Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI)

What Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) does

Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) is the educational arm of the Regional Office of the Southeastern US Bishops for Hispanic Ministry, established in 1979 and headquartered at 7700 SW 56th Street, Miami, FL. The institution coordinates Hispanic pastoral formation across 30 dioceses spanning nine southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), serving a population of more than 7 million Hispanics. Operating through three pillars — Evangelization, Formation, and Communion — SEPI delivers a portfolio of formation programs including a Master's of Arts in Pastoral Ministry for Hispanics offered in consortium with Barry University, a two-level School of Ministries (150+ hours of theological preparation), a three-year Pastoral Leadership Seminar, workshops, and Spanish-language immersion courses. Supporting programs include youth ministry ('Libro de la Pascua' process and 'Hechos de Vida' podcast), family ministry resources, biennial Regional Encuentros and annual Provincial Encuentros, a weekly radio program ('La Voz del SEPI'), and a 26-room retreat house.

SEPI operates as a Florida-incorporated nonprofit (legal name: Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry, Inc.) with no proprietary technology platform; all programs are delivered through traditional in-person and ecclesiastical channels. Mobile teams have logged over 5,000,000 miles across the region for evangelization work, and the SEPI Book Service distributes more than 14,000 units of Spanish-language pastoral materials annually, with cumulative distribution exceeding 273,000 books since inception. Revenue is generated primarily through donations (collected via PayPal), tuition from the Barry University consortium Master's program, and Book Service sales. There is no publicly disclosed pricing for academic programs or retreats.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and Board of Directors composed of bishops from the 30 dioceses, with Most Rev. Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami serving as Chairperson. The leadership team, led by Executive Director Olga Lucía Villar, D.Min., comprises roughly 17 staff covering formation, youth ministry, family ministry, the retreat house, the Book Service, and administration. Strategic partnerships extend reach to the University of Notre Dame, USCCB Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church, La RED, NCADDHM, Federación de Institutos Pastorales (FIP), and Catholic Relief Services.

Name

Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI)

Legal name

Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry, Inc.

Website

https://sepi.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SEPI is the educational arm of the US Catholic Bishops' Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry, providing Spanish-language pastoral formation programs — including a Master's degree, schools of ministries, youth programs, and a book service — across 30 dioceses serving over 7 million Hispanics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Pastoral Formation

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAE

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAG

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAF

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAA

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

Keywords

• Hispanic pastoral formation
• Catholic theological education
• Religious ministry training
• Diocesan ministry coordination
• Spanish-language pastoral resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: SEPI relies heavily on donations and charitable contributions from individuals and organizations to fund their evangelization, formation, and communion programs serving Hispanic Catholics across 30 dioceses in the Southeast US.
2. Book Service and Publications: SEPI operates a bookstore (SEPI Book Service) that distributes books, CDs, DVDs, and publications, moving more than 14,000 units annually to facilitate access to pastoral and formation materials in Spanish.
3. Academic Program Fees: Revenue generated from the Master's program in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry offered in consortium with Barry University, including tuition for academic credits and course fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) provides Hispanic Catholic pastoral formation, theological education, and ministry training services to 30 dioceses across nine southeastern US states. Core offerings include a Master's degree in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry (delivered in consortium with Barry University), the School of Ministries two-level formation program, a three-year Pastoral Leadership Seminar, workshops, youth ministry programs, and Regional/Provincial Encuentros gatherings. Supporting services include the SEPI Book Service (distributing over 14,000 Spanish-language units annually) and a retreat house spiritual center in Miami, FL.

Product overview

Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) is a religious educational institution that offers a portfolio of formation programs for Hispanic Catholic ministry. The core offerings include an accredited Master's degree in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry (offered in partnership with Barry University), a two-level School of Ministries providing theological and pastoral formation (150+ hours), and a three-year Pastoral Leadership Seminar. Additional programs include workshops, youth ministry initiatives featuring the 'Libro de la Pascua' process, and regional/provincial Encuentros. Supporting services include a Book Service distributing Spanish-language pastoral materials, a retreat house facility, radio program 'La Voz del SEPI', and family ministry resources. The institution operates as a distributed educational organization serving 30 dioceses across nine southeastern U.S. states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Voz del SEPI: Radio program broadcast weekly through RADIO PAZ 830AM and Archangel Radio 1410AM
• Libro de la Pascua
• Hechos de Vida
• School of Ministries

