SALT LAKE CITY — Those wanting to learn more about their faith have the perfect opportunity at the Diocesan Pastoral Congress.
The annual event, scheduled this year for Sept. 28, takes a broad approach, with topics as diverse as Scripture and stewardship, family life and Catholic social teaching. (For a complete list, see the ad on page 19.)
"They’re foundational for adult learning, and this is a conference for adults to learn more about their faith," said Diocese of Salt Lake City Director of Religious Education Susan Northway.
The day is a time for the Catholic Church in Utah to come together for study, reflection and prayer, said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City. "We believe these activities are essential for strengthening our Christian witness to others."
The theme for the 2013 Diocesan Pastoral Congress is "The Year of Faith: The New Evangelization."
"The ‘New Evangelization’ speaks to us of action on behalf of the Gospel message," Bishop Wester said, adding that the New Evangelization teaches Catholics more about their faith "so we might gently answer questions and respectfully guide others in prudent choices."
The keynote speakers will focus on New Evangelization.
Michael Murphy, the executive director of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, will give the keynote address in English. His topic is "Stewardship and the New Evangelization."
Murphy and his staff developed "Called by Christ, Gifted by the Spirit," a manual for introducing parish communities to stewardship that is used in the Archdiocese of Detroit and other diocese in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and parts of Latin America.
The keynote speaker for the Spanish group will be the Most Rev. Ricardo Ramirez, Bishop emeritus of Las Cruces, who is "very much known for his writing encouraging the new evangelization," Northway said.
One of the speakers who will address Youth & Young Adult Ministry is Alejandro Barraza, director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Las Cruces. His workshop will be presented in English, but he is fully bilingual/bicultural, and invites the Hispanic community to join him at lunch for further conversation, Northway said.
Also for the Spanish-speaking community, Laura Lopez is returning for two workshops on stewardship. She is the pastoral coordinator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Indio, Calif.
In addition, Dr. Jose Antonio Medina will present three Spanish workshops. All those who are part of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Hispanic Lay Ecclesiastic Ministry program (Emaus) are invited to participate.
Some of the more unusual workshops in English will be those presented by Sister Linda Marie Bolinski, SCCM, who will focus on the sacraments of Confirmation and Communion.
"Communion is more than just a day when kids dress up," Northway said. "There’s much more to it and she’s going to talk about that, how we need to shift away from the child’s outfit and those kinds of things to the real meaning of the Eucharist."
The Pastoral Congress is Sept. 28, with registration and an early-bird session on lay ecclesial ministry by Sr. Linda Marie at 7 a.m.
Bishop Wester will lead the bilingual morning prayer at 8:15 a.m. Keynote speakers begin at 9 a.m. Workshops continue until 4 p.m., with a break for lunch at noon.
For information or to register, go online to www.dioslc.org or contact Susan Northway, 801-328-8641.
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