New York Regional Encounter returns to the Bronx for three days, March 27-29, featuring a celebration of the Sacraments, Eucharistic adoration, Spirit-led worship, inspiring keynote speakers, healing service, and fellowship, according to the event’s website.
Highlights of the event include presentations by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Espaillat, and Encounter Ministries Co-Founder and President Father Mathias Thelen.
Bishop Espaillat talked to The Good Newsroom about the goals of the event, which is set to be held at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx.
“What we’re looking for is unleashing the baptismal call, if you will. We’re all called to go out and baptize. We’re all called to go out and evangelize, to bring the good news to all people, and to use our gifts. We all have gifts that have been given to us, and especially within our modern-day times, the gift of healing. There are a lot of people who are hurting and suffering right now in our world—not only physically, but mentally, emotionally—and reparation needs to be made,” Bishop Espaillat said.
Bishop Espaillat encouraged participants to receive the Sacrament of Penance before attending the event, if possible. “To do so is to be that channel of grace that God wants you to be. Because each of us, God wants to use us in a particular way—for us to be able to just be that channel in which grace flows,” he said.
As some of the events will be presented in the charismatic style, Bishop Espaillat encouraged would-be participants to be open-minded. “Try something different. Try something new; get out of your comfort zone. A lot of us are too comfortable in the church if we’re honest. We’re set in our ways. We know what should happen at Mass. We know the way things should go, but outside of the Mass, realistically speaking, how do we pray? How do we pray?
“So, if anybody’s on the fence or the verge and may be thinking, ‘Well, I don’t know if this is for me,’ give it a try. There are different spiritualities—that’s the beauty of our church. There are so many different styles of spirituality that maybe this is something that God might want to use in your life, a way to grow closer to the Lord,” he said.
The event schedule and ticketing are available here.