Asian and Pacific Island News & Events

News

Read news pertaining to the Asian and Pacific Islander community. For more news, check out the e-newsletter archive, USCCB news releases, and the Catholic News Service (CNS) website.

Tropical Storm Tembin-Philippines

• December 2017 - In response to the flooding, mudslides/landslides, and damage caused by Tropical Storm Tembin in the Philippines, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) released a prayer in solidarity with the victims of this natural disaster. You can also help CRS respond to this crisis by donating to their relief efforts.
  

Papal Visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh November 27-December 2, 2017

• December 1, 2017 - Defend God's image by defending the Rohingya, pope urges by Cindy Wooden
• November 28, 2017 - Respect the rights of all groups, pope tells Myanmar's leaders by Cindy Wooden
• November 27, 2017 - Update: Pope meets generals after brief welcome by children in Myanmar by Cindy Wooden

National Assembly of Filipino Priests November 7-10, 2017

• November 27, 2017 - Filipino priests called to walk with fellow immigrant Catholics by James Ramos

News Releases

• January 23, 2018 - Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton; Names Auxiliary Bishop Myron Cotta as Successor
• October 6, 2017 - Pope Francis Names Fr. Thanh Thai Nguyen as New Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, CA
• August 5, 2017 - New Bishop of Syro-Malankara Eparchy of St. Mary Queen of Peace of the U.S. and Canada is Named; First Bishop of New Eparchy in Parassala, India also Named
• January 10, 2017 - Pope Francis Names Auxiliary Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Chairman of the Subcommittee for Asian & Pacific Island Affairs, Bishop of Salt Lake City, UT

15th Annual Asian and Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage

• May 6, 2017 - Read Cardinal Wuerl's homily and view pictures from the 15th Annual Asian and Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage.

Events in 2018

May 2018 - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

May 5, 2018 - The 16th Annual Asian and Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. This annual event brings together many Asian and Pacific Islander Catholic communities to celebrate their heritage and Marian devotions. Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, bishop of Salt Lake City and chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, will be the main celebrant and homilist.

May 24, 2018 - Day of Prayer for the Church in China

June 12, 2018 - Subcommittee on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs meeting will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

August 31 - September 2, 2018 - The National Conference of Burmese-American Catholics' (NCBAC) 9th Annual Gathering will be held at the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium in Battle Creek, MI. To donate, please check the NCBAC website and check back for more information.

November 11, 2018 - Subcommittee on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs meeting will be held in Baltimore, MD.

Ongoing Events

Ongoing - Shalom World hosts a number of events periodically across the country. Check the website for dates and locations.

Past Events

February 15-17, 2018 - Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers (BICM) Training during the Mid-Atlantic Congress (MAC) was held at the Hilton Baltimore hotel in Baltimore, MD.

February 16-17, 2018 - An Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics Gathering at MAC was held in Baltimore, MD. There was a keynote presentation by Fr. Ricky Manalo and breakout sessions with Fr. Ricky Manalo, Dr. Stephen Cherry, and Dr. Seggy Acosta.

February 16, 2018 - 新年/Chinese New Year (一年的狗/Year of the Dog)

February 16, 2018 - Vietnamese Tết (New Year)

February 3-6, 2018 - The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering was held in Washington DC. The theme of the event was "Building Community: A Call to the Common Good". In conjunction with the CSMG, the Diversity Outreach Initiative (DOI) also took place. The DOI seeks to develop leaders from diverse Catholic communities for ministry in the Church.

December 15-23, 2017 - Many archdioceses and dioceses celebrate Simbang Gabi, a Filipino tradition of Novena Masses (nine consecutive days) celebrated in parishes across the country leading up to Christmas. It is "a privileged votive mass, i.e., a mass that does not correspond to the liturgical calendar but has a special intention" said Philippines Church historian Fr. Rex Andrew Alarcon. Watch theArchdiocese of Washington's video explaining what Simbang Gabi is.

November 11, 2017 - Subcommittee on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs meeting was held in Baltimore, MD.

November 7-10, 2017 - The National Association of Filipino Priests 3rd General Assembly was held in Houston, TX. The theme of the event was "Joyfully & Faithfully Sharing God's Mercy". The assembly had a number of guest speakers discussing various topics, including USCCB President, His Eminence Cardinal DiNardo and Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, SCAPA Chairman.

