The diocesan Ministry of Evangelization and Family Life will present its annual evangelization conference June 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction.
With the theme, “Together in Mission,” the conference is open to all pastors, priests, deacons, parish staff and other parish leaders across the Diocese as a way to help them in their own ministries of evangelization.
Keynote speakers will include Jon Leonetti, who will address the English-speaking community, and Andres Arango, who will address the Spanish-speaking participants.
Leonetti is a nationally known Catholic speaker, best-selling author of “Mission of the Family” and “Your God is Too Boring” and a radio host who conveys lasting fulfillment in Jesus, according to his website. Leonetti shares his message of God’s love in interviews with the nation’s top Catholic blogs, websites and radio shows.
Arango is a delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Camden. In that role, he helps the bishop with all matters relevant to Hispanic communities, according to the Diocese of Camden’s website. He is also the chairman of the National Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal executive committee and a member of the Latin-American Catholic Charismatic Committee, as well as the director of evangelization for the Diocese of Camden.
At the conference, the morning talks will focus on the importance of family in evangelization and how families are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, in every phase of their lives.
At noon, conference participants will gather for a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia.
The afternoon will have participants hearing from Terry Ginther, diocesan executive director of Pastoral Life and Mission, in English, and Josue Arriola, diocesan director of Evangelization and Family Life, in Spanish, both of whom will continue the discussion on “Together in Mission.”
“Together in Mission is the infographic that the Department of Evangelization, which at the time was the Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, had put together. So when [Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.] created the new Department of Evangelization and Family Life, this conference was the perfect opportunity to roll out this infographic … showing evangelization through the life cycle of the family,” said Laura Rivas, associate director of evangelization and adult faith formation.
Noting that this year’s conference is geared more for faith leaders across the Diocese, Rivas said participants should come away with ideas and suggestions on how to revitalize their parishes and increase Mass attendance through evangelization.
“We want to help people realize that the department seeks to make aware to the parishes that evangelization is a primary mission, to show them that families are the best platform to accomplish this mission,” she said.
To register, go to dioceseoftrenton.org/evangelization-conference-2017. Deadline to register is June 16.