Online Catholic conference seeks to inspire, encourage families

An online Catholic conference with the stated goal “to enlighten and fortify your family to engage the culture with the truths of the Faith” will be held this Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, 2020. The Catholic Family Conference features a wide range of Catholic speakers, authors, educators, and leaders, including Bishop Joseph Strickland, Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, Kathryn Lopez, and Janet Smith, among many others. Topics will include marriage, spirituality, engaging the culture, and prayer.

Mark Brumley, President of Ignatius Press, spoke with CWR about the virtual event.

CWR: What is the Catholic Family Conference? And how did it come about?

Mark Brumley: The Catholic Family Conference, presented by Regina Caeli Academy, Ignatius Press, and Solidarity HealthShare, is a virtual Catholic conference to help support families through this challenging time by providing outstanding speakers, inspiring talks, and superb resources for families.

CWR: How is Ignatius Press involved in the Conference? What other apostolates are involved?

Brumley: We’re partners in the conference. Kari Beckman from Regina Caeli Academy and our friends at Carmel Communications brought us into the event. As I say, Solidarity HeallthShare is also a partner in the project.

CWR: How will the Conference work?

Brumley: I hope it will work well! It’s an online conference with the various presenters “sheltering-in-place” brought to the common virtual event space of the attendees. It’s a major live-streamed event.

CWR: Who are some of the speakers and what sort of specific topics will be addressed?

Brumley: The conference features a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, Father John Paul Mary, Lila Rose, Stephanie Gray, Laura Ricketts, Kathryn Lopez, Matt Walsh, Matt Fradd, Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, Kendra Tierney, Kevin Wells, Dr. Janet Smith, Father David Guffey, Danielle Bean, Michael and Alicia Hernon and David and Mercedes Rizzo.

Among other things, there will be sessions on habits of a healthy marriage, parenting, spirituality of dealing with trauma and loss, how to raise prolife children, how best to engage the culture on faith issues, prayer, masculinity, parenting children with special needs, how to speak truth in a polarizing culture, and living a family liturgical life.

Plus, Mass will be celebrated online on Friday, May 1, and the workshops and sessions will happen throughout the day on Saturday, May 2. Workshops are split between ones geared to adults and others for the entire family. The conference is designed for families, Catholic individuals, clergy, religious, and those lay faithful working in ecclesial ministry.

For more details and to view the schedule of speakers and the topics they will address, please visit www.catholicfamilyconference.com.

CWR: How can folks register and take part?

Brumley: People can register online at the Conference site. The organizers ask for a $5 individual or $10 minimum family donation to attend online. Donations help offset the technology costs for hosting the event.

There’s no replacing being physically ‘in person” but that doesn’t mean we can’t also participate in conferences through the gift of media. We have here the Catholic both/and. Let’s use all to the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.  I hope everyone can “attend”.