By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA—The invitation reads “Come To Me.” The archdiocese hopes thousands will accept, gathering the body of Christ together for a joyful celebration and bringing forth especially those who are returning to their Catholic faith.

The celebration will be held June 16, coinciding with the feast of Corpus Christi, at the Georgia International Convention Center. Tickets are now available for “Come To Me,” the eucharistic day of spiritual renewal for active and inactive Catholics and for all those seeking to grow in their Christian faith.

Expected to draw at least 7,000, the event opens with a eucharistic procession at 9:30 a.m. and concludes with the celebration of Mass at 5 p.m. Separate sessions for children, teens and adults, and a multicultural session, will feature speakers from around the country.

Speakers will include the archbishops of Philadelphia and Denver, a Capuchin Franciscan who preaches regularly to Pope John Paul II and the papal household, several Hispanic bishops, and speakers and musicians who evangelize especially among Catholic teens.

The event marks a year dedicated to the evangelization of Catholics who have been away from the practice of their faith.

Last June 25 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Archbishop Donoghue called for Catholics to reach out to those who have been isolated from the church, in response to Pope John Paul II’s call to make the new millennium a “new springtime for evangelization.” The archbishop hopes to see the fruits of those efforts at the June 16 celebration, which, he believes, will enrich the faith of all Catholics.

“I want to encourage all our Catholic people throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta to make a special effort to attend the Eucharistic Celebration on June 16,” he said. “This will be a wonderful opportunity for all of us to demonstrate our faith, our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and our love for Him. I can think of no better way to help our children appreciate this wonderful gift of the Lord to us—His own Body and Blood. I am confident that the Lord will bless all of us for making whatever sacrifice is necessary to be there. I look forward to seeing as many people there as possible.”

Over 100 archdiocesan-wide organizations and all parishes and Catholic schools are invited to participate in the opening procession and Mass procession and to make and carry a banner representing their community. Following the opening procession and Benediction, the Blessed Sacrament will be reserved for adoration all day. Priests will be available to offer the sacrament of reconciliation to those who attend.

After Benediction and opening remarks, separate tracks will be offered for those who attend.

Speakers for the general session are Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., of Denver, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa and Jeff Cavins, who will also speak at the teen session.

Father Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, and the opening speaker, will speak on reconciliation with the theme of “ComeTo Me: Forgiveness.”

Cavins, speaking on the topic “Come To Me: Coming Home,” will talk about his own conversion experience and journey back to the church.

Archbishop Chaput, speaking on the theme of “Come To Me: Be With Me,” will talk about being a disciple of Christ and living a Catholic life.

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia will be the principal celebrant of and homilist at the closing Mass. He will preach on the theme of “Come To Me: I Am With You,” speaking about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The “Come To Me” event flows from the Eucharistic Renewal that has been underway in the archdiocese since 1996.

Cardinal Bevilacqua, 78, is from a family of 11 children in Brooklyn, N.Y. Following his graduation from Cathedral College in 1943, he attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., and was ordained in June 1949 in Brooklyn.

He holds a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Gregorian University and a master’s degree in political science from Columbia University in New York. He also received a degree in civil law from St. John’s University Law School in Queens, N.Y. He is admitted to practice before the courts of New York, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Supreme Court, and has taught canon law and immigration law.

In 1971, he established Brooklyn’s Catholic Migration and Refugee Office, which he directed until 1983, and he served as chancellor of the Brooklyn Diocese for seven years. Ordained on Nov. 24, 1980 as an auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn, he was appointed bishop of Pittsburgh in 1983 by Pope John Paul II.

On Dec. 8, 1987, the pope appointed him archbishop of Philadelphia. Three years later, Archbishop Bevilacqua was elevated to the College of Cardinals by the pope in a consistory held June 28, 1991.

Since coming to Philadelphia, Cardinal Bevilacqua has made spiritual renewal of the faithful a priority and has undertaken an active pastoral ministry. Cardinal Bevilacqua was the first and only cardinal in the world to host a live weekly radio call-in program, entitled “Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua,” which aired on WZZD-AM in Philadelphia from 1995-2000.

