SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Province’s Hispanic Ministry Committee is expecting a large turnout at next week’s Encuentro Franciscano at St. Camillus Church here.
Nearly 200 people from outside the Silver Spring area have registered for the Oct. 24 event, according to Thomas Conway, OFM, of the Hispanic Ministry Committee, who said, “We have no numbers yet from St. Camillus, but we expect a big local crowd.”
As of this week, 11 HNP ministry sites have submitted “Best Practices and Pastoral Problems” in preparation for the Encuentro, Thomas said. These sites are in Boston; Durham and Raleigh, N.C.; Camden, Paterson and Brant Beach, N.J.; Wilmington, Del.; New York City; Anderson, S.C.; Triangle, Va.; as well as Silver Spring.
The Encuentro will include keynote talks, prayer, music, theatre, group reflections, workshops and Mass. All friars are warmly invited, whether or not they work in a Latino ministry, Tom said. The event falls just one week after the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Information about the Encuentro can be obtained by emailing committee chair Christopher Posch, OFM, at hnpencuentro2009@aol.com or calling Ana Schmitt, a member of the committee, at 302-584-0733.