2026 Convocation ‘We are Church’ seeks to form missionary disciples
“All of you from Bergen County, from Hudson, Essex, and Union Counties, you’ve all come together. For what reason? So that you will be animated to do the same thing, to share the Good News, the goodness of Jesus Christ. That’s why you’re here,” said Bishop Emeritus Gregory J. Studerus of the Archdiocese of Newark.
The bishop was addressing hundreds of people who had gathered in Paramus, NJ, on Nov. 7 for “We Are Church! Forming Disciples for Mission,” a convocation organized by the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Lifelong Faith Formation in collaboration with other archdiocesan offices.
Patricia Rodriguez, director of lifelong faith formation, told the gathering that the 2026 convocation was “a response to all the consultation and listening that our archdiocese has undertaken in the last several months.” Other offices had been invited to join in planning this year’s event, including the Office of Hispanic Ministry, the Office for Evangelization, and the new Parish Mission Renewal Office. Their brainstorming and “journey of discernment” had led them to “a renewed and broader sense of mission in forming missionary disciples,” she said. The result was the decision to widen the scope of the yearly convocation, previously designed for catechists, to welcome all the people of the Archdiocese of Newark.
That renewed sense of mission was evident throughout the day. More than 700 people from around the archdiocese attended the day-long event; another 150 people participated as organizers, keynote speakers, exhibitors, and workshop presenters “A small army of volunteers” also proved essential to making the day possible, Rodriguez said. The convocation was bilingual; about half of the participants were native Spanish speakers.
Putting God’s love into action
The day began with music and a Mass, celebrated by Bishop Studerus. He was joined by Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, along with many other priests and deacons from across the archdiocese. Leaders from many archdiocesan offices also attended the liturgy.
In his homily, delivered in English and Spanish, Bishop Studerus turned to Saint Charles Borromeo for inspiration. The 16th century Italian saint is known not only for his piety, but for his desire to renew the life of the Church one soul at a time.
“Saint Charles Borromeo said that if you have the spark of God’s love in your heart, don’t let the wind blow it away… Don’t let that flame of love in your heart be distracted by the things of this world. Protect that flame, so that it can grow and stay more in your heart,” Bishop Studerus said.
He continued:
“(According to St. Charles) if you are a teacher or a preacher, continue to study, continue to learn, continue to try to understand the great mystery of the message of Jesus Christ. And put it into action in your life in such a way that they are not just words that you use, but your very life is the preaching itself, the teaching itself.”
Bishop Studerus added one last bit of wisdom from the patron saint of catechists and spiritual leaders: “He said if you’re in charge of a parish, or a parish organization, or some element of parish life, do not neglect the parish of your own soul.”
Keynotes, workshops, and more
There followed a full day of talks, workshops, and other activities designed to inform, support, and inspire. Keynote addresses in English and Spanish addressed the day’s theme of forming disciples for mission. Dr. Tracey Lamont, director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry, spoke about “sacramentality as a worldview” that helps us to find God in all things, and about the importance of “sacred listening,” particularly in a Church that has been called to become more synodal.
She stressed that “discipleship isn’t just for the holy,” and that “real conversion is a process that takes time,” while encouraging participants to bring their faith outside the doors of church and into the world.
Later in the day, Dr. Francisco Castillo, Visiting Professor of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, addressed many of the same themes in his Spanish keynote. He reminded participants that “Jesus escucha antes de corregir.” (“As Jesus walks with us, he first listens and then corrects.”) Castillo then asked the audience to go back to their parishes and minister with the desire to listen and asked them to call to mind, “What are you hearing in your parish?”
Participants had 50 different workshops to choose from throughout the day, with titles like “Building a Shared Mission Across Parish Ministries,” “How to Become a Saint,” and “What in God’s Name is a Missionary Disciple?” The workshops were led by archdiocesan staff, clergy, and outside experts sponsored by a variety of leading ministry organizations and Catholic publishers.
From AI to family life
One workshop dealt with the question of AI in parish ministry. Dr. Joseph White, a family psychologist, spoke about the nature of artificial intelligence, its uses and misuses, and the importance of caution when using it as a resource. “Truth still requires verification,” Dr. White told the workshop attendees. He explained that while AI tools can be handy in research they are also prone to error. “We still have to go to the primary sources,” Dr. White said, advising AI-users to carefully verify any information acquired via the technology.
As in all the workshops, Dr. White’s presentation left plenty of time for questions and for sharing experiences. Presenters were also encouraged to bring their own experiences of conversion to their sessions, helping participants learn how to better witness to their faith. During the “Helping Parents Commit to Parish Life”, José Pulido shared parts of his faith story and listened to the stories of workshop participants as he offered a clear path to support parents in being the spiritual leaders of their sons and daughters.
The theme of “deep listening” was repeated and practiced throughout the day, not just in the workshops but in the outside halls and even the exhibitor room, where participants were able to discover ministries and resources to help them in their faith journeys.
Conversations in the Spirit
Of particular importance were the “Conversations in the Spirit” workshops, which organizers explained were intended to “invite with open hearts the action of the Holy Spirit in the midst of our communities” as the Archdiocese of Newark continues the We Are His Witnesses initiative of parish renewal and pastoral conversion.
Born from Pope Francis’s call for the Church to become more synodal, the Conversations in the Spirit model of dialogue is intended to foster “communal discernment and meaningful dialogue that creates an atmosphere of trust and welcome, so that people can express themselves more freely” and to create an environment where participants “can be attentive to the movement of the Holy Spirit,” convocation organizers said.
During one workshop session, Milissa Else, mission renewal facilitator for the Office for Parish Mission Renewal, explained that the workshop sessions were intended to introduce a new way of listening and dialoguing that takes practice. “Synodality is not a one-time event,” she told the workshop participants. “It’s about a different way of speaking and a different way of listening. We’re trying to speak from the heart, asking God to break open our hearts.”
To view more photos of the 2026 “We Are Church” Convocation, CLICK HERE.
Featured image: About 850 people participated in the 2026 “We Are Church” Convocation in Paramus, NJ, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Lifelong Faith Formation. (Photos by John Touhey / Archdiocese of Newark)