Cardinal Bevilacqua serves as an advisor to the U.S. Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as a member of the U.S. Bishops Committee on Evangelization.

Archbishop Chaput, 56, was born in Concordia, Kan., and joined the order of Friars Minor Capuchin in the St. Augustine Province in 1965. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Fidelis College in Herman, Pa., a master’s degree in religious education from Capuchin College in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in theology from the University of San Francisco. In 1968, he took his perpetual vows and he was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 29, 1970.

From 1971-74, then-Father Chaput served as instructor in theology and spiritual director at St. Fidelis College Seminary. From 1974-77, he served as the executive secretary and director of communications in the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh. From 1977-80 he served as the vicar provincial in the Capuchin Province of Mid-America.

From 1977-88, Archbishop Chaput served in various positions, including as pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Thornton, Colo., as provincial secretary and treasurer of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America in Kansas City, Mo., and as director of postulants and vocation director in the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. In 1983, he was elected provincial minister and chief executive officer of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America in Denver. He was reelected to a second three-year term in 1986.

On April 11, 1988, he was appointed bishop of Rapid City, S.D. He was consecrated as a bishop on July 26, 1988. On Feb. 18, 1997, he was appointed archbishop of Denver and he was installed as archbishop on April 7, 1997.

Father Cantalamessa, 66, is a Capuchin Franciscan who was born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. A doctor of divinity and a doctor of classical literature, Father Cantalamessa was formerly a professor of the history of ancient Christianity and director of the department of religious sciences at the Catholic University of Milan. He served as a member of the International Theological Commission from 1975-81.

Ordained a priest in 1958, Father Cantalamessa felt called to leave his teaching position and become a full-time preacher of the Gospel after coming in contact with the Catholic charismatic renewal. In 1980, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as a preacher to the papal household, in which capacity he still serves, preaching a weekly sermon during Advent and Lent in the presence of the pope, cardinals, bishops and prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders. He is frequently invited to speak at international and ecumenical conferences and rallies and runs a weekly religious program on Italian state television, discussing the Gospel for the following Sunday.

He has been a member of the Catholic delegation for the formal ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and Pentecostal churches for the last 10 years and has authored 14 books.

Cavins, a lay Catholic who teaches televised presentations on Scripture, is known for his public speaking and for communicating his deep love for Jesus and zeal to both adults and youth with clarity and enthusiasm. He has presented over 3,000 one-hour talks on various faith-related topics. After 12 years as a Protestant pastor, Cavins returned to the Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Paul Dudley. His autobiography, “My Life on the Rock,” chronicles his surprising and often humorous story.

Over the past several years, Cavins developed a practical, interactive Bible timeline system that enables students to understand the chronological flow of the Scriptures. He used this approach at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where he taught “Introduction to Scripture” for one year and also presents it in seminar form across the country.

Cavins received his master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University with catechetical certification. He received with honors a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He received Bible training from Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, and from the Institute of Ministry in Bradenton, Fla. He graduated from Brown Institute, a school for radio and television broadcasting, in Minneapolis.

Cavins is currently producer and host of a live talk show for young adults called “Life on the Rock” on Eternal Word Television Network. He substitutes for Mother Angelica on her live shows when she is ill or traveling. Cavins is senior vice-president of religious services at e3mil, a Catholic web portal, where he oversees “@Home with the Word,” an on-line weekly Bible study written by Cavins and Dr. Scott Hahn. Cavins also works in partnership with Hahn, a faculty member of Franciscan University, in the Institute for Applied Biblical Studies, which encourages the study of the Bible through its newsletter and conferences.

Cavins is a contributing author to “Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God.” He and his wife, Emily, reside in Minnesota with their three daughters, Carly, Jacqueline and Antonia.

Speakers for the multicultural session include Bishop James A. Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo, Texas, and Bishop Agustìn Román, auxiliary bishop of Miami.

