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☏ (775) 329 – 9274

📍290 S. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV 89501

FRIDAY SESSIONS

SESSIONS 1 1:30-2:45 P.M.

FRI-101 IF YOU HAD SEEN WHAT I HAVE SEEN, YOU WOULD KNOW WE HAVE A GLORIOUS GOD
Fr. Don Wolf

The Eucharist is the gateway into true intimacy with Christ. Following Christ into the fullness of life in the world is to go where he went, offering the gift of a world made new to everyone. True discipleship is drawing back the curtain to reveal the gift of true life.

FRI-102 LIVING THE GOSPEL OF LIFE
Chelsy Gomez

Pope St. John Paul II wrote that the Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ saving message to the world (Evangelium vitae 1). In taking on human flesh, dwelling among us, and sacrificing his very life for our redemption, Christ reveals the profound dignity of every human person. This Gospel truth is intrinsic to who we are as followers of Christ and foundational to the decisions we make on a daily basis. This session invites us to consider how God is calling each of us to live out the Gospel of life in our world today.

FRI-103 THE PARISH AS A WORKPLACE: MAINTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS  
Dr. Stella Jeffrey

“Jesus is on line one,” read the post-it note on the vicar’s phone. On a day-to-day basis, ministry leaders and volunteers work with people, all kinds of people – this interaction is not without its challenges, and it takes work, as well as great trust in our Lord, to maintain healthy and flourishing relationships in the parish setting. This workshop will explore common challenges we face as parish catechetical leaders, ways by which to grow in virtue as the servant leaders we are called to be, and help us grow in our appreciation for those we work with in our ministry
FRI-104 TRANSFORMING LIVES AND PARISH COMMUNITIES GOSPEL OF LIFE
ACTS Retreats

Born out of a desire to offer a parish-based retreat that was Catholic and ecumenical, the ACTS Retreat was developed by lay members of two parishes in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.The first men and women retreats were offered in 1987 and today are offered in over 600 parishes in 6 countries around the world! Join us for an introduction to ACTS Retreats, the intent and purpose, and learn about the transformative power of people and parishes. Better attendance at Mass, greater number of volunteers and service, renewed marriages and families, and growing vocations. Come learn what it’s all about!

SESSIONS 2 3:00-4:15 P.M.

FRI-201 PARISH DISCERNMENT AND STRATEGIC THINKING  
Fr. Elkin González

How did a group of fishermen or a man with an untempered zeal advance the mandate of Christ to spread the Good News to the nations? How did they allow God to use their own limitations to confuse the wrath of tyrants and plant a message of mercy, love, and forgiveness in a complicated world? The Church was, has been, and is assisted by the Holy Spirit and moved through the prudence and intentionality of well-minded humans. How can we recover the wisdom of the early Church and apply it to a world that is complex but still needing the message of Christ? How can we use our prudence to make the work of God visible?
FRI-202 NAVIGATING SERIOUS ILLNESS AND THE END OF LIFE FOR CATHOLICS
Dr. Natalie King

This talk will describe the state of the culture and healthcare related to serious illness and the end of life. It will review Catholic Church teachings and help apply them to real issues today. Through explaining palliative care and hospice, physician assisted suicide and euthanasia, and common ethical issues that can come up, this talk will work to correct many common misunderstandings and help empower you to be an advocate for the dignity of vulnerable people around this time of life.
FRI-203 MY PRO-LIFE EXPERIENCE, AND HOW WE CAN BOLDLY CLAIM OUR STANCE IN TODAY’S WORLD
Clay Dimick

In 1994 I was born to a my birth mom and birth dad, both were freshman in college and scared out of their minds. Neither of their parents knew they were pregnant, only a few of my birth mom’s friends. The easy option and the “logical” option being pushed on my birth Mom was to abort the baby and continue about her life as she just entered college. However, due to her courage, bravery, and faith, she stayed strong in the truth, and had a baby and put the baby up for adoption. My reason for being pro life started with a personal story, but it has grown every day, because we are called to glorify God. All we do which means standing for what’s true regardless of the World’s view on us. In my profession as a professional soccer player there are many moments where I am looked at by the media or teammates or fans, and it is an opportunity where I can claim my faith on the platform God has given me. I was blessed enough to do so in a big way this past season with a pair of MiraVia inspired custom cleats. Miravia is an organization on the campus of Belmont Abbey College which provides pregnant women with a house to live, and a way for them to finish school and give their baby a safe, healthy environment at the same time.
FRI-204 WHOLE HEART ED: MARRIAGE
Damon C. Owens

The new Rite of Matrimony of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States begins with this newly phrased question before Consent: “Have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?” It is the first and most important question confirming the couples freedom to marry, but there are beautiful and radical demands wrapped within this word “wholeheartedly” that should be of interest to those of us longing to help couples recognize natural family planning as normative and essential to a lifelong, joy-filled marriage. This talk will explore the rich and radical demands of loving as husband and wife with our whole heart with a particular emphasis on promoting good stewardship of our sexual powers through fertility awareness.

SATURDAY SESSIONS

SESSION 3 10:00-11:15 A.M.

