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WASHINGTON (March 28, 2000) -- More than 50,000 registration books for Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House have been distributed across the nation.
Encuentro 2000 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, July 6-9, and stand as the key Jubilee Year event for the Church in the United States. It will be hosted by the Hispanic community for the entire Church and will highlight its multi-cultural reality at the start of the Third Millennium.
The 40-page book includes program, hotel, and registration information in English and Spanish. It also lists key speakers and topics for a series of workshops to address contemporary church issues.
"We are at a pivotal moment," said Bishop Gabino Zavala, Chairman of Encuentro 2000. "The complexion of the U.S. Church is as never before. People of European, Asian, Pacific Island, Latin American, African and Native American descent stand side by side. The Church in the United States is a microcosm of the world. When we celebrate and pray as one people, we give evidence that world harmony is possible. Encuentro 2000 will stress the diversity which runs through the Church in the United States and celebrate the marvelous diversity among us."
Key national and international speakers will include Archbishop Francois X. Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace; Sister Marie Chin, president of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; and David Beckmann, Ph.D., President of Bread for the World.
Multi-ethnic liturgical and social celebrations will set the atmosphere and tone throughout the four days.
Friday evening will include time for reconciliation and atonement led by Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston.
Saturday evening will be marked by a special Mass to note the Jubilee Day for Ethnic Diversity and to commission participants to take the lead in highlighting the Church's changed complexion. Mass will be followed by a "Taste of the World " event to celebrate diversity through prayer, song, food and dance.
Registration books were distributed to dioceses and parishes in mid-March. Additional copies can be obtained by calling 202-541-3413. Registration information also is available on the Web at www.encuentro2000.org.