Bishop Tamayo is the first bishop of the Diocese of Laredo, in south Texas, which was created in 2000 by taking three and a half counties each from the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Bishop Tamayo was born in Brownsville, Texas. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1976 in Corpus Christi and he was elevated to the episcopacy on March 10, 1993.

As auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, Bishop Tamayo served as episcopal vicar for Hispanic ministry and as diocesan liaison to youth and young adults. He is a diocesan consultor and member of the diocesan finance committee. On the national level, Bishop Tamayo serves on the International Committee of the U.S. Catholic Conference and the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Tamayo earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

Bishop Román became the first Cuban in 200 years to be appointed a bishop in the United States, when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1979.

Bishop Román, 72, was ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 1959. He studied philosophy at St. Albert the Great Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, and theology at the Seminary for Foreign Missions in Montreal, Canada. He earned a master’s degree in human resources from Biscayne College, now St. Thomas University in Lop-Locka, Fla., and a master’s degree in religious studies from Barry College in Miami.

He came to south Florida after being expelled from Cuba by Fidel Castro’s regime. He and 132 other Cuban priests, including Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal, who is now an auxiliary bishop in Venezuela, were aboard the Spanish ship “Covadonga” when it sailed from Havana on Sept. 17, 1961.

Bishop Román ministered in Chile for four years before coming to Miami in 1966, where he became identified, almost immediately, with the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. His exhortations to fellow exiles to donate “kilos prietos,” or tarnished pennies—what little they could afford in those early days—over a seven-year period raised enough to pay for the construction of the Shrine on Biscayne Bay. Dedicated to Cuba’s patroness, it has become a beacon for exiles, luring thousands of worshipers each year. Bishop Román is still the director of the Shrine, where he is often found greeting visitors, responding to letters from fellow Cuban exiles and answering the phone.

In addition to his native Spanish, he is fluent in Latin, English and French and currently serves on the U.S. Bishops Committee for Hispanic Affairs. He was also a member of the Committee on Migration and Tourism. Prior to becoming a bishop, he worked as a hospital chaplain; director of the Cursillo movement; spiritual director of the charismatic movement; member of the committee on popular piety; and episcopal vicar for the Spanish-speaking people of the archdiocese, a post he still holds.

The son of humble Cuban peasants, Bishop Román has never forgotten his roots. His ministry in South Florida has been marked by humility and tenacity. He tends to speak in parables, using stories full of everyday symbolism to illustrate his point. Yet in his quiet, unassuming way, he gets things done.

At no time was this more evident than in December 1986, when Cuban detainees rioted in federal prisons in Atlanta and Oakdale, La., to protest their indefinite incarceration and probable deportation to Cuba. Seeking a mediator for their negotiations with federal agents, the prisoners called on Bishop Román, who had been corresponding with many of them or their families since their arrival on the 1980 Mariel boatlift. His role in ending the crisis without loss of blood earned him recognition as ABC News’ Person of the Week, “a man of compassion, gentility and commitment . . . a man with a strong personality and humble spirit.”

When the press began calling him a hero, Bishop Román responded with characteristic humility: “A bishop, a priest, is a servant, not a hero.”

Speakers for the teen session include Jeff Cavins, Father Stan Fortuna, CFR, Matt Smith of MTV’s “The Real World” and Karen Reynolds of Franciscan University of Steubenville. Music will be led by Ed Bolduc and band.

Father Fortuna is one of the eight original members of the community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a religious order established in the Archdiocese of New York under the jurisdiction of the late Cardinal John O’Connor in 1987.

Opening the teen session, he will speak on “The Invitation,” which will focus on Christ’s love for them and their baptismal

He is internationally known for his music as well as for his preaching. Father Fortuna travels extensively, proclaiming the Gospel at conferences, retreats and national and international youth prayer festivals, and performing his music. He has been a featured speaker at Franciscan University’s Youth Conferences and also at Youth 2000 events.

In 1987 Father Fortuna established Francesco Productions, a nonprofit record company. Money from sales of his CDs and tapes goes to the hands-on work with the poor done by the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal. His works include “Sacro Song” and “The Spirit of the Lord and the Art of Improvising, First.” Father Fortuna is also on the tape series’ “Five Lessons From the Cross, Saved by Who for What?” and “You Did It to Me.” He tours with the Catholic band Crispin.

