Small Church Community Convocation to feature Brazilian priest

By Sean Gallagher

An increasing number of Catholics across the archdiocese have grown in their life of faith through participation in small Church communities.

But, according to Jean Galanti, as good as their experience has been, their vision of such communities would likely be expanded by participating in the third annual Small Church Community Convocation from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at St. Barnabas Parish, 8300 Rahke Road, in Indianapolis.

That is because the convocation’s keynote speaker, Brazilian Father Jose Marins, will bring to the participants his experience spanning more than 30 years of small Church communities in countries around the world.

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1956, Father Marins was a participant at the Second Vatican Council and has served as a long-time consultant to CELAM, the Latin American Episcopal Conference. Since the early 1970s, he has helped build up small Church communities throughout the world.

Galanti, a member of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis with many years of experience with small Church communities in the archdiocese, is looking forward to the broadened vision that Father Marins will bring to the convocation.

“The thing, I think, Father Marins brings to it is that perspective that we are part of a worldwide phenomenon,” said Galanti, also a member of the Small Church Community Committee, a sub-committee of the archdiocesan Evangelization Commission and the sponsoring body of the convocation.

“I think he brings a challenge to the American vision of small Church communities that are often just a cozy community or a pious society or something like that.”

Galanti said that, in addition to those participating in small Church communities, the convocation would also be helpful for those involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Christ Renews His Parish, Disciples in Mission or adult faith formation in general.

“My real hope is that people will come away with a broader vision of what small Church communities can be, and particularly in the dimension of mission and service,” Galanti said. “They obviously have that gathering dimension because they’re communities. But it’s the impetus to be sent that is what I hope will be strengthened by the day, and the people will just be inspired to do that by what they hear.”

(Registration, including lunch, is $30 per person or $25 per person for parishes sending groups of four or more. To register or for more information, call 800-382-9836, ext. 1432, or 317-236-1432 or e-mail jvalenti@archindy.org.)†