By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
ORLANDO | Some 3,500 Catholic leaders nationwide are spending July 4 weekend here in an unprecedented way, by asking, among other questions, how best to evangelize the “peripheries” that Pope Francis writes about.
On Monday morning at the long-anticipated and invitation-only Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America, a session discussed those who are disengaged from the Church, those who are in poverty and who struggle, those with disabilities, those who are “hurt, angry, and uncertain.”
Held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center in Central Florida, the event has brought together lay and religious leaders from 160 dioceses and 185 national organizations to explore the current challenges and strengths of the Church and its evangelization efforts.
_1499101855.jpg)
Photographer: Tom Tracy
Dallas Bishop Edward Burns, one of the emcees of the keynote presentations and panel discussion, "Going to the Peripheries," talks with an attendee at the 2017 Convocation of Catholic Leaders July 3 in Orlando. Bishop Burns set the tone for one of the key conversations at the convocation.
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel), has been a foundation for conversations at the four-day convocation.
Citing an extreme example of breaching the peripheries, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, told the convocation of a priest who regularly traveled from South Korea into North Korea to care for the impoverished people living in abject poverty north of that border.
But the place to start becoming better missionary disciples, he said, is possibly with ourselves and our families.
“The most difficult challenge may not so much be going out into the world but reaching out to our neighbors, to not only do more but to be more,” Anderson said. “This convocation calls us to examine our own identity, and the new evangelization calls for personal involvement as missionary disciples.
“The closest person to us in need of evangelization is not even our neighbor but ourselves. The family is the model place for living out the faith. The family and parish life must become a place for encountering Jesus Christ,” Anderson said.
If Catholics look deep enough into the peripheries, they will see that the boundaries between people will begin to disappear, he predicted. He recommended looking to American saints and martyrs such as Kateri Tekakwitha and others for inspiration as “patron saints of the periphery” and as missionary disciples.
_1499101855.jpg)
Photographer: Tom Tracy
A globe and mission-related booth were on display at the 2017 Convocation of Catholic Leaders held July 1-4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
The panelists agreed that personal holiness -- but not perfection -- is a necessary ingredient in becoming missionary disciples.
Sister Norma Pimentel, who works with border issues and refugees through Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in San Juan, Texas, told the convocation that a missionary disciple has to trust that “God is with you and he will guide you.”
“And trust yourself as well,” added Pimentel, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus religious order.
Carolyn Woo, past CEO and executive director of the Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, noted that CRS often works in extreme places where open conversion to Christianity could be a death sentence for residents. So why would the Church go there?
“We have to remember the friendship, solidarity and trust of these countries who have given us an invitation from the state and from the local Church,” Woo answered, noting that “making God real” is her personal definition of missionary discipleship.
“For us, evangelization says God’s love is real, here and now and concrete,” she said.
During a Q&A portion, the Knights’ Carl Anderson said there was absolutely no reason the U.S. government shouldn’t officially be doing everything it could to defend and assist Christian refugees in places like the Middle East.
The Knights of Columbus were the major underwriting sponsor of the 2017 Convocation.
On hand at the convocation are some 40 delegates from Miami -- one of the largest diocesan contingents -- along with 155 cardinals, archbishops and bishops; along with 125 deacons, 50 Catholic medical professionals, 380 priests, 175 religious women, and 10 religious brothers.
The top 10 states that sent delegates include California, Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Minnesota and Michigan. Before the historic gathering concludes July 4, the Miami delegation plans to meet and review lessons learned, as well as begin a process of follow-up goal-setting for South Florida.
Also see Convocation by the Numbers.
