and Parish Administrator at St. Cecilia Catholic Parish. Fully bilingual and deeply rooted in the Hispanic Catholic community, Gio is passionate about forming young missionary disciples and fostering unity across cultures in the Church.