Young adults to brainstorm with faith at V Encuentro
August 16, 2017
About 800 faithful attending the National Cursillo Encounter in San Antonio July 27 to 30 celebrated Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Boulette of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Photo courtesy of Norma Vasquez.
HOUSTON — Young Hispanic adults selected by their parishes will be meeting Sept. 16 at the Archdiocesan Fifth National Encuentro to brainstorm about what they need from the Church and what they can give to the Church and community.
Interim Hispanic Ministry Director Joe Castro said, “The most exciting aspect of this is to energize our base of young people, both English and Spanish. They talk and listen to each other with positive results of inviting those on the periphery back into the Church.”
Pope Francis explained, in a letter supporting the initiative by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), “The main goal of the V Encuentro is to discern ways in which the Church in the United States can better respond to the Hispanic/Latino presence, and to strengthen the ways in which Hispanic/Latinos respond to the call of the New Evangelization as missionary disciples serving the entire Church.”
Castro said the Archdiocese has a team which conducted training sessions for parishes and training for young adults under the age of 35. The parish Encuentro wrapped up in June and those selected as delegates will attend the Archdiocesan V Encuentro Sept. 16 at St. Dominic’s Center.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is scheduled to briefly speak in support to thank the young people for their time and dedication. Auxiliary Bishop George A. Sheltz is also scheduled to celebrate the afternoon Mass for the delegates, Castro said.
“About 30 parishes have selected 10 or more delegates each so we are expecting about 350 people. From those, delegates will be chosen to attend the regional and national Encuentro in 2018,” he said.
The Fifth Encuentro theme is “Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God’s Love.” Among the objectives is “to promote a vision of the Church in mission that develops effective pathways to invite, engage and form Hispanic Catholic youths, young adults, families and lay ecclesial movements to live out their baptismal vocation. This includes the promotion of vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life.”
For more information, the website vencuentro.org contains parish and other resources.
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