NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- New York Encounter is an annual three-day public cultural festival which will take place at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street, NYC, January 18-20, 2013.

New York Encounter 2013 will explore the meaning of freedom, featuring exhibits on the Cristeros of Mexico, G.K. Chesterton, and presentations by Msgr. Albacete, Fr. Peter Cameron, and Paul Bhatti, brother of a modern day martyr from Pakistan.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, at 5:00 pm, New York Encounter, will present an extraordinary eyewitness account of the life and death of Shahbaz Bhatti, the murdered Pakistani Minister for Minority Affairs and modern Catholic martyr who died for religious freedom. From 2008 until his assassination in 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti served as the first Federal Minister for Minority Affairs in Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti, a Roman Catholic and outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws was gunned down by Tehrik-i-Taliban for refusing to relent on his fight for the freedom of Christians and other minorities in Pakistan. After Shahbaz's death, his brother, Paul, courageously stepped forward and now serves as Pakistan's Minister for National Harmony. Minister Bhatti will share poignant stories from his and his brother’s lives in light of their fight for religious liberty in Pakistan.

In addition to Mr. Bhatti, other distinguished speakers will include: Harold Korell, Chairman of the Board of Southwestern Energy, John Waters, Irish Times columnist, Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete, theologian, Fr. Peter Cameron, O.P., Editor-in-chief of Magnificat.

"The theme of the 2013 New York Encounter is 'Experiencing Freedom' and it will be dedicated to exploring the topic of liberty -- not through abstract analysis, but by offering living examples of freedom in action in politics, in economy, in art," said Maurizio Maniscalco, President of New York Encounter. He added, "We will also have outstanding artists and musicians to show that beauty can bring people together."

The aim of New York Encounter is to give a large audience opportunities for Christian education through public discussions, artistic performances, and exhibits. Last year's keynote speaker, Prof. Mary Ann Glendon, called her experience at New York Encounter: "Exhilarating, refreshing and renewing: I got more out of it than I put into it."

"Last year four thousand people visited New York Encounter, and I'm sure that our intriguing program will attract an even larger audience this year," said Maniscalco.

For more information about New York Encounter visit www.newyorkencounter.org.