DAY 1 THURSDAY, AUGUST 1ST ARISE “THEY WILL SOAR LIKE ON EAGLE’S WINGS; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY, THEY WILL WALK AND NOT BE FAINT.” ISAIAH 40:31 REGISTRATION & EARLY HOTEL CHECK-IN 11:00 AM ALL VISHUDHA QURBANA 3:45 PM ALL ARISE: INAUGURAL CEREMONY Inauguration ceremony followed by a taste of Texan hospitality. Exuberant talent under the direction of Fr. Thumbechirayil. Cannot be missed! ALL SOCIAL MIXERS Socialize! Enjoy the activities, greet old friends, make new ones, and have fun! A YA YC YH CONCLUDING PRAYER A short Night Prayer in the room that you are in ALL LEGEND Common Events ALL | Adults A | Couples C | Young Adults YA | College YC | High School YH DAY 1 - THURSDAY 1 DAY 2 FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND SHINE OUT “BE A LIGHT ON A LAMP STAND.” MATTHEW 5:16 ROSARY & ADORATION WITH JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH Rosary, reflection, and adoration with Justice Kurian Joseph. ALL CONFESSION ALL PROCESSION 7:15 AM A nostalgic celebration of culture welcoming the Father and Head of our Syro Malabar church and the other dignitaries attending our convention with magnificent displays of art and tradition. ALL HOLY QURBANA ALL ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY LIFE These ordinary people and their extra-ordinary lives are truly the “Light on the Lamp Stand for the Nations.” Let’s find out what motivated them to make the choices they did and why they choose to live out their lives so radically different from the “norm” that surrounds them. ALL THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE CARDINAL MAR GEORGE ALENCHERRY An interactive session, designed to engage everyone and help create a vision for the future of the Syro Malabar church in the US. We will be discussing various issues, including how to negotiate inter-generational perspectives. This session will conclude with a keynote from his Eminence Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, who will share his vision, as a spiritual father, for our community and Diocese. ALL LEGEND Common Events ALL | Adults A | Couples C | Young Adults YA | College YC | High School YH SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR KIDS (PRE-K - 8th GRADE AFTER HOLY QURBANA) PRE-K - 1st GRADE: HILTON 327 | 2nd GRADE - 4th GRADE: GRB 332 B/E | 5th GRADE - 8th GRADE: GRB 332 A/D PARENTS TO PICK-UP KIDS AFTER 7PM FROM RESPECTIVE ROOMS 2 DAY 2 - FRIDAY PARALLEL SESSIONS (SELECT ONE) PLANNING FOR LIFE AFTER 60 THE PARENT’S GUIDE TO HOMESCHOOLING GEORGE KOTTUKAPALLY DR. ANNILYN PURAYIDOM & LOVELY ABRAHAM George Kottukapally speaks as a Syro Malabar Catholic living in Thinking about homeschooling or other alternative education the US about aging gracefully and shares practical insights on strategies? Never heard of any at all? Come learn about tackling the golden years. Join this session to learn about new alternative education strategies, such as homeschooling, and initiatives in the diocese for seniors and join in the conversa- their benefits and challenges. Our two speakers, both mothers tion by contributing your ideas as well. of eight children, share their own adventures in homeschooling and the tips and tricks they’ve gathered A along the way. A C DYA/STAFF LEADERSHIP: CONNECTING YOUTH SHEPHERDING A DIVIDED FLOCK: TACKLING AND YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS THE DIOCESE THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP Join the leaders from the Diocesan Youth Apostolate MATHEW JACOB and St. Thomas Adult Faith Formation to gather and This is a golden opportunity for leadership training from a pro- reflect on the future initiatives of the diocese. Join us fessional leadership coach and mentor. This session is for our as we build from the experience of past leaders and priests and other leaders in the parish who are looking for the shape the path towards new innovations and ideas best ways to utilize their talents and strengths to bring their parishes into full bloom. We guarantee you will not only get to that will engage young people across the country and refresh your leadership and consensus building skills, but you within their own individual parishes & missions. will also pick up some handy new skills. YA YC YH PRIESTS/ A PARALLEL SESSIONS (SELECT ONE) FEELING BURDENED? THE FEMININE GENIUS THE PRESSURES ON THE MODERN FAMILY JACKIE FRANCOIS ANGEL MAR THOMAS THARAYIL A session that will empower women in the church and unfold the unique beauty, dignity and roles that they have been Mar Tharayil, an expert in mental health & illness, takes a closer entrusted with, not only in the Church, but in society as a look at the issues facing the modern family, including new whole. We will dive into how to draw out the Feminine Genius, relationship dynamics, increasing divorce rates, and the rapidly as St. Pope John Paul II described it, and how to become lead- changing socio-cultural fabric. Come listen to a Bishop’s ers and saints where you are planted. perspective and broad experience with the issues faced by today’s families, how to best grapple with these challenges, and how to become better equipped to face them head-on. ENGLISH ALL MALAYALAM A C HOW DO I FIND “THE ONE”? TRUE LOVE...HOW WILL I KNOW? TRENT HORN PATTY SCHNEIER Is there a difference between infatuation and true love? Is A discussion of discerning and looking at the Catholic approach every attraction I feel true love? This is a session geared to finding a partner. How do you discern the right relationship? towards teens, helping them to understand attraction, love How do you find the middle ground between non-negotiables at first sight, and keeping relationships holy. We will explore and settling? Come join us for this session with Catholic apol- how the path to true, healthy, loving relationships is learning ogist, Trent Horn, as we delve into these questions and more! the natural inner movements of your own emotions, and how The interactive session this afternoon at 4:15 complements to discern and master them first, in order to know how to love this talk. others rightly. YA YC YH #KnowYourselfToLoveYourself YC YH FIAT: DISCERNING THE LORD’S CALL FIAT: DISCERNING THE LORD’S CALL SR. JOCELYN EDATHIL SIC, MD, PHD FR. KEVIN MUNDACKAL Have you felt your heart drawn to surrendering your life to the Have you felt your heart draw to surrendering your life to the Lord in a radical way? Have you ever felt a call to draw closer Lord in a radical way? Have you ever felt a call to draw closer to Christ as his beloved and bride? Have you ever wondered to Christ and his Church in a deep and intimate way? Have you what it might be like to be the spouse of the perfect man and ever wondered what it might be like to surf while wearing a bridegroom? If you have at any point thought of, or wanted to Friar’s robe or an Achan’s loha? If you have at any point thought explore what the religious or consecrated single life is about, of, or wanted to explore what the religious life or the life of now is the time to find out more! priesthood is about, now is the time to find out more! This session is for women. This session is for men. YA YC YH YA YC YH LEGEND Common Events ALL | Adults A | Couples C | Young Adults YA | College YC | High School YH DAY 2 - FRIDAY 3 PARALLEL SESSIONS (SELECT ONE) SPIRITUALLY SYRO MALABAR, SOCIALLY NOT WHY DO WE NEED FAITH, WHEN WE HAVE LIVE WITH BISHOPS & SCIENCE? JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH FR. BINOY PICHALLAKKATTU Let’s get to the bottom of these issues. In this session, we want to “Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?” and other faith bring about an honest intergenerational dialogue between Young questions are explored in this session. Teens can enjoy this Adults, Parents, and our Church leadership- including Cardinal session and clear their doubts about faith and its relationship Mar Alencherry, Bishop Mar Pamplany, Bishop Mar Tharayil and to science. If you are not in this session, you will attend the Justice Kurian Joseph. Migrant communities like ours face several intergenerational dialogue in the Lanier Ballroom. unique issues, but its members have little to no prior experience in facing them. This engaging session will help us seek out solu- tions. All participants are expected to attend this session and the one to follow in this room unless you choose a smaller parallel session. ALL >15 YRS YC YH PARALLEL SESSIONS (SELECT ONE) YES, WE FOUND OUR PARTNER, AND HERE’S NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): WAITING HOW WE DID IT! ON GOD’S TIME INFORMAL PANEL SESSION SHERIN ALEXANDER Join us to hear some real stories and discussion around finding This session will be focused on understanding natural family your spouse! This session includes the first-hand experiences planning and how it contributes to remaining open to life. Bring of how our surprise speakers found their better halves, and les- all your questions, Sherin is a PA, and can certainly handle it! sons for youth and their parents on how to handle the various This is usually a packed session; so first come, first serve. practical issues that arise, related to finding their soulmate. This will be a heavily interactive session, with our Bishops and dignitaries. ALL >15 YRS C YA AVOIDING CATASTROPHES IN MARRIAGE HOW DOES MUSIC CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOLY JACKIE FRANCOIS ANGEL QURBANA? Noticing the first signs of tension in your relationship can save FR. JOSEPH PALACKAL you a world of hurt and save the relationship from irrepara- Learn more about the theory and practice of liturgical music ble damage. Learn how to talk about these issues with your from the man who arranged the music for our current Holy spouse, how and when to resolve conflicts, and how to identify Qurbana.