CV NEWS FEED // Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, and recently announced as Pope Francis’ delegate to the National Eucharistic Congress, will attend the Asian and Pacific Island Catholics National Encounter this July in Indianapolis.
In a United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) news release, Bishop Larry Silva of the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii, expressed his enthusiasm for the Cardinal’s participation in the event, which takes place at Indiana University from July 15-17.
“With great anticipation, we look forward to His Eminence’s affirming presence and accompaniment in the faith on behalf of our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” said Bishop Silva, who is also the chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs.
According to the National Encounter’s website, U.S. Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre and Archbishop Charles Thompson of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will also attend the event.
“The National Encounter will be a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for participation in the National Eucharistic Congress that follows, so that the great sacrament of unity may be even more effective in uniting us together as members of the Body of Christ,” he added.
Immediately after the National Encounter, Cardinal Tagle will attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis as Pope Francis’ special envoy from July 17-21.
Over 80,000 participants from across the United States are estimated to attend the Congress.
As CatholicVote previously reported, the Congress stated in an April email, “With only a few months remaining before this historic gathering, the tens of thousands of Catholics registered for the Congress tell an inspiring story about the Church in the U.S. coming together in a radical way.”
>> National Eucharistic Congress to be ‘Witness of Unity’ for Church in U.S. <<
Lay people, clergy, and religious are encouraged to attend the National Encounter preceding the Congress.
“Let us celebrate faith and culture and leave energized to witness the Good News. You can be sure that you will enjoy all the aspects of the National Encounter including Mass, workshops, talks, sharing, and food,” reads a message from Bishop Silva on the National Encounter’s website.
In the news release, Bishop Silva noted that both the National Encounter and Congress will be opportunities to deepen unity within the Church and more virtuously bring the Faith to others.
“Our mission of evangelization can only be enhanced when we become deeply aware of those who are different from ourselves and enter into a dialogue with them based upon love, so that our witness to the risen Jesus Christ can be more effective,” he said.
Those interested in registering for the Asian and Pacific Island Catholics National Encounter can find more information here.
