Fr. Mathias Thelen
Co-Founder and President, Encounter Ministries
Pastor, St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Brighton
Renew Your Priesthood in the Father’s Heart
January 26–29, 2027 · Fort Worth, Texas
We are no longer ministering in Christendom. Operating as a parish administrator or maintaining status-quo programs is not enough to reach a culture in need of Jesus. What the world needs right now—and what your parishioners are hungry for—is apostolic fatherhood.
Join priests and bishops from across the country for Priests for an Apostolic Age, a gathering designed to equip, restore, and inspire you to lead your parish into the new mission field of our age.
This year's conference is built around practical experience and honest dialogue among priests and laymen actively navigating fatherhood and parish renewal today.
Register Now!
Co-Founder and President, Encounter Ministries
Pastor, St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Brighton
Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Leadership Institute
President, National Eucharistic Congress
Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Leadership Institute
President, The Evangelical Catholic
Lead Mission Expansion Officer, The Evangelical Catholic
Conference Opening & General Session One
Fatherhood in Apostolic Times
Opening Mass
Identity First as a Son
Welcome Reception
Fraternity at the Hotel Bar
Adoration & Morning Prayer Optional
General Session Two
Joy and the Interior Life
Breakout Sessions
General Session Three
Heart for the Lost and Least
Breakout Sessions
Mass
Pre-Dinner Social
Fraternity at the Hotel Bar Optional
Adoration & Morning Prayer Optional
Intentional Prayer Session
General Session Four: Apostolic Priests Panel
Priestly Fatherhood Duties: Teaching, Governing, Sanctifying
Mass
Cocktail Reception
Avery Cardinal Dulles Award Banquet
Featuring the Ad Intra and Ad Extra Award winners
General Session Five
Featured Keynote: Self-Sacrifice & Risk Tolerance
Closing Remarks
Adoration & Morning Prayer Optional
Mass
Workshops
Hands-on workshops facilitated by The Evangelical Catholic and Catholic Leadership Institute.
Conference Wrap-Up
Conference Concludes
Gain actionable, field-tested approaches from fellow pastors who are shifting their parishes from maintenance to mission.
Encounter the Father’s heart through Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, the Liturgy of the Hours, and daily Mass.
Build genuine relationships with like-hearted priests and bishops nationwide who share your zeal for souls and parish renewal.
The Evangelical Catholic created the Avery Cardinal Dulles Award for Apostolic Activity to honor extraordinary Catholics who share the joy of the Gospel and advance the missionary heart of our faith.
Each year, we present two distinct honors:
Honors a Catholic leader — clergy, religious, or lay minister — working within Church structures to renew and strengthen our collective mission.
Honors a member of the lay faithful who boldly lives out their apostolate in the everyday world, drawing others to Jesus through their passion and zeal.
Submit your nomination between October 15 and November 1, 2026. Recipients will be celebrated at the Avery Cardinal Dulles Awards Banquet on January 28, 2027, at the Priests for an Apostolic Age conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Hotel check-in starts at 3:00 PM on January 26. Luggage may be stored prior to check-in.
Guests can fly into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) or Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL). Rideshares or taxis can then take you to the Hilton Fort Worth. It is about a 30 minute car ride. Public transportation is also available.
For those driving to the conference, the Hilton Fort Worth can be found at 815 Main St., Fort Worth, Texas. There is a daily parking fee, with options at the Hilton as well as nearby parking facilities.
All other meals are on your own. The Hilton Fort Worth features two on-site restaurants, a coffee shop, and a bar. In addition, the Hilton is located downtown and is located near a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops.
We are happy to be offering a special room rate at our conference host site, the Hilton Fort Worth located at 815 Main Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76102. A room block with a special conference rate of $195 plus tax per night will be held through January 8, 2027. The Hilton is extending our group rate for the nights before and following the conference to accommodate guests who wish to extend their stay in Fort Worth.
Reserve your room today!
Conference registration includes attendance at all conference keynotes, workshops and sessions, formal banquet, and breakout sessions. There will be daily prayer and liturgies, time for fellowship, and access to multiple resources. Registration for participants also includes the meals listed above.
There are two options for registering for the conference: Individual and Diocesan Delegation Participant. Individual participant registrations are $579. Diocesan delegations receive a discounted rate of $549.
Diocesan delegations are an opportunity for priests from the same diocese, religious order, or organization to participate in the conference together at a discounted rate. Benefits include a $30 per person discount for groups of 5 or more priests attending together while experiencing a greater camaraderie and shared vision with those brother priests who are close in proximity to one another. If you wish to participate as part of a delegation, please contact Kelly at ecevents@evangelicalcatholic.org. A special registration code will be created unique to your delegation.
Prepayment in full is required for registration. You may pay the registration fee online using a credit card, or submit a check within 14 days of registering. There will be an additional credit card fee for credit card transactions. Confirmation of registration is provided automatically with online registration. Confirmations will be sent by email. If you do not receive your confirmation, please contact ecevents@evangelicalcatholic.org.
Refund requests must be received in writing by email by December 20, 2026. A refund of the conference registration fee, minus a $100 cancelation fee, will be granted for all email cancellation requests received by December 20, 2026. No refunds will be granted after this date. There is an option to purchase registration coverage in the event of illness or travel disruptions preventing you from attending the conference.
Conference registrations may be transferred to another priest with no penalty by January 8, 2027.
The Evangelical Catholic (EC) is a Catholic non-profit consulting ministry serving parishes, campus ministries, military chaplaincies, and thousands of individual Catholics across the nation. We equip people to live out the Great Commission and empower them to bring Jesus to the world as the salt and the light of their communities. We provide robust training materials and tailored coaching to supply expert care and support for our partners as they send Catholic laity into mission.
Catholic Leadership Institute provides bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and lay persons in the Roman Catholic Church with world-class, pastoral leadership formation and consulting services that strengthen their confidence and competence in ministry, enabling them to articulate a vision for their local church, to call forth the gifts of those they lead, and to create more vibrant faith communities rooted in Jesus Christ.
ACST Catholic, a business of ACS Technologies, is devoted to serving and equipping Catholic parishes and dioceses with the tools to engage, inspire, and accompany their communities and form missionary disciples. By harnessing technology as a tool for connection and growth, ACST Catholic amplifies ministry impact and fosters more meaningful experiences that can lead to intentional discipleship.
FOCUS is a Catholic missionary movement, established over 27 years ago, dedicated to helping people encounter Jesus Christ and live as His disciples. We form missionaries and leaders who meet people where they are, in friendship, on campuses, in parishes, and in everyday life, and walk with them toward a deeper, personal relationship with Christ.
Agape Catholic Ministries · Decided Excellence Catholic Media · Rebuilt Parish · St. Paul Street Evangelization
We can’t wait to see you in 2027!