October 15, 2017 - The Archdiocese of San Francisco's 7th Annual Filipino Ministry Dinner-Dance Fundraiser was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, CA. The theme of the event was "Heal the World Through Music"  which focused on Music Ministry and the spiritual power music has to bring people together, transcending boundaries.

October 7, 2017 - The 2nd International Cultural Festival, hosted by the Asian & Pacific Catholic Network (APCN), was held at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA. Festival goers enjoyed a lively festival with food, arts and crafts, and vendors with participation from various countries, including: Philippines, India, Vietnam, Samoa, Guam, and more.

October 7, 2017 - The 2017 Marian Congress & Pilgrimage on the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Archbishop Bernardito C. Auza, D.D., Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations was the main celebrant and homilist. Fr. Wade L. J. Menezes, CPM, current Assistant General and former Director of Vocations & Director of Seminarians, was the guest speaker.

October 1-9, 2017 - The 25th International Week of Prayer and Fasting was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, Episcopal Vicar for Vicariate VI of the Archdiocese of Chicago, was the main celebrant. Guest speakers included Immaculée Ilibagiza, Teresa Tomeo, and Eric Scheidler.

September 17, 2017- The Archdiocese of Baltimore's 7th Filipino Fiesta Celebration honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod was held at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, MD. The Triduum was held on September 12-14, 2017 prior to the fiesta. All Filipino organizations in DC, MD, VA, PA and NJ were invited to celebrate with Most Reverend William Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore.

September 9, 2017 - The Korean American Catholic Day of Prayer Vocation Conference was held at St. Paul Chung Catholic Church in Fairfax, VA. The theme for the event was "Come and see".

August 11-13, 2017 - The U.S. Catholic China Bureau's 27th Biennial National Conference was held at St. John's University in Queens, NY. The theme of the conference was "Experience of the Chinese Church in the 21st Century". Keynote speakers included: Fr. Joseph Zhang, Archbishop Eugene Nugent, and Fr. Joseph Jiang, SJ.

July 14-16, 2017- The 2017 Hmong American National Catholic Association (HANCA) Convention was held at St John's University in Collegeville, MN.

July 1-4, 2017 - The Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America was held in Orlando, FL. Inspired by Evangelii Gaudium, the Convocation formed leaders who will be equipped and re-energized to share the Gospel as missionary disciples, while offering fresh insights informed by new research, communications strategies, and successful models.

July 2, 2017 - The Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs invited all Asian & Pacific Islander Catholic leaders attending the Convocation of Catholic Leaders to the Asian and Pacific Island Catholic Leaders Meeting. The dinner meeting was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Celebration Breakout Meeting Room #11 in Orlando, FL.

June 24, 2017 - The 20th Annual National Filipino Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Archbishop Bernardito C. Auza, D.D., Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations was the main celebrant and homilist.

June 17-18, 2017 - The Mass of Thanksgiving for the Beatification of the 17 Martyrs of Laos was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL.

June 13, 2017 - Subcommittee on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs meeting was held in Indianapolis, IN.

May 21, 2017 - The Filipino Council of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Annual Filipino Marian Pilgrimage was held at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, MD. The spiritual gathering had two separate conferences: one for adults and the other for youth. Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS, Assistant Director of Asian & Pacific Island Affairs was one of the invited speakers at the conference for youth.

May 8-12, 2017 - The Korean American Priests Association (KAPA) conference was held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas, NV. Korean American priests from all different dioceses in the U.S. attended the conference along with Bishop Hee-Jong Moon, auxiliary bishop of the Suwon Diocese in South Korea and Chairman of the Committee of the Mission Abroad and Pastoral Care of the Overseas, Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea. During this meeting Fr. Sang-Jin Kim was elected as the new president of KAPA.

May 6, 2017 - The 15th Annual Asian and Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. This annual event brought together many Asian and Pacific Islander Catholic communities to celebrate their heritage and Marian devotions. His Eminence Cardinal Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington, was the main celebrant and homilist.

May 2017 - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month begins.

March 7, 2017 - The installation of Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian & Pacific Island Affairs, as bishop of Salt Lake City was held in the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, UT. A public reception was held that evening at the Salt Lake City Marriott City Creek Hotel.