Responding to the call of Pope Francis, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will convene for seven days of prayer and unity at Mundelein Seminary from January 2-8, 2019.
“We are honored to welcome the bishops of the United States to Mundelein as they prayerfully unite to reflect on the urgent issues facing the Catholic Church today,” said Father John Kartje, rector of Mundelein Seminary. “It is fitting that they gather in a place where seminarians come from around the nation to be formed into the next generation of parish priests and hundreds of lay men and women are trained for parish service. The people of God deserve servant-leaders who are holy, joyful and competent in their ministry.”
The retreat will follow the annual USCCB General Assembly meeting in Baltimore in November.
“The Holy Father has kindly offered the preacher to the Papal Household, Reverend Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., to serve as the retreat director as we come together to pray on the intense matters before us. For this, I am grateful,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “I am also grateful to Cardinal Blase Cupich for his kind offer to use the campus of Mundelein Seminary as the location for this retreat.”
Mundelein Seminary is the major seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Located just north of Chicago, it is the largest Catholic seminary in the United States and home to over 200 seminarians from 34 dioceses across the country and around the world. Solidly grounded in prayer, pastoral formation and rigorous academic training, Mundelein Seminary’s distinctive curriculum includes an innovative Teaching Parish Program, two full-time internships, and a study-pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Since 1921, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake has granted degrees through Mundelein Seminary, the Institute of Diaconal Studies, Institute of Lay Formation, Institute of Ongoing Formation, the Liturgical Institute and the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral. Every year, their alumni go on to make invaluable contributions to the Church.
For media inquiries regarding the retreat, please contact Judy Keane at JKeane@usccb.org.
