September 28 - October, 2000
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654 Logo - Mission Congress 2000 - USCMA
Preparation -- New Springtime For Mission
The U.S. Catholic Mission Association, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service in collaboration with other Catholic groups convoked jointly a three year reflection process among U.S. Catholics called "A New Springtime For Mission."
View more information about the New Springtime For Mission.
Mission Congress 2000 -- Agenda
Thursday, September 28, 2000
1:00 pm -- OPENING RITUAL
A multimedia prayer experience will set a festive and spiritual tone for
the Congress.
1:45 pm -- WELCOME ADDRESS
Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, will welcome
participants to Chicago and begin the reflection on the history and
facets of mission.
2:15 pm -- OVERVIEW OF THE CONGRESS
Congress facilitator, George Wilson, SJ.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Global Integration of the Elements of the Mission of Christ Today
Archbishop Marcello Zago, OMI
Mission is a single but complex and articulated reality. The term connotes a variety of images in the minds of Christians today. A better understanding of important elements of mission is essential to the life of the church, a pilgrim people. This keynote address begins the conversation about five major elements of mission as they interconnect and engage people of faith, calling the people of God to participate in the mission of Christ in a holistic, mutual and inclusive manner in the new millennium.
Archbishop Marcello Zago, OMI, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at the Vatican, he was a missionary in Laos for 16 years, Secretary of the Secretariat for Non-Christians (now the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue), and Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (1986-1998). He is author of The Church and Other Religions, Reflections and Orientations on Dialogue and Missions (1984).
7:30 pm -- TOPIC #1: ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST -- MISSIONARY SPIRITUALITY
Liturgical life, prayer, and contemplation are eloquent testimonies to a living and liberating relationship with the active and true God who calls us to the Kingdom.
-- Rev. Brian Walker, OP is a pastor at St. Basil-Visitation parish
in Chicago. He has served as a missionary in Mexico and Los
Angeles.
-- Rev. Richard Fragomeni, a Diocesan priest of Albany, NY, is
Professor of Liturgy and Preaching at Catholic Theological
Union in Chicago, IL
-- Ms. Vie Thorgren is a counselor, educator and retreat director
at the Vincentian Center for Spirituality in Denver, Colorado.
Friday, September 29, 2000
8:00 am -- MORNING PRAYER WITH SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Reflection led by Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA, Professor of Old Testament at Catholic
Theological Union
8:45 am -- TOPIC #2:-- PROCLAMATION CATECHESIS AS CONVERSION
There is announcement and catechesis in which the good news of the Gospel is proclaimed and its consequences for life and culture are analyzed.
-- Rev. Raymond Finch, MM is the General Superior of the
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and he worked as a missionary
in Peru.
-- Tom Scheuring, PhD. and Lyn Scheuring, PhD. are the
directors of LAMP Ministries, a pioneer venture in Catholic
evangelization which serves in materially poor parishes and
other outreach facilities.
10:45 am -- EUCHARISTIC LITURGY AT HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL
Youth invited from parishes and schools from surrounding dioceses.
2:00 pm -- TOPIC #3: TOWARD GREATER MUTUALITY COMMUNION BETWEEN CHURCHES
Every local Church is responsible for the totality of mission.
Presentation: Communio and World Church
-- Rev. Robert Schreiter, CPPS is Professor of Systematic
Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is a
General Council member of the Precious Blood Missionaries
and an expert in the cross-cultural dimensions of theology. He
is also the author of several books on mission including:
Reconciliation: Mission and Ministry in a Changing Social
Order
- Talk Show: Mutuality in Mission
Host: George Wilson, SJ
Guests: Rev. Allen Figueroa Deck, SJ, Loyola Institute for Spirituality.
He has expertise in the area of mulitculturalism and developed a
program for enculturating the minister coming to a new culture.
-- Mr. Michael Guerra is the Director of Volunteers for Educational
and Social Services, which is affiliated with the Texas Catholic
Conference, and he is President of the Catholic Network of Volunteer
Service Board.
-- Sr. Claire Napoleon, FMM is a member of the Provincial Council
of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. She is on the Board
of the National Black Catholic Sisters Conference and ministers
as Supervisor of Good Shepherd Service in New York.
-- Ms. Susan Thompson, Columban Peace and Justice Office in
Washington, DC. She also works with parish relationships and
partnerships in the diocese of Arlington, VA.
-- Mrs. Joan Houk, pastoral director of Holy Cross Parish in
Jackson, KY.
4:30 P.M. - WORKSHOP SESSIONS
1. Justice Towards Africa - Challenges to Church in the U.S.
Lawrence Goodwin and Mr. Ezekiel Pajibo of the Africa Faith and Justice Network
2. Dialogue with Islam
Joseph Donders, M.Afr., Professor of Mission Theology at Washington Theological Union.
3. Areas of Concern in Modern Day Asia
Ms. Miriam Young Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Center For Peace and Justice.
4. The Church in China - Contemporary Perspectives
Sr. Janet Carroll, MM, Executive Director of the U.S. Catholic China Bureau.
5. Dialogue with Asian Traditions - To Be Announced
6. Ecumenism in Latin America
Mr. Tom Bamat, Director of the Maryknoll Center for Research and Study
7. Globalization and Economic Justice in Latin America
Ms. Margaret Swedish, Executive Director of the Religious Task Force On Central America and Mexico.
8. Formation of Missioners: Changes and New Directions Sr. Katie Pierce, IHM, Director of Maryknoll Cross- Cultural Training Services in Maryknoll, NY.
9. Eucharist and Mission
Rev. Richard Fragomeni, Professor of Liturgy and Homiletics at Catholic Theological Union.
10. Mission as Reconciliation
Rev. Robert Schreiter, CPPS, Professor of Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological Union.
11. World Health Issues and Mission
Sr. Janet Gottschalk, MMS, Teacher of Nursing and Community Health at Texas A&M International
University in Laredo, TX.
12. Partnerships in Mission
Ms. Jean Stokan, Director of the SHARE Foundation.
13. Laity in Mission
James Lindsay, Executive Director of Catholic Network of Volunteer Service.
Ms. Susan Thompson of the Columban Justice and Peace Office in Washington, DC.
14. Multiculturalism and Faith Formation
Rev. Gary Riebe-Estrella, SVD, Academic Dean of Catholic Theological Union.
15. Violence and Trauma in Mission
Ms. Maureen Connors, PhD, Executive Director of FROM Mission to Mission.
16. The Church in Eastern Europe - To Be Announced
17. Mission and the Integrity of Creation - To Be Announced
18. Uprooted People
Rev. Richard Ryscavage, SJ, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service in Washington, DC.
19. Efforts at Common Witness
Rev. Francis Ruff, Glmy. and Rev. Lonnie Turnipseed, members of the Continuing Committee
on Common Witness.
20. Preparing Ministers for Mission to the United States
Rev. Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, Loyola Institute for Spirituality
21. Media and Mission
Dr. Roberto Gutierrez, Executive Director of Hispanic Telecommunications Network
22. Migrants Seek a Place in the US Church - To Be Announced
23. Authentic Development for Mission - To Be Announced
24. Sharing Christ through Ministry in the Home Missions
Bishop Michael Warfel of the Diocese of Juneau, AK.
Saturday, September 30, 2000
8:00 A.M. MORNING PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Sr. Theresa Okure, SHCJ, Professor of Scripture at the Catholic Institute of West Africa.
8:45 A.M. TOPIC #4 -- DIALOGUE IN MISSION
The dialogue in which Christians meet the followers of other religious traditions in order to walk together toward truth and to work together in projects of common concern.
--Dialogue in Asia
Ms. Vicki Armour-Hileman, MMAF, served as a missioner in
Thailand and is on the Leadership Team of the Maryknoll
Mission Association of the Faithful
Sr. Marian Bohen, OSU, spent 24 years in three different areas
of Indonesia. She is now ministering in human services at Sing
Sing Prison in New York.
--Dialogue in Africa
Sr. Claire Rheaume, SMSM, is a Marist Missionary Sister who
has worked in Mauritania.
Rev. Philip Pitya is a priest from the diocese of Juba, Sudan.
He is currently working in a parish in Bridgeport , CT.
--Dialogue in the Americas
Rev. Francis Ruff, a Glenmary Home Missioner, is an
ecumenist noted for work with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Rev. Ed Cleary, OP is Director of the Latin American Center at Providence
College in Rhode Island.
10:45 A.M GEORGE WILSON, SJ LEADS INTERACTION WITH THE MORNING PRESENTERS
11:45 A.M. BOX LUNCH WITH ROLE GROUPS
1:15 P.M. TOPIC #5 -- SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND SOLIDARITY
The concrete commitment to the service of humanity and all forms of activity for social development and for the struggle against poverty and the structures which produce it. Most Rev. Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Newark, NJ and former Chair of the Bishops' of Catholic Bishops.
2:15 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS REGARDING SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
A. Advocacy and Public Policy
Ms. Marie Dennis, Executive Director of the Maryknoll Office of Social
Concerns in Washington, D.C.
B. Social Service and Social Transformation
Sr. Fatima Santiago, ICM, a Missionhurst Sister from India is currently
working on the US-Mexico Border in Brownsville, TX.
C. Global Solidarity
Sr. Helene O'Sullivan, MM, is President of the Maryknoll Sisters.
D. Evangelization of Culture
Rev. Anthony Gittins, CSSp, is a professor of anthropology, missiology,
and cross-cultural studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
3:15 P.M. MEETINGS & FORUMS
US Catholic Mission Association
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
CMSM Mission Committee
And others
8:00 P.M. PLENARY WORKING SESSION
Sunday, October 1, 2000
8:30 A.M. MORNING PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Ms. Mary Marsella, Doctoral Candidate at Graduate Theological Union.
9:15 A.M. PLENARY WORK WRAP-UP
12:30 P.M. CLOSING LITURGY -- CELEBRATION AND COMMISSIONING
Most Rev. Curtis Guillory, SVD, Chair of the Committee on World Mission, National
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