The second teen speaker, Karen Reynolds, has been serving in youth ministry for the past 13 years, most recently as a speaker at Steubenville Youth Conferences and as coordinator of the Young Apostles affiliated with the conferences.

Her topic will be “RSVP: Are You Coming or Not?” She will speak about teens saying yes to discipleship and being committed to their baptismal call.

In the past, Reynolds has worked extensively with Young Life as a volunteer, in direct ministry, as an area director and as a development director. She has taught confirmation classes, given retreats for Catholic schools and continues to work with parishes to train Catholic youth ministers. She currently works at Franciscan University as a program coordinator for youth outreach. Her greatest passion is sharing the love of Christ with young people.

Many will recognize Matt Smith from MTV’s hit reality show “The Real World New Orleans.” A dean’s list Georgia Tech student and Life Teen core member at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, Smith was set apart from his six fellow roommates by a “funky retro cool style,” but more so because of his moral stands on the show.

“My hope is that my roommates and the viewers of the show see that I am different than most people in this world—evident in my morals and words—and they understand that that difference stems from a light deep within my soul,” he said. “My prayer is that they see Jesus.”

Millions of teens were tuned in while Smith professed his commitment to loving his future wife and giving his virginity to the woman he hopes to one day meet and marry. Smith also explained Catholic teaching on homosexual acts to a roommate who felt hated and judged by people from his hometown and stood beside another roommate when others had long since given up.

Raised in a strong Catholic family, Smith is the national spokesperson for Life Teen. Since the show wrapped up filming, Smith has been speaking to young people about his relationship with Jesus and his adventures in faith.

His talk will be called “The Celebration.” It will focus on how to live the Christian life in a world full of temptations.

Ed Bolduc will lead the music for the teen session.

In July 1992, Randy Raus, now national director of the Life Teen program, hired Bolduc to be the music minister for the new Life Teen program at the Church of St. Ann in Marietta. Along with Raus, Bolduc has helped to develop one of the largest Life Teen programs in the country.

Schooled as a classical pianist, Bolduc has written over 65 songs, composing liturgical music used around the country. His CDs include “Heaven and Earth,” “We Are Faithful” and “Face of God,” featuring music from St. Ann’s Life Teen program. Bolduc has worked extensively with Tom Booth, national music director for the Life Teen program. Together they have developed music that has brought thousands of teens around the country to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Bolduc believes that the Lord is using him as a tool to spread the Gospel message and says he is grateful that God has chosen to use him as his vessel. Bolduc writes music that is about an intimate relationship with Christ. This type of music, he believes, is critical for today’s youth because it has the power to make a real impact on one’s spiritual development.

For the past three summers, Bolduc has led music for Steubenville Atlanta, one of Franciscan University’s High School Youth Conferences.

Jennifer Garrard of St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell, the head of the teen track committee, said that teens will benefit from the learning experience.

“This year Pope John Paul II wants us to focus on evangelization and I believe that this is a great opportunity that we have to teach our teens to be disciples for Christ and to celebrate the richness and traditions of our Catholic faith,” she said.

The children’s track, offered for children ages 5 to 10, will feature 20-minute segments about the life of Christ. Music, crafts, games and two short movies will be interspersed between the segments.

With 230 children expected to attend, 23 catechists from various parishes throughout the archdiocese will each lead a table comprised of 10 children.

Mary Lou Gamache of St. Catherine of Siena Church, Kennesaw, who heads up the children’s track committee, said that parents can feel comfortable leaving their children in the hands of the catechists.

“I think that this is basically about bringing Christ to the kids and each of these teachers has a heart for children,” she said. “It’s great because parents can enjoy their own track while the kids are learning with us.”

The daylong event on the weekend when Corpus Christi, the feast of the body and blood of Christ, is celebrated, continues a focus by Archbishop Donoghue on evangelization and renewal through Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.

