Join me at the Pastoral Congress

Friday, Sep. 11, 2015

I’m looking forward to the Diocesan Pastoral Congress.

A few years ago the only reason you’d find me devoting an entire day to a series of workshops on faith is because I was assigned to cover it for work. These days, however, I actively seek out opportunities for spiritual growth, and the Pastoral Congress next Saturday will be full of them.

The keynote speaker in English will be Dr. Jennie Weiss Block, O.P. D. Min., whom I had the pleasure of interviewing. She’s got an intriguing background – in addition to being a Dominican laywoman with a doctoral degree in ministry, she’s helped the people in Haiti recover from the earthquake and assisted the poor in Rwanda (and while she was there hiked through the mountains to see the gorillas). She seems like a down-to-earth woman who can give intellectual as well as practical insight into experiencing and sharing God’s mercy.

At the same time that Dr. Weiss Block is giving her presentation, Dominican Father Jorge Presmanes will present a keynote address to Spanish-speakers; his topic is also mercy, reflecting the theme of the entire Pastoral Congress. The event is intended to prepare participants for the extraordinary jubilee Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis. The year will open Dec. 8 and run through Nov. 20, 2016. 

I’m intending to take this opportunity to delve deeply into this grace about which Pope Frances preaches so frequently. Whenever he speaks about mercy a great abyss seems to open in my soul – I wish to both receive and give mercy as prodigally as he seems to, but I’m not able to do so, and the Pastoral Congress workshops should be a good place to learn how to start.

While most of the workshops are focused on the theme of mercy, a number of them are on other topics. There’s one on the Mass that I’d like to attend because I’ve realized recently that although I’ve received the Eucharist my entire life, I don’t understand all of the ritual and symbolism. I really want to go to the workshop about the art and architecture of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, presented by art historian Marty Seiner, because I frequently photograph the cathedral and am awed by its beauty. Several of the presenters will address the topic of stewardship, which is something I should learn more about because it’s such a large part of my job as a member of the diocesan staff.

Other workshops will appeal to those who have different ministries: There’s a track for Catholic school educators, a couple of sections for deacons, a number of sessions for those whose focus is the family, and others are offered for youth ministers and RCIA instructors.

One attractive aspect of the Pastoral Congress that I haven’t yet mentioned is the fellowship: It’s the only annual diocesan event that brings hundreds of people from throughout the diocese to one place. Every year when I’ve written a news story about the event and ask people what they like about it, at least one person says they appreciate the opportunity to spend a day with other Catholics talking about the faith. 

If I’ve piqued your interest in attending the Pastoral Congress and you haven’t yet registered, you can do so at http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/education/commisioning-mass-for?rc-preview=1437678041543. On-site registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 19 at the Skaggs Catholic Center, 300 East 11800 South in Draper. The Divine Mercy chaplet will be recited at 8:30 a.m., Mass will begin at 9 a.m. and workshops start at 10:15 a.m.