SAT-301 BUILDING A PARISH OF INTENTIONAL DISCIPLES: THE CHRIST THE KING EXPERIENCE
Fr. Elkin Gonzalez

The early Christian community gathered around the teachings of the apostles, communal life, and the breaking of the bread (Acts 2:42). This is the foundation upon which Christ founded the Church and the place where communion with God forms the community. Through her sacramental life, the Church engenders new children, educates them in the Good News, and sends them to gather the harvest planted by God. The transformation of a parish is envisioned for the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and for the Kingdom of God to be established within us, among us, and upon us. What can a Catholic parish in the buckle of the Bible Belt teach us about it?
SAT-302 NAVIGATING SERIOUS ILLNESS AND THE END OF LIFE FOR CATHOLICS
Dr. Natalie King

This talk will describe the state of the culture and healthcare related to serious illness and the end of life. It will review Catholic Church teachings and help apply them to real issues today. Through explaining palliative care and hospice, physician assisted suicide and euthanasia, and common ethical issues that can come up, this talk will work to correct many common misunderstandings and help empower you to be an advocate for the dignity of vulnerable people around this time of life.

SAT-303 GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH FITNESS AND SPORTS  
Clay Dimick

It is not easy in today’s world to confidently glorify God in everything we do. But, it is what we are called to do. A way we can do this is to become the best version of ourselves, this means physically as well. We can turn everything we do into a prayer, and it took me years to learn that. However, through this talk I hope that I can provide you all with real ways to glorify God in your fitness journey and to honor him by becoming the best version of yourself. Fitness and faith do not have to be unrelated, in fact there are a lot more similarities than we may think.
SAT-304 THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RECOGNIZING HIS GIFTS IN YOUR LIFE AND MINISTRY
Dr. Stella Jeffrey

St Paul teaches that we are “children of God” because the Holy Spirit dwells within testifying with our spirit that we are “co-heirs with Jesus Christ” (cf. Rm 8:9-17). Yet, for many Catholics, our personal relationship with the Holy Spirit is overlooked, nearly forgotten, and so His many gifts remain given but not opened. Come to consider the Holy Spirit, the Divine Pedagogue, “the interior Master of life…a gentle guest and friend who inspires, guides, corrects, and strengthens” us and all those to whom we’ve been sent (CCC 1697). Let’s open these gifts, cast our nets into the deep awaiting the Lord’s work (cf. Luke 5:4).

SESSION 3 10:00-11:15 A.M

SAT-305 VOCATIONS   
Office of Vocations
SAT-306 THEOLOGY OF THE BODY
Damon C. Owens

An introductory synthesizing its history, structure, content, major themes, and contemporary significance of Pope St. John Paul II’s great catechesis on love and communion to believers and nonbelievers alike. (youth & up)
SAT-307 BEGINNING WITH THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS – BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS TO OUR BROKEN WORLD
Fr. Vincent Manalo

This is the first of three sessions that explore the Eucharist as a paradigm for encountering Christ in our everyday lives. In a world marked by division, suffering, and uncertainty, how do we find Christ’s presence and respond with faith? By focusing on the first half of the Mass-where we gather, listen to the Good News, and allow God’s Word to shape and form us-we will discover how these sacred actions invite us to find hope and light.

SESSION 4 1:45 - 3:00 P.M.

SAT-401 RECOVERING THE FIRE OF PARISH LIFE  
Fr. Don Wolf

Recovering the fire of parish life. Fr. Wolf will discuss on the importance of prayer and why a parish should make this a precedence for growing and maintaining a strong and vibrant parish. With prayer a person grows in relationship with the Lord. In the Bible, bearing fruit is considered an important part of having a relationship with God. According to John 15:5, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit”. Once we are encountering a relationship with the Lord, we can hear God’s call and discover our role as disciples. Then, authentic joy happens.

SAT-402 WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED 101
Chelsy Gomez

Walking with Moms in Need is a nationwide, parish-based effort to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need sponsored by the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. It works to ensure that any woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to her local Catholic Church and be connected with the resources she needs. Learn about the inspiration and vision behind this ministry and how you can bring it to your parish today.

SAT-403 CLAY DIMICK – MY TESTIMONY
Clay Dimick

If you asked me when I was growing up if I would be Catholic today I would say no chance and you are crazy forever thinking that. However, little did I know that a soccer scholarship to a Catholic school would wind up leading me to the beauty of the Catholic Faith. Ultimately, it was the truth of the Eucharist that led me home. However, there were many other lessons I learned and continue to learn that keep me eternally grateful for His One, Truly, Holy, and Apostolic Church. Today as a father, husband, and professional athlete, I get an opportunity to live out my faith every day, and be challenged by the positions I am in. I would not be as strong in my faith today without the Sacraments, the Catholic community, and the beauty of His church.

SAT-404 FRIENDSHIP EVANGELIZATION
Dr. Stella Jeffrey

What if you’re the Father’s plan for someone to receive the Gospel? Do you dare to ask the Holy Spirit, “To whom should I go”? How do you start? St. Mother Teresa stated, “I can only love one person at a time, just one, one, one. . . so, I began -maybe if I didn’t pick up that one person, I wouldn’t have picked up forty-two thousand… The same thing goes for you, …in your family, …your church, your community. Just begin – one, one, one.” Learn a few steps to be the faithful friend who brings a friend to Jesus (cf. Luke 5:20). Hear firsthand accounts about a Catholic parish going door-to-door, setting up “free prayers” in parks, etc.

