{"id":435344,"date":"2017-07-13T06:30:41","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T11:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/?p=435344"},"modified":"2017-07-16T17:29:19","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T22:29:19","slug":"catholicconvo-eyes-texan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2017\/07\/catholicconvo-eyes-texan\/","title":{"rendered":"#CatholicConvo Through the Eyes of an Texan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Uplifting, motivating, challenging, community, transformative.”<\/em><\/strong> That’s how Theresa Prudhomme, a mid 20s young professional\u00a0from Katy, describes her experience of #CatholicConvo in 5 words or less. \u00a0The weekend before last, while we were all firing up the grill and making July 4th plans, Theresa joined thousands of lay leaders, religious, priests and bishops from across the US who gathered for a ground-breaking event in Orlando, Florida: The Convocation of Catholic Leaders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The USCCB describes the mission of the Convocation this way:<\/p>\n

This summer, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be\u00a0convening an unprecedented gathering<\/strong> of key leaders from dioceses and Catholic\u00a0organizations from all across the country in order to assess the challenges and\u00a0opportunities of our time,<\/strong> particularly in the context of the Church in the\u00a0United States.\u00a0This has been an ongoing initiative of the Bishops’ Working Group on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person.\u00a0The gathering will assemble Catholic leaders for a strategic\u00a0conversation, under the leadership of the bishops, on forming missionary\u00a0disciples to animate the Church and to engage the culture.<\/strong> (cited from:\u00a0website<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This Convocation comes as a real response by the US Catholic Church to Pope Francis’ invitation in the spirit of The Joy of the Gospel (the Pope’s\u00a0first Apostolic Exhortation<\/a>) to enter into “deep reflection” and discern and to implement a “missionary option” for living out and sharing the joy of the Gospel, so that “so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world<\/strong> rather than for her self-preservation.<\/strong>” (Evangelii Gaudium<\/em><\/a>\u00a027, cited here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

So what was the Convocation like on the ground? I thought I would interview one of the young leaders from Austin to help us get a glimpse. Theresa is the Office Assistant at Cornerstone Architects, LLP and graduated from A&M with a BLA in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Urban Planning. Theresa is also the current Branch Leader of the Schoenstatt Women Young Professionals, of the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Schoenstatt is an international Catholic lay movement of religious and moral renewal, and especially in the past several years since the dedication of the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt in south west Austin, the Movement has been growing rapidly. The Shrine has become a home to many young adults in the Austin area – a place where they find fellowship, deep faith formation, and a family atmosphere that enables them to go out into the world with transformed hearts, on fire for God’s mission in today’s world.<\/p>\n

At the Convocation, Theresa was one among several leaders representing Schoenstatt from around the US, \u00a0including Schoenstatt University Men from UT, Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP (Movement Director in Texas), Sr. Danielle Peters, STD, \u00a0and other lay leaders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Schoenstatt leaders from around the US in attendance. Theresa is second from the right.<\/p><\/div>\n

So what was #CatholicConvo like through the eyes of a Texan? Let’s find out…<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong> The name of the Convocation was “The Joy of the Gospel in America.” Where did you see joy at the Convocation?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
A: I saw joy in the faces and eyes of those who have such great hope and determination to bring all people closer to Christ<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Q:<\/strong> What moved you or inspired you most about the Convocation?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
A: I was moved by how attentive the Bishops were in listening to our desires and concerns even when we were not in the same diocese. I was [also] \u00a0inspired by the camaraderie of the individuals I met because together we each desired to form a communal effort towards tackling the obstacles that keep the Church from being the most loving and faithful it can be.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Later in the conversation, Theresa circled back to the theme of joy:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Q:<\/strong> What was it like to participate in this Convocation as a lay leader?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
A: I was proud to be surrounded by Bishops and Church leaders who truly wanted to listen to us! Unlike all the conferences I have been to in the past this was one I enjoyed because even when walking in a crowd of strangers I was surrounded by genuinely joyful people.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>

Group discussion with Austin Diocese leaders and Bishop Joe Vasquez. (Photo courtesy of Schoenstatt Movement of Austin on Facebook.)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Q:<\/strong> Help our readers understand a little bit about the set up – what are break out sessions and round table discussions?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

The breakout sessions where opportunities for us to go deeper into a specific topic we were interested in. There were many to choose from but we could only go to one per session. I went to the sessions on Discerning Vocations, Charisms, and Gifts for Mission in the Church and in Society, as well as Engaging the “Nones” and Ministry with Inactive and Disconnected Catholics. Oh, and also\u00a0Living in the Peripheries of Urban Communities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0Q:<\/strong> And what were the round table discussions like for your group and for the Diocese of Austin? What are you taking away from those discussion?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
A:\u00a0We first met as a Schoenstatt group for discussion, and then were invited to join the Austin Diocese meeting. That discussion was geared towards what we learned during our breakout sessions, what we can contribute to our groups and or parishes, and how as individuals we can grow closer to God. We also discussed the Diocese of Austin Pastoral Plan<\/a> and how to articulate and implement it better to fit the needs of the diversity of the parishes.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Q.<\/strong>\u00a0So what next? How are you (and the delegates from the Diocese of Austin) going to carry the mission of the Convocation forward?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
A: We were given good advice and strategies on how to unite as a Church and within our own groups and communities. I think a lot of people, including myself, will go out from the convocation with joy and determination<\/strong> to grow deeper with God and to then spread that inner joy to others we encounter. One of my favorite phrases I took from one of the speakers was that our faith is personal but not private, because we are disciples of a person.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n

