2007 encuentro

Thousands Expected at Third Catholic Encounter

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 3/8/07)

One week before the Third Catholic Encounter takes place, the organizing committee announced that 4,000 tickets have been sold and that based on attendance during the last two years, they expect 12,000 people to participate in the event.
“There is so much enthusiasm,” said Manuel Aviles, youth minister at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church and one of the event coordinators.
“We are completely ready to present a very attractive event,” said Sandra Lima, who is also a coordinator.
The event takes place on March 10 and 11 of March at the D.C. Armory in Washington, with the principal Mass being celebrated Sunday morning.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and Bishop Francisco Gonzalez from the Archdiocese of Washington are among the religious figures participating.
The two-day event includes preaching, healing, liturgical dances, comedies, concerts, theatre and prizes.
The entertainment will include Puerto Rican music group “Son by Four”, Mexican signer Karina Meneses and Youth Dance Shekinah.
Organizers predict the event will cost approximately $120,000, a portion of the profit will be used for charitable causes in Latin America.
Last year a delegation from St. Anthony of Padua traveled to Panama to deliver medicine, food and clothes.
“The gifts are delivered to a parish in a remote place,” said Aviles. “We also use the trip as an opportunity to evangelize.”
Father José Eugenio Hoyos, director of the diocesan Spanish Apostolate and Father Kevin Walsh, pastor of St. Philip Parish in Falls Church, are the master of ceremonies.
The event is coordinated by the youth ministry at St. Anthony of Padua Parish with the participation of Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and the dioceses of Richmond and Baltimore.