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PRAYER SPACES: Several prayer spaces will surround the Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House meeting plenary session site to honor the religious traditions of groups which comprise the Church in the United States. Among the traditions so honored will be those of Ireland - Saint Patrick; France - Our Lady of Lourdes; Italy - Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Germany - Saint Boniface; Poland - Our Lady of Czestochowa; Lithuania - Our Lady of Siluva; Slavic Countries - Saints Cyril and Methodius; Spain - St. Santiago (James); Lebanon - Our Lady of Lebanon; Native American - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha; French Canada - Saints Joseph and Anne; Guatemala - El Cristo de Esquipulas; El Salvador - El Salvador de Mundo; Colombia - Nuestra Señora de Chinquinquirá; Cuba - Our Lady of Charity (Caridad del Cobre); Chile - Saint Teresa of the Andes; African American - Our Mother of Africa; Congo - Blessed Anuarite; North Africa - Augustine and Monica; Philippines - Our Lady of Antipolo (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage); Korea - Korean Martyrs; Vietnam - Our Lady of La Vang; India - St. Thomas the Apostle.
BANNERS: Archdioceses, dioceses, and church organizations will fly their banners high during Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House. Among groups whose banners will wave above the assembly are the Black Catholic Congress; Diocese of Buffalo Hispanic Apostolate; Instituto Fe j Vida; Diocese of Monterey, California; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Diocese of Brooklyn; Archdiocese of San Francisco; Diocese of Orlando, Florida; Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina; National Catholic Office for Persons With Disabilities; National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry; Renew International; Buena Vista; Archdiocese of Baltimore Office of Hispanic Ministry; Diocese of Evansville, Indiana; Archdiocese of Baltimore; Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana; Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida; Diocese of Dallas; National Organization of Catechists for Hispanics; Archdiocese of Newark; Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan; Diocese of Baker, Oregon; Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; Diocese of Lubbock, Texas; Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and National Organization of Hispanic Catechists.
FILM FESTIVAL: Encuentro 2000 will feature a Film Festival, showcasing movies that highlight the experience of different ethnic groups. Films include
Buena Vista Social Club, Smoke Signals, Three Seasons and Enduring Faith, the last a premiere of a 90-minute historical documentary that examines the struggle to establish an African American clergy in the Catholic Church.
Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary about a group of aging Cuban musicians brought together by American guitarist Ry Cooder for a 1996 pop-music album that became an international hit. The film showcases the group's vibrant brand of swing music with a Latin beat while profiling each of the performers, whose ages range from the 70s to 90s but whose zestful spirits are youthful and full of energy.
Smoke Signals is an engaging story about a pair of 22-year-old Native American men making the journey from their reservation to Phoenix , where one is to pick up his estranged father's ashes from a caring Native American woman who explains why the guilt-ridden father left his tribe.
Three Seasons is a lyrical drama that loosely weaves together four stories set in present-day Vietnam, where impoverished natives struggle to survive and make emotional connections and an ex-Marine returns to find his Amerasian daughter.
Enduring Faith examines the struggle to establish an African American clergy in the Catholic church and is viewed through the Josephite Society, an English missionary group that came to America in 1871 to evangelize and convert the recently emancipated slaves. Dedicated solely to African Americans, the Josephites operated on the fringes of the church institution throughout the majority of their turbulent and often controversial history. The difficulties they experienced as they attempted to raise African American men to the priesthood illustrates the depth to which racism existed in the United States hindering the Catholic church's mission to African Americans. Enduring Faith tells of the courage and ultimate despair of early Black Josephite priests and the pivotal role of Rome in forcing the church in the United States to open its doors to Blacks. It also brings to the forefront the Josephite's undying efforts to bring Catholicism to African Americans and the unwavering stance of African American Catholics who clung tenaciously to the faith through trying times.
WORKSHOPS: Sunday, July 9, workshops will allow Encuentro 2000 participants to explore ways to bring Encuentro 2000 home. Subjects to be addressed include Encuentro 2000 and African American Catholics: The Dialogue Continues; Taking Effective Social Justice Ministry Home; The Ministry of Faith to Culture: Transforming Culture Through Faith in the Trinity; Strengthening Family Ministry at Home; Lay Ecclesial Ministry: Many Faces, Many Paths; Rethinking Youth Ministry and Young Adult Ministry; Taking Encuentro 2000 Home: Ways To Get There, Not First and Alone, But Together and On Time; That Christ May Be Hymned, Catholic Home Missions: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; Continuing the Encuentro 2000 Process of Dialogue and Collaboration With and Among Asian and Pacific Americans; and Taking Encuentro Home and Identifying Leaders for Church Vocations.
HOTEL UPDATE: Hotels rooms are moving quickly. Hotels with rooms still available include the Biltmore, Wilshire Grand, and Marriott Downtown. For hotel reservations call 1-800-927-8137 or go to the Web at www.encuentro2000.org/housing.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS: Media who want credentials to cover Encuentro 2000 should consult the Web, www.Encuentro2000.org, and hit "Media Resources" for the media advisory and credential application form. Media applications can be faxed to (202) 541-3173.
REGISTRATION: For information on registration contact Conference Registration at 1-800-805-3976 or go to www.encuentro2000.org/register.
WEB: For Encuentro2000 go to www.encuentro2000.org