Q:<\/strong> Anything else you\u2019d like to tell our readers about #CatholicConvo?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

A: The convocation reminded me that even though we gathered to share in one faith we are still humans with many different interests, backgrounds and dreams but it is that “one faith” which binds us all together in peace love and hope looking towards a better future together.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0Many thanks to Theresa for sharing her experience with us, and for bringing home that message of joy to Austin Diocese. May we all pray for the leaders who attended #CatholicConvo, for their continued work, and also seek to be informed and involved ourselves, so that this message of joy may spread ever further afield, ever more into the peripheries that our dear Pope Francis longs to reach!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Bonus<\/strong>: Here’s a another way to get a great glimpse of what #CatholicConvo was like!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/youtu.be\/mcY1mxGa9eQ<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  “Uplifting, motivating, challenging, community, transformative.” That’s how Theresa Prudhomme, a mid 20s young professional\u00a0from Katy, describes her experience of #CatholicConvo in 5 words or less. \u00a0The weekend before last, while we were all firing up the grill and making July 4th plans, Theresa joined thousands of lay leaders, religious, priests and bishops from across… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,565,90,11,32,91],"tags":[3346,660,3348,50,217,54,1505,3349,1957,2891,3347,3219],"class_list":["post-435344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-blog","category-events-blog","category-faith-blog","category-resources","category-social-media","category-young-adult","tag-catholicconvo","tag-diocese-of-austin","tag-evangellium-gaude","tag-faith","tag-media","tag-new-media","tag-pope-francis","tag-the-joy-of-the-gospel","tag-usccb","tag-young-adult","tag-young-adult-ministry","tag-young-professionals","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":447709,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2017\/08\/calling-young-adults-invitation-sit-bishops\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":0},"title":"Calling all young adults! – An invitation to sit down with our Bishops","author":"Rachel","date":"August 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"What are you doing next Monday evening? Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are invited to attend a Diocese of Austin listening session with Bishop Joe V\u00e1squez and Bishop Danny Garcia on August 7 from 6-8 pm at St. Louis, Austin. This listening session will assist the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/events-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Synod-Promoted-Instagram-Post.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14499,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/04\/young-adult-qa-with-father-rocky-friday-april-20th\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":1},"title":"Young Adult Q&A with Father Rocky – Friday April 20th","author":"Jason Elizondo","date":"April 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Austin Catholic New Media is proud to be the sponsor of what will no doubt be a great evening with Relevant Radio CEO and co-host of \"Go Ask Your Father\" Father Francis Hoffman, aka \"Fr. Rocky\". Father Rocky will be hosting a Young Adult Q&A in the Bishop's Hall at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Relevant Radio 979AM Austin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/970AMplusweb2-300x147.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24683,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/10\/10-ways-catholics-can-live-the-year-of-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":2},"title":"10 Ways Catholics Can Live the Year of Faith","author":"Laura Gonzalez","date":"October 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Today starts the Year of Faith that was decreed by Pope Benedict XVI. It is\u00a0\u00a0a \u201csummons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world\u201d (Porta Fidei 6). As Catholics, we are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"10 Ways Catholics Can Live the Year of Fatih","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/year-of-faith-logo-english-212x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":189665,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/12\/review-into-the-breach\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":3},"title":"A Clarion Call to Catholic Men (Review: “Into the Breach”)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"December 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Although I am not a man, nor am I married to one, I greatly enjoy reading about Catholic men's spirituality. I'm blessed to have so many examples of strong, outwardly faithful men in my life. Honestly, one of my favorite things is hearing my male friends talk about their personal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"\"I am hereby exhorting you to step into the breach to do the work of Christ's soldiers in the world today.\" \u2014Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/acnm_intothebreach.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":325318,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/can-we-be-catholic-and-american-archbishop-chaput-tocqueville-notre-dame\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":4},"title":"Can We Be Catholic and American? (A Response to Archbishop Chaput’s Bishop’s Symposium Talk)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"November 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Author's note: As commenter DanC kindly pointed out, I had my Chaput speeches mixed up. The post below has been corrected from its originally published version to refer to the correct context and original text. I apologize for any confusion I caused. I spent a while learning how to teach\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"flag-pixabay","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/flag-pixabay-550x289.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/flag-pixabay-550x289.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/flag-pixabay-550x289.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41451,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/prayforpeace-fast4syria\/","url_meta":{"origin":435344,"position":5},"title":"#prayforpeace and #fast4syria","author":"Rita Suva","date":"September 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cLet the cry for peace ring out in all the world!#prayforpeace\u201d \u2013@Pontifex, Pope Francis, Twitter, September 4, 2013 This past Sunday, September 1, during his Angelus Address, Pope Francis called upon Catholics around the world to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria on Saturday, September\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"#fast4syria by the USCCB","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/fast4syria-facebook-graphic-250-222x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/88"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=435344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435344\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=435344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=435344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=435344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}