Products and services

• Masters in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry Master's degree program in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry offered in consortium with Barry University, providing academic theological education for Hispanic leadership, delivered entirely in Spanish.
• School of Ministries

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ Hispanic communities established
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barry UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic consortium partnership for the Master's of Arts in Pastoral Ministry for Hispanics (MA.PASM) program. Barry University's Department of Theology and Philosophy provides academic accreditation for the degree offered entirely in Spanish through SEPI. This partnership represents SEPI's primary graduate-level educational offering.
• University of Notre DameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an institution in consortium with SEPI for formation programs, indicating collaboration in theological education and pastoral development.
• USCCB Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational-level collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' office addressing cultural diversity in the Church, supporting SEPI's mission for Hispanic ministry coordination.
• National Catholic Network De Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La RED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the national Catholic network for Hispanic youth ministry, providing resources and coordination for youth pastoral programs.
• National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry (NCADDHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the national association representing diocesan directors for Hispanic ministry, facilitating networking and best practice sharing.
• Federación de Institutos Pastorales (FIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the federation of pastoral institutes, supporting shared formation resources and methodologies across Hispanic ministry organizations.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRS Mission and Mobilization partners with SEPI to engage U.S. Catholics in solidarity with the poor, providing tools and resources for social justice promotion through Catholic social teaching to Hispanic ministry leaders.
• Radio Paz 830AMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadcast partner for 'La Voz del SEPI' radio program in the Archdiocese of Miami, airing Saturdays at 8PM Eastern Time.
• Archangel Radio 1410AMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadcast partner for 'La Voz del SEPI' radio program in the Archdiocese of Mobile, AL, airing multiple times weekly during 'En Su Idioma' programming slot.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barry University: SEPI's academic consortium partner providing accredited theological coursework for the Master's in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry. Comparable as a Hispanic-serving Catholic institution delivering graduate theological education, and a structural dependency for SEPI's degree-granting authority.
• NCADDHM — National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry: National association representing diocesan directors of Hispanic ministry. Comparable as a peer organization sharing SEPI's customer base (diocesan Hispanic ministry leadership) and partnering on best-practice and formation coordination.
• Catholic Theological Union (Chicago): The largest Catholic graduate school of theology in North America, offering graduate theological degrees for Hispanic ministry preparation. Comparable as a peer provider of accredited Spanish-language theology and pastoral ministry formation programs.
• La RED — National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana: National Catholic network for Hispanic youth ministry that partners with SEPI. Comparable as a parallel organization serving Hispanic Catholic youth formation nationally and a key ecosystem partner for SEPI's Pastoral Juvenil programs.
• Federación de Institutos Pastorales (FIP): A federation of pastoral institutes that collaborates with SEPI on shared formation resources and methodologies. Comparable as a peer network of Catholic pastoral formation institutes, including many that operate regional Masters-level formation programs.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Extension: National Catholic organization funding underserved Catholic communities and ministry formation across the US. Comparable as a peer nonprofit that supports Hispanic Catholic ministry capacity-building through grants and scholarships.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS): USCCB-affiliated agency that partners with SEPI through its Mission and Mobilization program to engage US Catholics in solidarity with the poor. Comparable as a major Catholic nonprofit operating through USCCB structures and reaching Hispanic Catholic ministry leaders.
• USCCB Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church: The national-level USCCB office coordinating Hispanic and other ethnic pastoral ministries across the US. Comparable as the umbrella body that charters and funds SEPI's Regional Office, and a broader incumbent that sets national Hispanic ministry policy.
• University of Notre Dame — Institute for Latino Studies / Theology Programs: Listed as a consortium institution with SEPI for formation programs. Comparable as a leading Catholic university with theological formation and Latino ministry scholarship that intersects with SEPI's educational mission.

Regional players

• Southwest Catholic Hispanic Pastoral Ministry Office (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston / USCCB Region XI): A USCCB regional Hispanic ministry office analogous to SEPI but serving the Southwest US. Comparable as a regional peer organization with a parallel charter to coordinate Hispanic pastoral formation across its dioceses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI)