Radiant Faith: The Asian and Pacific Islanders National Encounter

Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs

E komo mai!

Those are the Hawaiian words for “Welcome!”

As we countdown to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this summer, I would like to welcome you to a pre-Congress event of great significance for our Church: The Asian and Pacific Island National Encounter at Indiana University / Purdue University Indianapolis, IN, from Monday, July 15 to Wednesday, July 17. Under the theme “Radiant Faith: The Witness of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics,” the encounter will mark the fifth anniversary of the publication of Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It is important that the Church throughout our country recognize the presence and contributions of Asian and Pacific Island (API) Catholics, learn about the diverse cultural groups that compose them, and include them in the life and mission of the Church. We will explore the many gifts these API Catholics offer to the Church, how the engagement of those gifts has developed over the years, and what still needs to be done. We invite members of all Asian and Pacific Island communities to join us, but we also would like to invite people of other ethnic and cultural groups so that we may grow in mutual understanding and be enriched by the diversity of gifts God has given us.

This will be a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for participation in the National Eucharistic Congress that will follow, so that the great sacrament of unity may be even more effective in uniting us as members of the Body of Christ. Our mission of evangelization can only be enhanced when we become more aware of those who are different from ourselves and learn to dialogue with them in love so that our witness to the risen Jesus can be more effective.

Register for The Asian and Pacific Island National Encounter today! We hope to see you in Indianapolis in July! E komo mai!