Sacred Border Experience: Indigenous Spirituality and Mission
October 9-11, 2026
Columban Center in El Paso, TX
Come to the beautiful borderlands of El Paso and Juárez to learn from the Indigenous spirituality centered here! Pope Francis made the relationship between the Church and Indigenous peoples a central theme of his papacy. His approach was characterized by a "penitential" spirit, acknowledging past harms, while simultaneously celebrating Indigenous wisdom as an "irreplaceable voice" for the modern world. We offer this weekend in the spirit of Pope Francis. We will look at what it means to be a missionary disciple in a way that honors, rather than erases, Indigenous cultures.
Featured Presenters:
Dr. Yolanda Chávez Leyva is a Chicana/ fronteriza historian and writer who was born and raised on the border. She is of Rarámuri descent and honors her grandmother, Canuta Ruacho. She is the past Director of the Institute of Oral History and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Monsignor Arturo J. Bañuelas is a native of El Paso, Texas, who earned his doctorate from the Gregorian University in Rome. He is the founder of the Tepeyac Institute and Hope Border Institute, both in El Paso. He is also a co-founder of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS). Before retiring, he served as pastor to two of El Paso’s largest parishes, St. Pius X and St. Mark.
Space is limited both for those staying at the Center and commuters, so you are encouraged to register early.
Register here by September 4th.
Cost: $175.00 for those staying at the Columban Center. Option for those who may need to arrive the night before on the 8th: $225.00.
Accommodations: shared bedrooms and simple living.
Cost: $50.00 for commuters (includes lunch and dinner)
If you would like to donate (a suggested donation of $25) to support our work, we would be very grateful. You may click the donate button to access our secure donation site.
REGISTER BELOW!
NOTICE! Each participant must complete and submit their own form using separate and unique emails. Thank you for your understanding. By providing my email, I agree to receive promotional emails from Maryknoll regarding formation, immersion and resource opportunities.
