National Meeting, May 17 to 19, 2016 / New York City
The gathering of our "one family in mission" will be held in New York City, home of the National Office, from May 17 to 19, 2016 at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel.
Our program begins at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, and concludes at with at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.
We gather to focus on our "common life" as the Diocesan Network of the Pontifical Mission Societies, with a particular emphasis on increase awareness and support for the Mission Church through our efforts, particularly utilizing digital tools and resources.
The theme of our gathering: "One Family In Mission" Empowering Missionaries of Mercy.
Flashback: Another Missionary Journey to New York
Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, founder of the Missionary Childhood Association, was much
in demand. Many French bishops who were serving as missionaries in the United States – the
“Missions” of his day – wanted this bishop of Nancy in France to visit the young churches
there and then return home to encourage interest and support for their work.
In 1839, Bishop Forbin-Janson did just that, sailing across the ocean and landing in New York, where he was welcomed with open arms by Bishop John Dubois. “Poor New York,” he wrote to Catholics back in France, “there is not yet a minor or major seminary… and this diocese is larger than all of England. There are already 200,000 Catholics, with the City of New York having about 24,000. Here everything is to be done for the sake of religion.”
Bishop Forbin Janson, writing in 1839: "There are already 200,000 Catholics, with the City of New York having about 24,000."
Hotel Registration
Please make your reservations with the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel at this link. The room rate is $229 per night, single or double occupancy. Please note that the deadline for making your room reservation is April 15.
There are three airports providing access to New York City (see below); the most direct route is through LaGuardia Airport (right through the Midtown Tunnel).
Ground Transportation Overall information on ground transportation may be found at the websites of each airport. This includes information about the various shuttle bus services, as well as average taxi fares to New York City.
