IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller
By Laura Dodson
ORLANDO,
Fla. (CNS) — Theirs was a monumental responsibility: shepherding lay leaders, cardinals,
archbishops, bishops, religious, deacons, musicians, event staff and a legion
of volunteers at the historic “Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the
Gospel in America” July 1-4 in Orlando.
“This
convocation is a journey, and there will be three of us here to guide you
through the next four days,” said Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas, one of the
event’s emcees.
The
consistent presence — on stage and off — of Bishop Burns, along with emcee
Julianne Stanz, director of new evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay,
Wisconsin, and moderator Gloria Purvis, co-host of “Morning Glory” on EWTN
Radio, kept the entire program flowing smoothly despite any behind-the-scenes
hiccups.
Sponsored
by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the convocation brought together more
than 3,100 lay and religious leaders from 160 dioceses and 185 national
organizations. They gathered to explore the current challenges and strengths of
the church and its evangelization efforts.
Bishop
John G. Noonan of Orlando, host of the convocation, joked that when New York
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, an event chairman, “called me five years ago to
tell me he’d like to come to Orlando in July — he didn’t tell me how many he
had invited!”
“Welcome
as we celebrate the joy of the Gospel!” Bishop Noonan told the delegates.
“All
the good, dedicated, committed lay faithful present truly touched me,” Bishop
Burns said in an interview for Catholic News Service, “especially knowing that
they are the Catholic leaders in their dioceses and Catholic organizations.”
“It
was powerful to see them engaged in conversation on how we can be missionary
disciples,” he said. “In addition, seeing the authentic faith of
every person on stage and how they shared it so honestly. It was incarnational — we definitely encountered the word made flesh.”
Stanz,
who is a wife and the mother of three young children, was impressed by the
numbers of Catholics, especially the young people who were all hearing the
message personally and realizing, “I can do this!”
“There
was the transformative message that each of us is being called and sent out not
only by the bishops but also by Jesus Christ himself,” Stanz said. “What was
most surprising was the availability of the cardinals, bishops, speakers — the
experts working in ministry that made conversations familiar, intimate. I
didn’t expect it.
“People
witnessed to their struggles and the challenge of living out their Catholic
faith in 21st-century America. I saw the face of Jesus very clearly,” she
added.
In
an interview, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles said, “I understand the
pain and the challenges and this is a blessing for me to serve them.”
“Even
with these difficult subjects, there was always openness, happiness and
congeniality,” Purvis said. “People were willing to share intimate things, they
want to work on everything to make it right, to do what we need to do. It was
not about me — it was about the conversation and how we can better serve the
Lord.”
A
highlight for Purvis was eucharistic adoration. “The public witness on our
knees praising God — I was overcome with tears and grateful to be able to
worship. I was very much humbled by how kind people were in my role as
moderator. I felt they were encouraging me.”
The
event, which marked a first in U.S. church history, was a national response to
Pope Francis’ 2013 apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium”
(“The Joy of the Gospel”), according to organizers.
The
exhortation lays out a vision of the church dedicated to evangelization — or
missionary discipleship — in a positive way, with a focus on society’s poorest
and most vulnerable, including the aged, unborn and forgotten.
In
addition to lay delegates, attendees included 155 cardinals, archbishops and
bishops, along with 380 priests, 175 women religious, 125 deacons and 10
religious brothers.
The
top 10 states that sent delegates included California, Texas, Florida, New
York, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Minnesota and Michigan. The top
dioceses sending delegations were Cincinnati, Orlando, New York and Miami. Nine
of the Eastern Catholic eparchies sent over 50 delegates.
Following
the final plenary, delegates met with their respective bishops for goal setting
as a result of the convocation. Bishop Noonan was effusive in his gratitude to
and for all who had contributed in making the event so seamless.
“What
do you want to do for the next few weeks?” Bishop Noonan asked his delegates.
“Rest and read over what you have absorbed — deepen the experience. Listen
again — the seeds have been planted. Make it more of a spiritual time.
“Pope
Francis has called us to get moving,” he continued. “People are
saying a lot on social media — they are motivated and inspired to spread the good
news and bring it into their homes. We will use this weekend as inspiration.”
Archbishop
Thomas G. Wenski of Miami summed it all up: “Just three words — a wonderful
encounter.”
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