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Breakout Sessions

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Most people today think that education, work, and money matter most when it comes to building a meaningful and happy life. But they are wrong. Drawing on the latest in social science and ancient wisdom, University of Virginia Professor Brad Wilcox will unpack a fundamental truth: Family life matters more for happiness than the degree on your wall or the money in your bank account. In fact, nothing predicts men’s and women’s happiness more than a good marriage. Given this, Professor Wilcox concludes by revealing the five pillars of strong marriages in 21st-century America.

The Eucharist calls us to serve the poor and marginalized in our communities. In this session, we will explore how our liturgical practice calls us to be missionary disciples, going forth from the Eucharistic meal to accompany those in need. Learn about the vital work Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas is doing across our 31-county diocese to support families in poverty, pregnant mothers, and individuals with mental health challenges. Discover practical ways to get involved, and hear real-life stories of transformation and hope. This session will provide practical examples, resources, and tools to help our Eucharistic communities live out our faith through action and compassion, embodying the love of Christ. Whether you are seeking to deepen your faith, find meaningful ways to serve, or simply learn more about the work being done in our diocese, this talk will offer valuable insights and actionable steps.

This parent presentation focuses on how we can be inspiring young people to grow in virtue and faith, even while we live in a culture where many people are falling away from the life that we are called to in Christ. The presentation begins by drawing each person into the call that we have to help young people discover where true life, fulfillment, and joy can be found. Using this Catholic understanding of mission, we address how we can be inspiring young people towards virtue in specific areas such as chastity, relationships, social media, and growing in their Catholic faith.

This breakout session will offer insights in how to grow in appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist and how to foster a deeper reverence and devotion to Our gift of the Eucharist and how to foster a deeper reverence and devotion to Our Eucharistic Lord through the teachings, prayers, hymns, and lived example of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Marriage and fertility rates are cratering, hitting lows never seen before in America’s history. This means that a record share of today’s young adults will never marry and never have children. But the paradox is that marriage and family life matter more than ever in the 21st century. Men, women, and children in married families are much more likely to thrive socially, emotionally, and financially than their peers who don’t enjoy the safety and stability of a married family. Professor Brad Wilcox of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia will reveal what’s happening to marriage and family life, why these two institutions are losing ground, and what we can do to revive their fortunes in 21st-century America.

St. John the Baptist parish in Beloit, KS commenced Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in June of this year. St. John’s pastor Fr. Jarett Konrade will speak about the reasons, the fruits, and the “how-to’s” of expanding Eucharistic Adoration in your parish.

We are all called to be evangelists and share the Good News of Christ with everyone we encounter. For young people today, this can be a daunting task in our current culture. It requires strength, courage, and a deep trust in God. Despite the challenges, many of your peers in school or on your college campus are looking to you to share Christ’s love and mercy with them. The church is in need of passionate young leaders and evangelists who are ready and willing to spread the Gospel and guide others to Christ.

Join us as we explore strategies to help you grow in your faith and become the impactful evangelists God has called you to be within your school, your teams, among your friends, and throughout your community.

This breakout session will offer insights on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is a method of religious formation based on Scripture and the liturgy for children ages 3 to 12. A prayerful environment and hands-on materials nurture the child’s relationship with God, particularly in the Eucharistic mystery.

For many people today, life is a story with no plot, as many suffer from loneliness and lack of purpose in their lives. Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford share their story and how to find true meaning in our lives—as a gift from the Lord, with a mission to make our lives a gift in return. Centering our lives on our Eucharistic Lord enables us to experience the peace, joy, and freedom that the world cannot give.

St. John the Baptist parish in Beloit, KS commenced Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in June of this year. St. John’s pastor Fr. Jarett Konrade will speak about the reasons, the fruits, and the “how-to’s” of expanding Eucharistic Adoration in your parish.

The purpose of this talk is to help the young people discover the abundant life that can only be found in Christ. So often young people seek fulfillment in areas that just lead to more disappointment, woundedness, and discouragement, not really knowing that more is possible. Jesus calls us to a life and in Him there is a fulfillment that goes beyond what this world is able to give us.

Prayer, sacrifice, adoration and reparation. The session would focus on the little known apparitions of the Angel of Peace to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta in 1916 — the year before Our Lady appeared to them. The Angel prepared the children for Our Lady’s visit by teaching them about prayer, sacrifice for sinner, and adoration of and reparation to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

As a parent, teacher, coach, priest, religious, or anyone close to a young woman or man transitioning through stages of life, it can be tough to watch your loved ones go through this challenging time. Is there a game plan for these years? How can someone help and not just stand by? In this talk, Sarah offers an understanding of Emotional Virtue, a map for navigating relationships, and a closer look at how to build up interior confidence. Being that person your loved one turns to—and does not run from—starts now.

We are all called to be evangelists and share the Good News of Christ with everyone we encounter. For young people today, this can be a daunting task in our current culture. It requires strength, courage, and a deep trust in God. Despite the challenges, many of your peers in school or on your college campus are looking to you to share Christ’s love and mercy with them. The church is in need of passionate young leaders and evangelists who are ready and willing to spread the Gospel and guide others to Christ.

Join us as we explore strategies to help you grow in your faith and become the impactful evangelists God has called you to be within your school, your teams, among your friends, and throughout your community.

Pope St. John Paul II, said, “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us…”. Wouldn’t it be great if we could live out of that love? All too often we shy away from a more intimate relationship with Jesus because we don’t believe we are good enough or because we don’t know how to enter into this type of relationship. The more we know our true identity as sons and daughters, the more we operate from a place of being loved instead of a place of trying to earn His love.