Assembly 2016 to unite religious and laity

Attendees are invited to experience a life-changing encounter with the Lord at Assembly 2016, United as Church, on Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the campus of St. Mary’s University. Register for Assembly 2016 by visiting the archdiocesan website at www.assemblysa.org or call (210) 734-1911. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.

In addition to faith formation talks, reconciliation, and the opportunity for Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, there will be three keynote presenters: Eduardo Verástegui, Karyme Lozano, and Father Tom McCarthy, OSA.
The event will unite clergy, religious and laity in spiritual communion to experience a life-changing encounter with our Lord. This gathering will allow the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts for missionary discipleship. Workshops will cover a range of topics in mercy, evangelization, today’s society, spirituality, prayers, and sacraments.

EDUARDO VERÁSTEGUI
Vera´stegui was born on May 21, 1974 in Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He is an actor, producer, businessman and philanthropist.
He began his entertainment career as a member of the musical group KAIRO, a popular “boy band.” He starred in five hit “telenovela” television shows that aired in more than 35 countries and were seen by millions of people, which led to him becoming one of the most recognized Mexican “heartthrob” stars.

In 2000, he moved to Miami and began recording music again, as a solo act under Universal Music.

He transitioned to Hollead role in Chasing Papi alongside Sofia Vergara. He began the production company Metanoia Films in 2004, with the goal of producing films that had the potential to not only entertain, but make a difference.

In 2006, he produced and starred in the film Bella, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. He began the non-profit organization Manto de Guadalupe in 2007 with two goals in mind: to help those facing extreme poverty and to provide free medical care to pregnant women.

He took a supporting role alongside Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, and Peter O’Toole in the film, For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada, in 2012.

Last year, he co-starred alongside Kevin James in the movie, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and in the highly acclaimed movie Little Boy, which he also produced.

KARYME LOZANO
Karyme Lozano is one of the most prominent international television stars today.Her successful soap operas have aired multiple times in numerous countries on every continent and dubbed in several languages. She is the only star simultaneously featured in a lead role in two prime-time soaps, El Manantial, and Niña Amada Mía, a unique event in Univision history.

She has also found success on stage, starring in Spanish versions of musicals Anastasia, Cinderella and Grease. Her lead film role, a moving performance as an artist physically and mentally abused by her boyfriend, in Desnudos earned her a nomination to a coveted Ariel Award, Mexico’s equivalent to the Oscars.

Like Verástegui, she also co-starred in For Greater Glory, playing the role of Doña María del Río de Sánchez, mother of Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Rio.

FATHER TOM MCCARTHY, OSA
Father Tom McCarthy is the Augustinian vocation director and campus minister at Villanova University. He is an experienced teacher, campus minister, school administrator, retreat director and parish mission preacher.

He graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Catholic Theological Union, with a Master of Divinity Degree, and from Lewis University, with a master’s degree in Educational Administration. He made his solemn vows as an Augustinian Friar in 1993 and was ordained to priesthood in 1994.

In the spirit of this year’s theme United as Church, organizers are asking all participants attending Assembly 2016 to carpool in groups of no less than three persons per vehicle. Vehicles with less than three persons will not be allowed to park on campus. To foster the spirit of unity, it is Archbishop Gustavo’s desire for all attendees to embrace the requirement as a sign of our communion with one another. This three-person requirement applies to all vehicles, including those requesting accessible parking on the St. Mary’s campus for those with disabilities.

For questions regarding the Vendor/Exhibitor Fair, contact Nicky Mata at [email protected].