CALL holds retreat in San Antonio with Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM

More than two dozen Latino leaders from across the country attended the recent CALL retreat, led by Cardinal Seán O’Malley and Archbishop José H. Gomez, at the Mexican American Catholic College and Assumption Seminary June 19-21. Photo provided

SAN ANTONIO • Twenty five people from the Alamo City and all over the nation — including Phoenix, Albuquerque, New York, Milwaukee, Denver and the Miami area — gathered at the Mexican American Catholic College and Assumption Seminary June 19-21 for a Board meeting and annual retreat of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL).

This year the retreat was lead by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM, archbishop of Boston. CALL episcopal moderator, Archbishop José H. Gomez, warmly introduced Cardinal O’Malley as a friend and colleague, as well as a person of long-standing support and involvement in issues concerning the Hispanic community in the United States.

Over the three-day retreat, participants benefited from several wonderful conferences and three extended homilies offered by Cardinal O’Malley on topics ranging from prayer, reconciliation and a more profound appreciation of the Eucharist.

Archbishop Gomez also addressed the gathered group of Latino leaders to remind them of their mission as members of CALL. “More and more people, especially within the Hispanic community, are living without an awareness of God and their Christian identity because of the strong influence and pressures of the secular culture. How can people meet Christ if we do not show them the way? We must ask ourselves, how is what I do leading people to Jesus Christ?”

The retreat concluded with an inspiring Father’s Day liturgy, a spiritual bouquet presented to Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop Gomez in thanksgiving for their leadership and generous fatherly guidance, as well as a renewed sense of urgency and responsibility among the CALL membership to the task at hand.

The mission of the Catholic Association of Leaders is to work with the church for the common good in the service of Latino communities in the United States. For more information about CALL or to inquire about membership, visit the Web site www.call-usa.org.