Itinerary for Vatican Forum 2010

Tuesday, April 6
-Arrival
-Pope Benedict’s announcement of Archbishop José Gomez’s appointment to Los Angeles

Wednesday, April 7
-General Papal Audience
-Visit to the Vatican Museums
-Mass at the North American College – Main Celebrant: Bishop Raymundo J. Peña; Concelebrants: Fr. Frank Quesada, Fr. Gonzalo Meza


Thursday, April 8
-Mass, St. Peter's Basilica – Main Celebrant: Bishop Raymundo J. Peña; Concelebrants: Fr. Frank Quesada, Fr. Gonzalo Meza
-Meeting - Pontifical Council on Social Communications – Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli and Msgr. Paul Tighe
-Meeting - United States Embassy to the Holy See – Ambassador Dr. Miguel H. Diaz
-Reception and dinner in honor of the United States Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency the Honorable Dr. Miguel H. Diaz


Friday, April 9
-Meeting - Pontifical Council on the Laity – Dr. Guzman Carriquiry
-Meeting - Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace – Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson
-Meeting - Pontifical Council on Migrants – Archbishop Antonio Marie Veglió
-Meeting - Pontifical Commission for Latin American – Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
-Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica
-Mass at St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) – Main Celebrant: Cardinal Bernard Law; Concelebrants: Bishop Raymundo J. Peña, Fr. Frank Quesada, Fr. Gonzalo Meza

Saturday, April 10
-Meeting - Vatican's Secretariat of State – Msgr. Peter Wells and Msgr. Leo Kushly
-Meeting - General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops – Archbishop Nicola Eterovic
-Guided underground tour – San Giovanni Basilica
-Mass at St. Paul’s Basilica, Main Celebrant: Bishop Raymundo J. Peña; Concelebrants: Fr.
Frank Quesada, Fr. Gonzalo Meza


CALL board chairman, Mario Paredes, stated that the purpose of the meetings was “to bring the Hispanic reality to the table in Rome.” In each one of our Vatican meetings, we had two spokespersons: board members Dr. Christine Johnson and Tom Espinoza. Dr. Johnson presented the statistics, demographics, and projections of the growing Latino influence in our country, our economy, and our Church. Tom Espinoza used the statistics and demographics to discuss how the Church must take that data and translate it into a timely and relevant response in terms of pastoral needs and Church leadership appointments.
Each department we visited with responded to our comments and briefed us on the work of their particular office and their plans for the future. Three common messages that we heard throughout the meetings were:
How encouraged and impressed they were that a group of lay people would travel to
Rome and spend the greater part of a week working to deliver their message on behalf of
the Church in the US;

The group was complimented on taking ownership for the life of the Church with the realization that “the laity” are the Church; and finally,

We were urged to contact our respective bishops to express our support and fidelity for their ministry.


The Vatican Forum meetings were historic on several important levels. But not the least of which was the mere fact that the leadership of these important dicasteries, who traditionally only meet with bishops, agreed to not only receive a group of lay leaders, but to provide us with the opportunity to deliver our message for the future of our Church in the US.

Between the important meetings held at the highest level of the Vatican departments, and the opportunity to come together in prayer and reflection at the seat of St. Peter and his successors, the experience shared by the group was one that will be felt for a very long time.

At the conclusion of the Vatican Forum, the sentiments of the group were best summarized by CALL member José Gonzales of New York when he said, "At the end, I just wanted to stay there forever."
Let us all please join in prayer for the work of CALL and let us remember in our intentions Archbishop José H. Gomez, S.T.D. as he begins his new ministry in Los Angeles.







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