After instituting perpetual adoration of the Eucharist at the Cathedral of Christ the King a year and a half earlier, Archbishop Donoghue in 1996 called for a time of Eucharistic Renewal in the archdiocese, formally beginning on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 9, 1996.

Each year since 1996, the archdiocese has marked the anniversary of the renewal with a celebration at the Cathedral. The June 25, 2000 celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi marked the fourth anniversary of the Eucharistic Renewal in the archdiocese, as well as the beginning of the new mission called for by the archbishop—the mission to bring Catholics who have drifted away back home to the church.

The June 16, 2001 event will mark the fifth anniversary of the Eucharistic Renewal.

Members of the evangelization steering committee were appointed by Archbishop Donoghue in January 2000. The committee is made up of approximately 30 people who currently serve the archdiocese in various ways. Clergy and Religious on the committee include Father Paul Reynolds, vicar general in curia, Msgr. Louis Naughton, judicial vicar, Father Jaime Barona, Father Tim Hepburn, Father John Hopkins, LC, Father Larry Niese, Deacon Whitney Robichaux and Sister Valentina Sheridan, RSM.

To mark the efforts in bringing back those away from the church, Bob Allen of the Cathedral of Christ the King designed a logo now familiar to the archdiocese, of Jesus as the Good Shepherd caring for the lost sheep. This logo has been used around the archdiocese in connection with parish programs inviting Catholics back to listening sessions and opportunities for reconciliation.

A new logo, designed by The Georgia Bulletin creative director Deacon Mike Balfour, is being used as the symbol for the June 16 “Come To Me” event. It features an image of Jesus with his arms outstretched, merging with his presence in the Eucharist.

Ministries of the archdiocese will have tables at the event in order to assist newcomers to the North Georgia archdiocese and those returning to the church. Ministries will include: addiction intervention; adult education; baptism; annulment ministry; altar care; bereavement; Bible study; cancer support groups; Catholic seniors; Catholic singles; church environment; Cursillo; Elijah Cup; extraordinary ministers; family life; garden club; Habitat for Humanity; homeless shelter; Ignatius House; Interfaith Outreach Home; Knights of Columbus; lectors; Life Teen; liturgy support group; Marian Movement of Priests; Marian devotion; Marriage Encounter; marriage preparation; men’s club; ministry to shut-ins; mothers of young children; music; parish school of religion; prayer chain; prayer and praise; pro-life ministry; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; religious education; social outreach; St. Vincent de Paul Society; ushers; welcoming committee; women’s guild; women’s prayer and share; youth ministry and young married group.

Tickets for the event are $10 for the general, children’s and multicultural sessions. This does not include lunch, which may be purchased at the convention center.

Tickets for the teen session are $20 each, which includes lunch and a T-shirt.

Tickets are available through the office of the vice-chancellor. To register for the event, send name, parish name, address, phone number and e-mail address, along with a check payable to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to Rebecca Theisen, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, 680 West Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30308-1984. For more information, call Theisen at (404) 751-2382.

Parishes and groups who plan to march in the procession should call Deacon Lloyd Sutter at the archdiocesan Department of Religious Education for banner specifications and to confirm attendance. Please call (404) 885-7412 by April 2. A stand for the banners will be provided for each group with confirmed attendance.

Come Holy Spirit; fill us with your life. Open our hearts and minds to receive the love of the Father. Draw us to experience anew the mercy and forgiveness of Christ. Send us forth to proclaim this good news to all people. Bring back those who are away from the fullness of the faith. Let the “new evangelization” take root here in our midst and throughout the world. Enlightened by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed by our Eucharistic Lord, may we bring the love of the Father to all humanity.

Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, pray for us. Amen.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue has requested that this prayer be read at the end of every Mass in every parish of the archdiocese for the fruitfulness of all the efforts to reach out to Catholics who are away from the church and to help them be reconciled. Individuals are also encouraged to pray for the fruitfulness of the evangelization effort requested by Pope John Paul II.

For more information about the event, go on- line to: atlantacatholic.org.