NEWS

Leaders at Cultural Diversity Convocation Send Letter of Support to Arizona Bishops on Immigration

Archbishop Gregory: Christ the Foundation of our Unity, Diversity a Gift God has Fashioned into the Heart Of Humanity

Convocation Responds to Dramatic Demographic Shifts and Quest for a Robust Catholic Identity

HOW
By means of a process that includes celebration, prayer and worship, interaction, information, story-telling, inspirational moments with time to consider possible implications and next steps in the building of greater ecclesial unity in diversity.
WHY
In pursuit of the Catholic Bishops' priority on recognition of cultural diversity in the Church and to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the successful Encuentro 2000 in Los Angeles at the dawn of the Third Millennium, this Convocation offers a historic opportunity to renew and move forward with the project of catholicity and unity in diversity celebrated then.

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Asian Pacific Islanders

“The are many opportunities to work together, to highlight and appreciate the gifts that each of us bring as we collaborate; this synergy will bring forth opportunities to empower our youth and young adults.” (Asian Pacific Island Witness statement at the 2010 Convocation, Notre Dame)
 
We, Asian Pacific Catholics, are proud to hear the words of Pope John Paul II in his apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Asia: “The Church in Asia sings the praises of the ‘God of Salvation’ (Ps 68:20) for choosing to initiate his saving plan on Asian soil… In ‘the fullness of time’ (Gal 4:4) he sent his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, who took flesh as an Asian!”  (Philip Tran)

Asian and Pacific communities present different ways of relating to other people, of believing, of praying, of being Church. Yet all are united in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through Christian witness and solidarity. (Asian and Pacific Presence:  Harmony in Faith)

We, Asian and Pacific Islanders, believe strongly that this is a moment of special grace for the Catholic Church in the United States.  We deepen and challenge our understanding of the meaning of the universal Church, enabling all of us to be a church which is complete and whole.  (1997 Asian and Pacific Consultation for the Committee on Migration)

Our dynamic and multi-directional movement is leading us to a new construction of identity and relationship to the dominant American culture.  This new identity is transforming us and at the same time, inviting us to share our gifts and contributions with the United States as our country and with the U.S. Catholic Church as our church. (Philip Tran)

“We hope that this third millennium – with the yearning of the universal Church and the foresight of the Holy Father – to concretely strengthen our ties with our Asian and Pacific communities here in the United States and in their homelands.  We will enable their voice to be heard among ourselves and the Church at large.  We pray that the Church can be truly a sacrament of harmony and unity, a Church that is complete and whole.”  (Asian and Pacific Presence:  Harmony in Faith)