Unity Explosion Conference ends but marks a beginning

“You have been informed. You have been inspired. Now go transform the world,” said Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, during Mass that brought the Unity Explosion Conference to a close June 10 in San Antonio.

Bishop Brendan Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria co-celebrated the Mass with Bishop Guillory.

For the past several days, parishioners from the Diocese of Beaumont participated in workshops alongside parishioners from other dioceses to prepare them to return to their homes, parishes and dioceses to evangelize in word and action.

Some of the workshop presenters included Beaumont native and University of Notre Dame political science professor Darren Davis. He shared his experience answering the call to serve and also presented on religious engagement among Black Catholics. Sister Eva M. Lumas, SSS, discussed Black Catholic liturgy. Among the other sessions, Pearl Cox directed workshops on liturgical dance, and Roger Holland conducted music sessions for choir members.

Unity Explosion held its first conference in 1989 to celebrate the contribution American Catholics of African descent have made to the Church. Since then the vision of the conference has grown to provide experiences that address leadership, catechetical, liturgical and evangelization needs of the faith community, especially those communities of African descent.