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CALL's annual meeting was held in Denver on August 12-14 and it was truly a wonderful time of prayer and faith.
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Bishop Olmsted, Cardinal Cipriani, Archbishop Gomez, Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Chau. |
We were fortunate to have Archbishops Jose Gomez and Charles Chaput, Bishops Thomas Olmsted and Raul Chau, and Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, the Cardinal Archbishop of Lima with us. We were also blessed to have many priest members of CALL in attendance, all of whom provided a unique opportunity for us to gather in prayer and celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
 | | Father Manuel LaRosa-Lopez |
The conference challenged us to take our faith and translate it into action in every aspect of our lives - public and private. We had presenters who challenged us as individuals and as members of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders. Nowhere was this more true than when Archbishop Gomez addressed the gathering in these words: "It is one thing to acknowledge the fact that our country and our Church are becoming more and more Hispanic. That is simply the reality. What we do with that reality, however, is up to us."
Presentations included:
The Future of the Catholic Church in the U.S. - A Challenge to CALL by Archbishop Jose Gomez
 | | Archbishop Jose Gomez |
Preserving our Catholic Identity by Dr. Jonathan Reyes
 | | Dr. Jonathan Reyes |
The Global Economic Crisis: How Hispanics Might Consider and Respond by Frank J. Hanna III, Chairman of Hanna Capital
 | | Frank J. Hanna, III |
Our Role in the Universal Church: The Americas and Beyond by Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani
Our Changing Country: Population, Economic Impact and Projections by Dr. Mark Lopez
Leadership and Love by Fr. Michael Barrett
Nation of Faith, Nation of Immigrants by Archbishop Charles Chaput
Panel discussions included:
Catholic Public Engagement: Choices, Decisions and Action, a panel discussion by Nora Urrea, Wendy Dominguez, Diana Vela and Nancy Hernandez
 | | Nora Urrea, Wendy Dominguez, Nancy Hernandez and Diana Richardson Vela |
Immigration Reform: Balancing Politics, Economics, Legal Issues and our Catholic Faith, a panel discussion by Dr. Brian Cadena, Carlos Iturregui and Bishop Thomas Olmsted
Faith, Public Policy and Politics, a panel discussion by Archbishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop Charles Chaput, and Bishop Thomas Olmsted
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Saturday's Mass was for intention of the repose of the soul of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, and a long time CALL friend. Sunday's Mass was for the intention of long time member and supporter Emilo Moure of the Knights of Columbus - a dear friend to CALL who passed away two weeks earlier.
During the annual meeting, the Board of Directors, in conjunction with CALL's Editorial Committee (Jose Gonzalez, Jose Ambrozic, and Archbishop Charles Chaput) unveiled a letter to Pope Benedict XVI from CALL. The letter included CALL's response in faith to the Holy Father's encyclical entitled Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). In presenting the document, it was noted that it was more than just a letter or a document, it was a prayer, it was "our prayer," and it will be delivered in Rome by a CALL delegation in September. | 
