"I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!" (Lk 12:49)
"In baptism we are plunged into Jesus, into his dying and rising. A fire is lit, and the glowing coals of that fire spark a whole new life. The draft of our generous cooperation is always required to fan this promised future into flame." - Fr. George Aschenbrenner
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2009 - Change You Can Believe In
The theme of the third annual conference borrows the popular political motto in order to raise the questions, "What change do we want?" and "Who can bring about that change?" The answer to the first question is holiness, and the second is Jesus Christ. Only he satisfies our deepest desires, and transforms us into the creatures we were created and redeemed to be.
The first talk by Msgr. Steven Raica touches directly on this issue, while the second by Fr. Roy Horning presents how much of the social change that we wants to see originates in Christ's activity in the Catholic Family. Finally, Ms. Mary Shulte speaks on Hope and Heaven, offering an answer to both the despair and the false optimism of the modern world, for only the Christian has true hope.
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2008 - Christian Discipleship
For the second annual conference we decided to try something new, focusing the entire them on discipleship. We were able to get some great speakers once again to share with us their knowledge of living a life centered on Christ and three of the talks are available for download below.
Download/Stream
Discipleship in Everyday Life - Todd Gale
Discipleship in the Modern World - Dr. Mark Moes
Discipleship and World Religions - Phil Krill
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2007 - Faith, Hope and Love
The first annual conference was a great success, drawing more people than expected and some great speakers. Three priests from the Diocese of Lansing spoke, as well as three seminarians. Msgr. Sylvester Fedewa celebrated a Holy Hour for us and Fr. Cecilio Reyna, the pastor at St. Mary's, celebrated and preached at Mass.
Download/Stream
Faith - Fr. Steve Mattson
Hope - Fr. Tim Macdonald
Love - Fr. Jerry Vincke