New York Encounter (the "Encounter"), founded in 2009, is an annual three-day public cultural event in the heart of New York City. It features talks, exhibits, and shows. All events are free of charge and open to the public, with no preregistration required.

Each year, the Encounter attracts thousands of people of various traditions and cultures, all seeking reciprocal understanding, mutual building, and true friendship, and all are interested in meaningful discussions on a vast array of topics, including science, education, politics, art, society, economics, and religion. 400+ volunteers support the Encounter. Among them are many young people from all over the United States and Canada who give their time gratuitously.

Thus, the Encounter aims to witness the new life and knowledge generated by faith, following Pope Benedict XVI's claim that "the intelligence of faith has to become the intelligence of reality."

In pursuit of this goal—and according to St. Paul’s suggestion to "test everything and retain what is good"—the Encounter strives to discover, affirm, and offer to everyone truly human expressions of the desire for truth, beauty, and justice.

“New York City needs your example. New York City needs this Encounter. So does, by the way, the world. So does the Church. So, as a matter of fact, do I. Not only are you welcome, not only am I grateful – but please keep it up”.

— Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York
New York Encounter, February 2023

New York Encounter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization listed in the Kenedy Directory (the official Catholic directory). Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation. Click HERE to learn about sponsorship opportunities. Click HERE to view some statistical data.