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By Marie Mulvenna, Special To The Bulletin
LOS ANGELES—Celebrating the rich and expanding multicultural
tapestry of the Catholic Church in the United States, some 5,000 Catholics,
including 88 bishops and hundreds of priests, gathered July 6-9 for
“Encuentro 2000: Many Faces In God’s House!”
The Encuentro was called the national celebration of the Jubilee
Year. About 50 from the archdiocese participated in the four-day event in Los
Angeles.
The unique gathering was convened by the National Conference of
Catholic Bishops/U.S. Catholic Conference to focus in depth on the increasing
diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds in the North American church.
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, president of the
NCCB, welcomed participants. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, who hosted
the event, said it was “a wonderful opportunity to share our unique
cultures and histories and to renew our commitment to be a church that is
welcoming to all those who wish to enter its doors.”
The Encuentro process had its roots in the Hispanic Catholic
community, where it has been utilized to bring greater unity to the diverse
Hispanic community made up of Catholics from many countries and regions. But
the 2000 session for the Jubilee Year, considered the pinnacle for
intercultural ministry, involved all nationalities.
The Latino community of Los Angeles began the proceedings with a
mariachi band welcoming the celebration. Opening prayer in the Celtic tradition
featured Irish harp music and song and the Polish community of San Francisco
presented a dramatic program in native dress honoring the Black Madonna, Our
Lady of Czestochowa.
In various sessions throughout the Encuentro, religious traditions
from the Filipino, African-American, Korean and Tongan cultures were offered.
Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston presided at a reconciliation
service seeking forgiveness among the various groups in order to rebuild the
diverse Catholic community for the new millennium.
At a closing Jubilee Mass, Cardinal Mahony reminded participants
that they had gathered in the spirit of a new Pentecost. The “many
faces” of the church seen at the Encuentro are a visible sign of the one
body of Christ, he said, mentioning the youth and young adults, new immigrants,
sons, daughters and grandchildren of immigrants who arrived generations ago and
those who have long been in this country.
“All are gathered here to celebrate the faith that is the
unifying center of our diversity,” the cardinal said.
Keynote speakers included Most Rev. Francois X. Nguyen Van Thuan,
president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City; Sister
Marie Chin, RSM, president of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the
Americas; Dr. David Beckman, president of Bread for the World; Sister Carolee
Chanona, RSM, coordinator of small Christian communities in the Diocese of
Belize; Bishop Wilton Gregory, vice president of the NCCB; Father Mario
Vizcaino, SchP., executive director of the Southeast Pastoral Institute in
Miami; Kathy McGinnis, co-founder of the Institute for Peace and Justice; Msgr.
Raymond East, pastor of Nativity Church, Washington, D.C.; and Georgiana
Sanchez, instructor of American Indian studies at California State University.
Marie Mulvenna attended the Encuentro 2000 with a
delegation from Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City.
FROM HOLY TRINITY—Peachtree City priests and parishioners
take part in “Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God’s House!” in Los
Angeles July 6-9. Shown (l-r) are Elsie Ramos-Fuentes, Marta Ramos, Father John
Walsh, pastor, Joan Velsmid, Father Fernando Molina-Restrepo, parochial vicar,
and Marie Mulvenna. Michele Varisco also attended.
MANY FACES—Father John Walsh, pastor of Holy Trinity Church,
Peachtree City, processes in with other priests for a Mass celebrated during
the Encuentro 2000. |