SAT-405 HOLY HOUR WITH PRAISE & WORSHIP MUSIC
Matthew and Madeleine Dobrowski

All conference attendees are invited to join us for a special holy hour of Adoration with praise and worship music. Experience this beautiful way to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. Confessions will be available during this time. All are invited!

FRI-406 TRANSFORMING LIVES AND PARISH COMMUNITIES GOSPEL OF LIFE
ACTS Retreats

Born out of a desire to offer a parish-based retreat that was Catholic and ecumenical, the ACTS Retreat was developed by lay members of two parishes in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.The first men and women retreats were offered in 1987 and today are offered in over 600 parishes in 6 countries around the world! Join us for an introduction to ACTS Retreats, the intent and purpose, and learn about the transformative power of people and parishes. Better attendance at Mass, greater number of volunteers and service, renewed marriages and families, and growing vocations. Come learn what it’s all about!

SAT-407 THE PARISH AS A PLACE OF HOPE, HEALING, AND HOSPITALITY: THE KEY POINTS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Fr. Vincent Manalo

The second half of the Eucharistic celebration reaches its high point when we receive Christ’s presence in the consecrated Bread and Wine. Through this sacred act, we are not only nourished by His Body and Blood but also reminded that we are the Body of Christ ourselves. In this session, we will explore how this transformation prepares and empowers us to live as missionary disciples, extending Christ’s love and presence to one another in our daily lives, and fulfilling our call to be His hands and feet in the world.

SESSION 5 3:30-4:45 P.M.

SAT-501 CALLED SONS OF GOD
Jordan Dicus and Eric Klekas

Called As Sons of God is a presentation which speaks to true masculinity as modeled after Christ and St. Joseph. We will discuss true manly virtues and compare them to how the world views masculinity. We will learn how to take Christ and St. Joseph as our role model in being a man and son of God and how to bravely face the struggles found in our world today as men. Called as Sons of God is a great talk for all young men and fathers to spend time together and talk about true Christian/Catholic masculinity. (young men and fathers)

SAT-502 WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED IN ACTION
Chelsy Gomez

Could a woman with an unexpected or challenging pregnancy turn to your parish for help? Walking with Moms in Need provides a process and framework for parishes to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. In this session we’ll take a closer look at the steps parishes can take to inventory local resources, identify gaps in services, and prayerfully discern how they can be part of accompanying mothers. We’ll also learn from examples of parishes across the country and the creative ways they have responded to the needs in their communities.

SAT-503 WONDER OF EVE
April Zampirro

The Wonder of Eve is a fresh and engaging presentation, helping young women understand how naturally amazing their bodies are and the impact their choices can have on their future health and fertility. God has created each young woman in His image and calls her His daughter and as such she is beautiful and unrepeatable. This talk covers the marvelous design and function of the female body. It offers a brief introduction to tracking cycles as an approach to a young woman’s healthcare and ways to take care of yourself now to benefit you in the future.

SAT-504 FIVE SMOOTH STONES
Damon C. Owens

Casting a vision of a life well-lived, this is a beginners talk to “begin and begin again.” Featuring very practical daily norms, this talk proposes an order, meaning, and purpose to life that is an adventure to be discovered. Major themes include the dignity of masculinity and femininity, the meaning of love (eros, philia, storge, agape), freedom, truth, God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and prayer, Eucharist, and Reconciliation as the infallible means to holiness.

SAT-505 HOLY HOUR 101: HOW TO IMPLEMENT A PRAISE & WORSHIP HOLY HOUR AT YOUR PARISH
Matthew and Madeleine Dobrowski

This workshop provides a practical how-to for discerning, planning, and implementing a praise & worship holy hour at your parish or student center. Come here how this unique holy hour could transform your parish ministries, as well as tips on how to share the vision with your pastor, recruit musicians, plan a setlist, and market the event.

SAT-506 THE MISSIONING PROCESS TO BRING ACTS TO YOUR PARISH
ACTS Retreats

Excited about the potential to revive your parish? Learn how ACTS Missions brings the ACTS Retreat to parishes through a missioning process. Brothers and sisters in Christ volunteer their time, talent, and treasure to serve on Mission Teams and work with new parishes to offer 4 ACTS Retreats and then install a parish-based ACTS Core. Find out how you can bring ACTS Retreats to your parish!

SAT-507 GO FORTH AND MAKE DISCIPLES TO ALL NATIONS
Fr. Vincent Manalo

In this final session, we will celebrate the unique cultural gifts of Filipino Americans that shape our identity as disciples of Christ. Drawing from the rich heritage of faith, family, and community, we will explore how these gifts empower us to go out into the world as joyful missionary disciples. By embracing our values, we are called to share the joy of our faith with others, embodying the presence of Christ in every encounter and spreading God’s love to the wider world through the grace of the Holy Spirit.