University, Archdiocese of Chicago Team Up to Host Conference

A day-long conference designed to help Hispanic young adults deepen and share their Catholic faith will be held Sept. 6 at DePaul University’s Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.

The conference, Encuentro 2003, is co-sponsored by DePaul University and the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Hispanic Catholics. The event will feature a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago. The archdiocese’s newest bishop, Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, will deliver the keynote address. The conference also will feature break-out sessions, group discussions, a musical concert and a talent show.

"This will be a special day for young, Hispanic Catholics in Chicago, and DePaul is proud to open our doors to host this energetic and important component of the Church," said Monsignor Kenneth Velo, senior executive of Catholic collaborations at DePaul. "This important event complements our university’s Catholic, urban and Vincentian mission."

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event. The conference registration fee is $10 and includes access to all sessions, exhibits, concerts, lunch and dinner. The event is scheduled to conclude at 9 p.m. For registration information, call Jorge Rivera at 312/738-1080.

DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the nation and the ninth-largest private university in the United States. A richly diverse population of 23,227 students attends classes on two city and five suburban campuses.