NationalConferenceReports

On June 29-July 1, 2007, the National Lao Catholic Pastoral Center organized the three day National Lao Catholic Conference which was held in Vancouver,
Canada. Over 100 Lao Catholic Community leaders(including bishop, clergy, sister, deacon, leaders from Lao Khmmu, La hu, Hmong community and our young
adult leaders) from different parts of the United States, Canada, France, Thailand, Australia and Laos participated in this 3 day conference with a theme of journey
in faith through family practice. Over 300 community attendees and leaders participated in Sunday mass followed by Baci ceremony, cultural performance by
young Lao girls, live band, singing, dancing and community luncheon and refreshment.

The three day conference was full of excitement, learning, sharing and fun plus receiving warm hospitality, free residence inn by the Lao Catholic Community
families in Vancouver and being well fed by the best Lao Cuisine from the Lao women iron chefs in Vancouver, Canada. We learned new information about the in
depth meaning of sacraments in Baptism and Matrimony. We learned how to collaborate with other multi-ethnic community groups within the Lao Community and
other ethnic groups in addition to our own ethnic group. We learned to renew our Catholic faith through family practice and role model from parents or adults. We
learned how to share, to preserve our own cultural heritage with an openness to learn about other cultures and how effectively collaborate with each other between
intergenerational groups, for example, young adult leaders and adult leaders, especially from our small group/large group sharing discussion. This conference
helps to strengthen the network among its Lao multi-ethnic community leaders around the globe.

We had numerous presenters with various topics of presentation. We took a lot of feedback and suggestion from our 2005 National Lao Catholic Conference which
was held in Forth Smith, Arkansas to improve future conference which many leaders have expressed interest to have more time in small group and large group
sharing and discussion.

These presentations included but not limited to the following:
1) Self introduction and welcome remarks from Rev. Mario M. Villarasa,Pastor of Our Lady of Good Council Parish, Mr. Khamhan Thepouthay,President of Lao
Catholic Community in Vancouver, Canada, Rev. Wilfred Lowery, Rev. Gerard Dionne, Rev. Souksavath Nouane-Asa, Deacon Joua Pao Yang,and community
leaders and young adult leaders from different parts of the world.Mr. Khamphoui Singvongsa and Sister Alice Thepouthay helped facilitate these three day
conference.
2) Sharing prayer services in our diversity from our multi-ethnic Lao community groups leaders which led by young adult leader, Mrs, Khankham Sengkhankham,
from Winnepeg, Canada.
3) Bishop Pierre Bach, missionary minister to Lao Catholic community around the world discussed about sacraments focusing on the meaning of two sacraments:
Baptism and Matrimony <u>2007 National Lao Catholic Conference (continued)
4) Ms. Cecile Motus, Interim Director of the Office of Pastoral Care Migrantsand Refugees of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC.
discussed about cultural diversity in the Church.
5) Deacon Joua Pao Yang, Minister to Lao, La hu, Lao Khmu and Hmong community in Seattle, Washington discussed about faith and family and shared his own
faith testimony in the Hmong community experience. Leader from La hu and Lao Khmmu also shared their faith testimony in their community experience and how
they become to believe God and have active in the community.
6) Testimony presentation from four young adult leaders about their life experience of how they become to know God and strengthen their Catholic faith and to
become active in their own community and parish. Two young adult leaders came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US and two other young adult leaders came from
Winnepeg, Canada.
7) Rev. Wilfred Lowery discussed and provided an encouragement message to all leaders to continue to be active and to serve in our own community.
8) Rev. Souksavath Nouane-Asa discussed about his ministries and news from Laos. Fr. Soukavath Nouane-Asa has been a newly ordained priest in Laos for 6
months.
9) Mr. Khamsing Sengkhankham, former president of the Lao Catholic Community in Winnepeg, Canada discussed about seeking support, marketing and
continuing to preserve the Loukdamneuane Magazine, the only international Lao Catholic magazine publishes semi-annally.He encouraged leaders to help
subscribe, to be a contributing writer, morale support and more.
10) Mr. Khamphoui Singvongsa and Sister Alice Thepouthay helped facilitate these 3 day conference, especially many small and large group sharing and
discussions. Small and large group sharing and discussions are the best ways many young leaders and young adult leaders shared, discussed and learned from
each other with openness and acceptance of each other difference. All leaders are participatory leaders and are brave to share in front of the large group
discussion.

We concluded the third day of the conference with Sunday mass where over 300 community members and leaders attended. Mr. Inpone Luangaphay, first vice
president of Lao Catholic Community in Vancouver, Canada gave closing remarks immediately after communion during Mass by thanking you everyone and
wishing everyone good luck/farewell to all leaders, bishop, clergy, sister, and Cecile Motus who attended the conference. After mass, the event was followed by a
beautiful and colorful BACI ceremony in well wishing to all leaders who participated in the conference, cultural performance by several Lao girl teens, community
luncheon/refreshment prepared by the Lao women iron chefs, live band, singing and dancing.

The Lao Catholic families in Vancouver, Canada are very generous and they have shown great leadership, courtesy, and kindness by providing us leaders free
residence inn, the best Lao cuisine ever and wonderful hospitality which many of us leaders will not be able to forget. They have shown great example and the
spirit of working together and collaboratively. Their strong faith bonds them together and strengthens solidarity among its leaders.

The conference is a great opportunity to bring as many Lao Catholic leaders including multi ethnic community leaders from around the globe together. For
example, we were to bring leaders from Lao community, La hu community, Lao Khmmu community, and Lao Hmong community and others. We are one big
family in the family of Jesus Christ. Attendees have made suggestions for future conference to be held at the following location: Columbus, Ohio; Seattle,
Washington; Forthworth, Texas. We mentioned that future conference will be held in 2010. This is due to the fact that there will be Asian Pacific American Youth,
Young Adult Leaders, and Adult Leaders Conference in Chicago, Illinois in 2009 where Lao Catholic Community youth, young adult leaders and adult leaders will
be participating. We would encourage parents to send their youth and young adult leaders to attend this important conference where our Lao youth and young
adult leaders will have
the opportunity to interact and learn from others from different ethnic community groups. This conference is expected to have about 300-400 attendees.
We hope that many Lao Catholic leaders will continue to take part in our future National Conference in 2010 and uplift the spirit of solidarity and value of our
conference and take what we've learned into practice in our own Laotian Catholic Community everywhere!

Your Brothers In Christ,
Khamphoui Singvongsa, President and National Conference Co-organizer Laotian Catholic Community of Chicago-Elgin/National Lao Catholic Pastoral Center.