With a theme of Pilgrims of Hope, just over 1,300 Catholics of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas gathered on September 5 and 6 for their annual Archdiocesan Convention. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the diocese (now Archdiocese) of Las Vegas.
And NCR was there!
After arriving in Las Vegas, I successfully resisted the lure of the slot machines, and headed to the exhibit hall to set up our booth. What we bring and display at a convention depends on the type of convention it is. Since this is an (arch)diocesan convention, we brought copies of NCR, and cards that offer a complimentary one-year subscription to eNCR. We had displays that invite participants to sign up for our daily news email, download our NCR app, find us on social media, and more. We had copies of three of our award-winning articles that we thought would be particularly interesting to those in parish ministry. For parish and diocesan catechists, we brought information about GSR in the Classroom, a free resource that offers formation in social justice for junior and senior high school students.
I met many participants who attend the convention every year. They spoke about the community feel to the event, the keynotes and workshops, as well as the prayer experiences as the main reasons they keep the coming back. “If I didn’t come, I would really feel like I missed out,” one participant shared. When I asked another participant what she found most meaningful, she didn’t hesitate, but with great enthusiasm shared about how meaningful she found the prayer experiences. She said, “Last year when I came, I was in RCIA. This year, I get to go to communion with everyone!”
Prior to leaving for Las Vegas, I sent an email to NCR readers and donors in the Las Vegas archdiocese, and asked them to stop by our booth if they came to the convention, and many did! They were so pleased that we were at the convention, and wanted to share the importance that NCR has played in their spiritual journey. As I attend events, the word I hear most often from readers is “connection.” Our readers speak of NCR as keeping them connected to the Church, and to other like-minded Catholics. They find hope in our pages, and something to keep them going. “Keep doing what you do,” is the message I hear again and again.
We were warmly welcomed by the archdiocesan staff. Connie Clough, Diocesan Director of Faith Formation, and Director of Communications Montie Chavez stopped by our booth to chat. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet and chat with the Archbishop of Las Vegas, Bishop George Thomas. Bishop Thomas spoke about the support he has experienced from NCR over the years, particularly when he was Bishop of Helena, Montana. At the time, Bishop Thomas led a unique approach to bankruptcy and its impact on lawsuits filed by victims of clergy sexual abuse. He spoke about the articles that NCR published about their approach and said, “Those articles made all the difference; they clearly explained what we were doing, and really helped us.”
Conventions provide NCR with an opportunity to meet and learn more about our current readers, and introduce ourselves to new ones. Meeting readers in person reminds us why we do this work and shows us the impact of independent journalism. Conventions are where connections are made, trust is built, and NCR’s mission comes to life.
By: Laure Krupp, Director of Membership & Donor Engagement
