Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will address the subject of the New
Evangelisation at a conference which boasts six speakers a day, a range
of workshops and more than 70 different exhibitors showcasing catholic
services and products.
Bishop Seamus Freeman of Ossory will preach at the opening Mass of
the ‘Faith of Our Fathers Conference and Exhibition’ in Kilkenny this
weekend.
The event is taking place just after the first anniversary of last
year’s International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) and within the Year of
Faith.
Its template is the IEC mix of speakers, workshops and exhibitors all
under one roof in a show of new confidence in the catholic community
going beyond the challenges of the recent past.
“IEC2012 created a buzz and a confidence. It was the first time the
Church showed itself to be confident in renewal after years of
challenges”, Anthony Murphy, organiser and editor of the Catholic Voice newspaper told CatholicIreland.net.
He said he and others involved in the conference wanted to link it
with the first anniversary of the International Eucharistic Congress as
well as doing something to celebrate the Year of Faith.
“We hope people who attend deepen their own faith and faith journey
and that we give them a vibrant conference which shows that the Church
here is already in renewal and is growing and is approaching the year
ahead with confidence,” he added.
There were several hundred advance bookings at the time of going to
press but with tickets still available at the door, this figure is
expected to rise.
“We anticipate it will be well supported,” Anthony Murphy said. “It
is a first, but organisers are open to running another one if that is
what people want us to do, but we’ll have this one first.”
The themes of the conference are the liturgy, family and life, faith
formation, Marian shrines, catechism, Eucharistic miracles and Catholic
education. Well known speakers will cover many aspects of the Catholic
faith.
On Friday afternoon, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will speak
on, ‘The New Evangelisation in a New Ireland.’ He is leader of one of
the first dioceses in the coutnry to set up an Office for
Evangelisation.
Irish Times columnist, John Waters, will speak on ‘The Crisis of Reason’ in Ireland on Sunday afternoon.
Other speakers include:
• Former MEP and Pro Life campaigner Dana Rosemary Scallon
• Catholic Grandparents Association founder Catherine Wiley
• Priest and scholar Fr Peter Stravinskas
• Former MEP Kathy Sinnot
• Entrepreneur and founder of Libertas, Declan Ganley
In addition to the main addresses on each day of the conference, there will also be a range of workshops.
One workshop involves young boys from Meath who will forsake their
Saturday football to run a workshop to share their understanding of
Eucharistic adoration with others.
This three-day event runs from 13–15 September at the Hub at Cillin
Hill in Kilkenny. For more information: Catholic Voice (059 8627268) or
Faith of Our Fathers (087 6723410).
Also see http://www.ossory.ie/2013/08/faith-of-our-fathers-conference-exhibition/