CNEWA has participated in two national conventions so far this year in an effort to promote its 97-year mission in support of the pastoral and humanitarian work of the Eastern churches among Catholic educators and church leaders.
In April, CNEWA was as an exhibitor at the annual convention of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) in Irving, Texas 11-13 April. The NCEA is the world’s largest private, professional education organization. The event gathered Catholic educators from across the United States. This was CNEWA’s second time at NCEA convention.
CNEWA was also an exhibitor at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the world’s largest gathering of Catholic religious educators, 24-26 February, at the Anaheim Convention Center.
About 10,000 adult participants attended a range of English, Spanish and Vietnamese workshops, along with keynote talks, entertainment, liturgies and evening events. The Exhibit Hall showcased religious art, music, publishers, academic institutions, apostolates, diocesan ministries and national organizations.
The theme, “Embrace Grace,” invited participants to experience God’s unconditional acceptance and transformative power in their lives. The weekend also marked the beginning of the Lenten journey and underscored the National Eucharistic Revival, instituted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, currently underway.
The hundreds of attendees who visited CNEWA’s booth at both events learned about the papal agency’s initiatives that provide humanitarian assistance, education, health care and pastoral support to the Eastern churches in some of the hardest-hit regions of the world through programs and partnerships with local churches and organizations.
Haimdat Sawh, development officer, represented CNEWA at the events.
“CNEWA’s participation in both events allowed the agency to share its mission and work, network with other Catholic educators and generate interest in its programs and initiatives,” said Mr. Sawh. “In addition, the conferences provided excellent opportunities for CNEWA to contribute to ongoing efforts to support Catholic education in the Middle East and other regions worldwide.”
CNEWA will promote its mission at other national conventions later this year, including: the National Maronite Convention in Providence, Rhode Island, July 6-9; the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in Dallas, the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago and National Council of Catholic Women Convention in Salt Lake City, all in August, and the New York Archdiocese Catechetical Forums in September.