By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD - For Rogelio Flores of Loveland, attending the Miami River Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was an easy choice.

A member of the Latter-day Saints since birth, Flores, who is originally from Mexico, was looking for a place where he could worship with his wife, Marina, originally from Argentina, and their three children.

She doesn't speak English well, but that doesn't matter in the Spanish-speaking congregation of the Miami River Branch in Fairfield. The church has a second Latter-day Saints branch, the Ohio River Branch, in Lakeside Park.

"There's obviously a growing Hispanic population, and many of the people who come here who don't speak English are never going to be fluent in it," Flores said. "It's important for them to have a place to hear God's message.

"More than half of our congregation is converts. We have a lot of focus on missionary work, and people who were searching for something, have found it with us," said Flores, 30. "There isn't a Sunday when we don't have visitors."

He and the other members of the church are part of growing population in Greater Cincinnati, and one that is attracting the attention of many area churches. More of them are offering services to Spanish speaking congregation members.

This summer, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Anderson Township began a regular Sunday Mass in Spanish at 1:15 p.m.

"We began to look into it a few years ago, and found in the 2000 Census, that we have one of the highest populations of Spanish-speaking people in this area," said Father Jan Schmidt, pastor at Immaculate Heart. "These people are Catholic and if we don't reach out to them, someone else will."

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has several other churches with Spanish masses, including St. Charles Borromeo and St. Julie Billiart in Hamilton. It also operates the Su Casa Hispanic Ministry Center.

In Northern Kentucky, an increasing Hispanic population - the 14-county Diocese of Covington saw a 235 percent increase from 1990 to 2000, according to census figures - has also prompted action. This summer, the diocese established its first new parish since the late 1980s, Cristo Rey (or Christ the King), with not only Sunday masses in Spanish at 12:15 p.m., but also daily Mass.

Last Sunday, Father John Cahill was installed as pastor of the parish, which meets at the diocese's Catholic Center, 975 Donaldson Road, Erlanger.

"We have 300 chairs, and last Sunday, we had standing room only," Cahill said of the service. He's performed 12 baptisms since the church's July 11 founding and there are three weddings planned.

But Hispanic ministry is about more than just Spanish-speaking services. Cristo Rey is also home to the Centro de Amistad, or Friendship Center, which facilitates and organizes services for Hispanic people, such as banking assistance, health fairs and English classes.

"Worship is never separate from what we live, so we practice what we worship and help each other, showing God's love," Cahill said.

At the Vineyard Community Church in Springdale, there is an 11:30 a.m. Sunday service with Spanish interpretation. The church also provides a weekly small discussion group, English classes and distribution of food and clothing to those in need.

The Miami River Branch also provides similar assistance to its members, and at Immaculate Heart, one Sunday each month the congregation has a fellowship meal following the Spanish mass.

"We hope to be one large parish community with a growing understanding of one another," Schmidt said.

Children's book author to speak

Cheryl Cook, author of Scripture to Grow On, will be signing books and talk about children and the Bible on Sept. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Brighter Day Christian Bookstore, 5941 Hamilton Ave., College Hill.

The event is free and open to the public.

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To submit religion news, e-mail kbvance@adelphia.net or send a fax to 755-4150.