National Convocation gets a joyful opening in Orlando

By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic

ORLANDO | Forty Miami delegates to a historic national gathering of Catholic leadership gathered here today were challenged to kindle in themselves and their communities a renewed sense of Christian joy.

Full of good humor and levity himself, New York Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan presided at the opening Mass July 1 for the long-anticipated and invitation-only Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America.

“A big part of the reason behind this convocation is your that your bishops, along with Pope Francis, believe the church needs a joyful renewal” despite the many hardships and setbacks that the Church encounters, Cardinal Dolan said at the afternoon Mass.

The opening event, held on the feast day of St. Junipero Serra and with gospel music by a parish choir from Tampa, was held in a ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Orlando adjoining the Orange County Convention Center.

Cardinal Dolan, an early proponent of the convocation, noted that some of the themes for the gathering include discipleship, unity, joy and mission. He said that authentic joy was a good place for everyone to start as the convocation delegates begin four days of dialogue and sharing on a vast array of topics and realities encompassing Catholic life today.

Sponsored and hosted by the U.S. bishops, the event includes large and small-group conversations on a sweeping array of topics including the current political climate, intercultural awareness, social media, social violence and unrest, vocations, parish life, family life and the state of Catholic education.

Hartford Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, told attendees that the premise of the convocation is that the delegates themselves are the church experts. "The process is meant to bring forth this expertise through dialogue with us and with each other,” Archbishop Blair said, asking the delegates -- sometimes referred to here as “stakeholders” -- to consider the significance and importance of this moment in church and U.S. history and how Catholics might best respond to the challenges.

In order to allow a deeper sense of candor and openness, most of the Convocation breakout sessions are closed to the press, according to organizers, while the large plenary sessions and celebrations of the Mass and other worship events were set to be open.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami had assembled a delegation of archdiocesan leadership, clergy and ministry representatives to join him in Orlando for the Convocation.

Stephen Colella, the archdiocese’s Cabinet Secretary of Parish Life, said the Miami delegation includes people who played a key role in organizing the recent archdiocesan synod and strategic planning efforts. Also there were staff involved with areas such as married life, youth and young adults, seminary life, respect life and immigration and refugee services.

Just getting her feet wet on the opening day in the vast spaces of the convention Center, Krysthell Castillo she was excited to be attending an event in her new capacity as the leader of Pastoral Juvenil, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Miami under the Office for Youth and Young Adults.

“It is an honor to know that our bishop and different leaders will be able to share the gospel that we live in our service, [and] share ideas of how to continue growing in our ministries,” Castillo said.

She said she looked forward to the opportunity to exchange ideas about youth and young adults and see what else the Church can do to bring them closer.

"I think that one of the greatest challenges we have as young and young adults is the adult counselors in our youth groups, who often do not listen to us, and it is difficult to attend to the needs of the young people, the lack of training and confidence of the priests in us,” she added.

“I know that this convocation will help me grow in my faith, know other realities, and motivate me to continue serving the young," she said. "It is important that they hear our voice."

Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, a former Miami auxiliary bishop, spoke to the media at a press conference following the opening day. He recalled his own sense of joy and Christian renewal at first being exposed to the vibrant people and cultures of Florida. He said he hoped the convocation proves to be a time to listen to one another and to learn from one another.

“I grew up in Miami, and it has enriched my life as a priest,” Bishop Noonan said, adding that he was taken with the sight of so many attendees mingling in the hallways at the convention center.

He noted that 60 percent of young Catholics in the United States are Hispanic, praising each culture as a "gift."

"People from all different walks of life are on hand who will bring a lot of vitality to this event," Bishop Noonan said. "All the ingredients are there to make it a joyful celebration." Key presenters and facilitators at the convocation will include Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles. Also speaking will be many other lay and religious leaders from Catholic organizations and ministries.

Rosemarie Banich, director of the archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adults, who played a leadership role in the archdiocesan synod, said she expects the convocation will be a time for absorbing ideas from other dioceses. She said she plans to listen for conversations on the challenges of retaining lifelong parish members, among Catholic youths in particular.