Atlanta conference aims to help African-American Catholics evangelize

Published: 2006-08-15

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Nearly 500 African-American priests and Catholic laypeople from 20 U.S. dioceses came to Atlanta in August to focus on becoming better evangelizers through prayer, the sacraments and solid formation, and trusting in God's grace and love to overcome any personal limitations. The Aug. 4-6 Interregional African-American Catholic Evangelization Conference had as its theme "Gettin' on the Good Foot, Runnin' to the Kingdom," a reference to the prophet Isaiah's call to the people who had grown complacent in exile to return to Jerusalem to work and wait for the promises of God to be fulfilled. At the opening Mass Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley of Washington spoke of the importance of having solid catechetical formation through the study of the catechism, Scripture, church documents and the lives of the saints. He also stressed the value of feeding one's spirit to become enlightened through Christ and thus a light to others. "Don't settle for junk food or fast food when you can have a gourmet meal," Bishop Holley said.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .