Parishioners Attend the New York Encounter

The New York Encounter is a free cultural event held in the heart of New York City every year. Several parishioners attended or watched the events livestreamed over the weekend of February 13-15, 2026. The Encounter intends to offer a space for dialogue on current social, ethical, political, and religious events; expressions of beauty through the arts; and messages of hope and encouragement. World leaders, experts, and thought authorities engage in panel discussions of great interest. It is sponsored by the ecclesiastical movement Communion and Liberation founded by Servant of God Monsignor Luigi Giussani, who saw the great need for an understanding of faith in the modern world through encounter. For more information on the Rochester group of Communion and Liberation, contact Sebastian. 

Peg Wentz - The Treasure of the New York Encounter 

For several years I have attended The New York Encounter (NYE), but this year, I was not able to attend in person. In part, thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, many of the key presentations are now made available live streamed online and later available through social media like YouTube, and this year I participated in that manner. This year’s theme was “Where Everything is Waiting for You” and examined facets of belonging. 

For me, the most striking words in the trailer for the NYE said “we need a dwelling place, not a refuge, …” This was made evident through a message from Cardinal Pizzaballa from Gaza, who shepherds the people living there in the midst of the ongoing turmoil. The text of Cardinal Pizzaballa’s message is available here. 

Another presentation titled “A Home in the Storm” gave witness to the great suffering in Ukraine. We can only imagine the hardship in both places and it moves me to tears. 

One presentation titled “Hungry for Belonging” included leaders from the Pew Report and the religion editor from the New York Times in a discussion on the return to faith by the Gen Z generation, who discovered the emptiness of the new atheist movements of the early 2000’s. The presenters noted that the data is varied on whether there has been an increase in church attendance or not, but that there is a clear leveling off of the decline that was occurring in all main faith traditions during those years. They shared anecdotal evidence for this desire and need for deeper meaning. 

A presentation entitled “250 Years and Counting” discussed the ideals of the founding fathers of the United States and what it means for today. It was insightful to me that one of the presenters called the US government as being one of a covenantal relationship with its citizens. 

Another presentation titled “Time and the Temple” involved a group of High School students from Kansas who shared probing questions they see in their lives, such as: What does homework have to do with life and faith? How do I know what my vocation is – marriage or religious life? What is success? I am afraid of death; how do I make sense of this? Fr. Mauro Lepori, Abbot General of the Cistercian Order, took their questions seriously and gave them and those of us watching much to think about. He stressed that Christ is the ideal in life and not a theory or a project. He said death breaks our life in two and being afraid of death is not a sign of a lack of courage. Christ experienced death so that he could be present in our deaths. Those of us who are older are not immune to these questions on the minds of the young and Fr. Lepori’s words of witness remind me of my belonging. 

One presentation that I had to miss was titled “Twice Called” about the 19 martyrs from Algiers and is one that I am eagerly awaiting to view later. There was so much that I can’t begin to cover – music, arts, science, discovery, activities, food, and much more. I would highly recommend viewing any of the available presentations from the 2026 NYE to everyone. 

Ed Creagan and Peggy Menzel - We were privileged to attend our first NY Encounter program in New York City Feb 13-15, 2026 (www.newyorkencounter.org). 

The theme was, “Where Everything is Waiting For You,” and included a variety of speakers, exhibits, music and fellowship. We enjoyed all of the events we attended, but a couple presentations stood out for us, “A Home in the Storm,” focusing on the faith that sustains the church in Ukraine; and, “Time and the Temple,” a Q & A with high school students from Kansas, on faith and relationship with God. Their questions were quite similar to those we sometimes ponder. 

A couple exhibits that were riveting, “Places of Belonging,” photography by Walter Rosenblum, and “Twice Called,” a tribute to the 19 Algerian martyrs. 

What was truly evident was the sheer joy and excitement of the attendees, many of whom have been attending for years. 

This event was not inclusive for just a few, but there was an infectious sense of all belonging. 

We already have our calendars marked for next year’s event…President’s weekend 2027. 

Barb Hollar - “Places of Belonging,” I have never heard of the photographer, Walter Rosenblum. His daughter, Nina, talked about her Dad, and showed his photography. He started out just walking around New York and taking pictures. Then he traveled overseas and took pictures of the landing at Normandy. He took a lot of pictures of the war and destruction. His pictures show common living; people talking to people outside grocery stores. The New York Encounter opens your mind and heart to a world you do not hear or read about. 

There was an exhibit on the 5th floor.  I didn't sign up to attend the session. I just wanted to read the posters on the exhibit titled "You can't die for a dollar." Then, the person who made the exhibit started talking and explaining about Peter Giannini. He was the founder of the Bank of America. He started out as a very poor kid. At the age of 6, he witnessed his Dad being killed. 

His Dad owned a small plot of land & had some hired workers. One of the workers was arguing with his Dad over his salary. His Dad died over a dollar. His mom was left with him & his younger brother. The community gathered together and supported his family and he never forgot that. He somehow got a job as a teller at a bank. He didn't like the idea that only people with money or collateral could get loans. Poor people couldn't get a loan. No collateral. So, he started his own bank. Loaning money to people with nothing. An earthquake and a fire followed. He and a friend went to the bank and loaded a wagon with all the money before the fire reached the building. He opened his bank at his house. Giving loans to anybody that needed help rebuilding after the fire. 

He was known as a people bank. It was about 90 % that paid him back on a handshake. He helped anybody with an idea but no collateral, including Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, and a person who wanted to build a computer. They couldn't get a loan from a regular bank. He remembered his childhood and how the neighbors helped his mom. Now, he wanted to help the poor people that had an idea but no collateral. 

It was interesting listening to his life story and how the Bank of America began trusting God would provide. Humanity at its best. 

"A Home in the Storm” started out by saying the Bishop from Ukraine and his friend traveled by car 14 hours to Warsaw. 9 hours on a flight and the worse part of the whole trip was the 2 hours in Customs trying to be allowed in the States. He talked about the people trying to survive. Living in basements of houses because the top has been destroyed. 

A small town wanted a funeral service. No roads to the town, because they had been destroyed. They had to travel over fields. The people in the basement had no hope on their faces. He prayed with them, and they asked him to pray again. Their faces were starting to come alive. 

They asked him to travel back again.  He had other stories to tell of what life is like. It touches the heart. 

The New York Encounter is very well worth the trip or watching on You Tube. 

Margaret Kelsey - During the 2026 Encounter, Mike and I attended an event titled “A Home in the Storm,” featuring Bishop Honcharuk and Fr. Stasiewicz from Kharkiv, Ukraine, who have been living in the warzone for the past four years. 

When asked what we could do, they invited us to pray for the conversion of our hearts and those on both sides of the conflict. 

After a long and difficult journey to attend the Encounter, they hoped to communicate the situation of their people and how the Church is striving to respond to the tragic consequences of the war. 

We would like to honor their hope by encouraging everyone to view the recording of the event.