V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry; Taking Place Sept. 20-23 in Grapevine, Texas; Gathering of Catholic Bishops and Delegates from Across U.S.
WASHINGTON—This September, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be convening a gathering of more than 3,000 delegates from across the U.S. for the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry with the theme, "Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God's Love.
WASHINGTON—This September, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be convening a gathering of more than 3,000 delegates from across the U.S. for the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry with the theme, "Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God's Love."
The event will be a crucial turning-point for the Catholic Church in America and its response to the growing numbers of Latino Catholics in the United States. The four-day event will focus on discerning ways in which the Church in the U.S. can better respond to the Hispanic/Latino presence and strengthen the ways in which Hispanics/Latinos respond to the call to missionary discipleship. It will be led by U.S. bishops and delegates in diocesan leadership roles from across the country as well as leaders of Catholic ecclesial movements and Catholic organizations and institutions.
As a priority activity of the USCCB's Strategic Plan for 2017-2020, the event is the culmination of a two-year process of evangelization, mission and consultation through a series of Regional and Diocesan Encuentro's held thus far in 9 regions and 143 U.S. dioceses. So far, the Regional and Diocesan Encuentro's have had more than 51,000 leaders participate, and more than 26,000 people have been trained as missionary disciples.
Currently, Latinos make up 40 percent of the 74 million self-identifying Catholics in the United States, based on a weighted average of recent surveys from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Pew Research Center, adjusted by a proprietary model of the V Encuentro Research Team to include the imputed affiliation of children who were not included in the surveys.
Bishop Michael F. Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth will be hosting the national event that will be held in Grapevine, Texas, from September 20-23.
Please note that advanced media registration is required. Onsite registration will not be available.
Credentialed media will have access to the V Encuentro main plenary hall during the dates of Sept 20-23. Media will not have access to the V Encuentro's individual breakout sessions. All credentialed media are required to abide by regulations of the hotel or risk losing their credentials.
Reporters seeking to cover the V Encuentro must fill out and submit the following media credential application found here in English and Spanish. A media center will also be available on-site for journalists. Main stage events of the Encuentro will also be livestreamed on www.usccb.org.
The deadline for submitting the press credential application form is September 13, 2018.
Media inquiries and interview requests in advance of the event, can be arranged by contacting Judy Keane or Miguel Guilarte or by contacting USCCB media relations at @email.
For more details about the V National Encuentro, please visit https://vencuentro.org/.
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry, Bishop Michael F. Olson, Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, missionary discipleship, Church in the United States, Hispanic/Latino minister, Regional Encuentros. Catholic Leaders, Witnesses of God's Love, evangelization.
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Media Contacts:
202-541-3200
202-541-3202
