The United States Bishops convened a “Convocation of Catholic Leaders” in Orlando, Florida from July 1-4. Thousands converged from all over the country. There were bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay leaders from hundreds of dioceses, parishes, and Catholic apostolates. The theme was “Missionary Discipleship.” The theme was timely. Months ago, Bishop Robert Baker announced that “Missionary Discipleship” would provide the strategic vision for our diocese as we approach our 50th anniversary.
What is missionary discipleship? A disciple is one who adheres to Christ and learns from him. A “missionary disciple” is one who is eager to make Christ present to others. A missionary disciple has encountered Christ and turned from a concern for self to a concern for neighbor. The Convocation emphasized that you cannot have authentic discipleship without a missionary impulse; you cannot have authentic Catholic mission without conversion to Christ.
The inspiration for the Convocation came from Pope Francis’s exhortation to evangelism, Evangelii Gaudium. The Pope emphasizes the need to “go to the peripheries” in following Christ’s call. Christ also calls the church to go “into highways and byways,” looking for “lost sheep.” A major focus of the conference was on identifying these peripheries. “Break Out” sessions examined the Church’s mission field from dozens of different angles.
Where are these peripheries? Scripture singles out immigrants and the poor for special consideration. The convocation placed heavy emphasis on their plight. Our own Bishop Robert Baker led a session on poverty in America. But other peripheries may be less obvious. There were speakers who pointed to suffering marriages, those burdened with “same sex attraction,” people hurt by church leaders, victims of abuse, the unchurched, the indifferent, and even Catholic students who have been swept up into the culture of secularism. In short, wherever we go, we can find people who are marginalized or alienated from the heart of the Church.
How do we affect the peripheries? Catholic tradition has always privileged the contemplative life over the active life. From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has emphasized, “The Church is not an NGO.” St. Mother Therese of Calcutta used to say of her own sisters, “We are not social workers; we are religious, we are religious, we are religious.” We cannot bring Christ to the peripheries if we do not dwell with Christ in our interior lives.
The convocation emphasized the primacy of contemplation both in word and deed. Participants gathered daily for Mass, for the liturgy of the hours, processions, Eucharistic adoration, and Marian devotion. Confessions were available throughout the convocation. Many speakers gave moving testimonies of their conversion to Christ. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington spoke passionately of the need for relationship with Christ as the heart of discipleship. Archbishop Gomez of L.A. emphasized the need for a vigorous prayer life, lectio divina, eucharistic adoration, daily mass, & rosary.
Bishop Robert Barron gave the final address to the convocation, discussing obstacles to and strategies for effective evangelism. As obstacles, he identified first the culture of scientism: an unwarranted confidence that science can answer every question with no need for religion. Bishop Barron took aim at the culture of indifference to spiritual things. Finally, he attacked the belief that identity is nothing but a construction of one’s own will.
In response to these challenges, Bishop Barron called for an intellectually rigorous Catholicism that insists on its truth and coherence. He laid heavy emphasis on the doctrine of God and urged conference participants to master at least one of the classical arguments for God’s existence. Next, Barron highlighted to goodness of the Catholic faith. For 2,000 Catholics have been carelessly indiscriminate in their distribution of charity. They do good to all. This is a powerful witness. Finally, Barron highlighted the objective beauty of the Catholic faith and its great monuments throughout the world and history.
For me, the most memorable aspect was of the convocation was the many unexpected conversations over food with fellow Catholics from around the country. I met a man in southern California who catechized migrant workers as they passed through. A Catholic of the Ethiopic rite (Eritrean) explained how he struggled to preserve the sacred liturgy of his country in a diaspora community. I spoke to men and women from the Courage apostolate who shared their struggles with same sex attraction. Black, white, Hispanic, and Asian Catholics shared lovingly together over meals while speaking honestly about their difficulties reconciling each other’s perspectives.
The convocation did more than call for missionary discipleship. It highlighted the missionary heart of the Church already beating with the love of Christ. I was privileged to attend with my Bishop, Robert Baker, and the other delegates from Birmingham Diocese. Fr. Vernon Hughley, Vicar for Black Catholics, Marta Maria Morales, Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, James Watts, Director of Black Ministry, Daniel McCormick, Director of the Office of Religious Education, and Alex Kubik, Coordinator of Discipleship and Mission.