Priests for an Apostolic Age Catholic Conference
Registration now open to both priests and deacons!
In response to many requests, we are opening our priest conference to deacons. We are excited to invite you to our first-ever conference dedicated specifically to equipping priests and deacons for apostolic leadership. Join us in Dallas this January for a prayerful, inspiring, and practical experience that will give you vision and tools to recharge your ministry and activate apostolic laity in your community.
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Learn How to Make Disciples in Your Community at the Priests for an Apostolic Age Catholic Conference
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You know the ache and frustration of trying to reach people outside of the Church with the good news of Jesus. You know you can’t do it on your own. You need lay people in your community awakened to their vocation. More than anyone else, lay people are positioned to reach those outside of the Church or on the fringes of the Church. You can equip them to take up this mission.
Priests for an Apostolic Age will draw hundreds of priests and deacons from both dioceses and religious orders throughout the country. You will hear from expert presenters, map-out your apostolic trajectories, connect in clergy small groups, and have time in silence and beautiful liturgies for prayer.
- Gather in fellowship with other priests and deacons who share apostolic convictions and goals,
- Learn how an outdated understanding of the parish may be holding you back from sending dozens of parishioners every year into fruitful mission in the world,
- Gain deeper clarity around the vocation of the laity and the parish’s role in preparing them for mission in a post-Christian culture,
- Learn how to leverage your influence as clergy to inspire and activate a movement of evangelization and personal apostolate in your community.
With the right formation and support, your parishioners can reach every corner of your community with the gospel and make disciples of their neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. You will gain a stronger paradigm and joyful hope for an apostolic church!
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Speakers for the Priests for an Apostolic Age Catholic Conference
Meet the Speakers
We are excited to introduce these dynamic speakers to the conference lineup! These speakers are informative, engaging, and passionate about building up priests and deacons for apostolic leadership in their communities!
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Monsignor James Shea
President of the University of Mary; Author
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Curtis Martin
Founder and CEO, FOCUS
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Jason Simon
President, The Evangelical Catholic
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Dave Durand
Author; Public Speaker; Entrepreneur
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Fr. Michael Berry, OCD
Provincial, Immaculate Heart of Mary Province
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Fr. John Riccardo
Executive Director, ACTS XXIX
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Kurt Klement
Executive Director, Divine Renovation USA
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Michael School
Executive Vice President, Catholic Leadership Institute
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Joshua Danis
National Director, Alpha
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Dcn. John Green
Mission Advancement Officer
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Peter Andrastek
Senior Consultant
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Andrea Jackson
Lead Content Creator and Ministry Consultant
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André Lesperance
Senior Content Creator and Ministry Consultant
Monsignor James Shea
President of the University of Mary; Author
We are honored to welcome Monsignor James Shea, author of From Christendom to Apostolic Mission, as a keynote speaker for the event!
Msgr. Shea was inaugurated in 2009 as the sixth president of the University of Mary and, at the age of 34, became the youngest college or university president in the United States.
Msgr. Shea grew up on a dairy farm near Hazelton, North Dakota. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a licentiate in philosophy as a Basselin Fellow in the School of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, later studying theology at the Gregorian and Lateran universities in Rome. Upon completion of his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Msgr. Shea was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck in 2002.
Curtis Martin
Founder and CEO, FOCUS
We are honored for Curtis to be joining the conference as a lauded speaker on evangelization at the Priests for an Apostolic Age conference.
Curtis A. Martin founded the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) in 1998. He holds a master’s degree in Theology and is the author of the best-selling books, Made for More and Making Missionary Disciples.
In 2004, Curtis and his wife, Michaelann, were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Saint John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Curtis as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council of the New Evangelization. Curtis and Michaelann live in Colorado. They have been blessed with nine children and eight grandchildren (so far).
Jason Simon
President, The Evangelical Catholic
Jason Simon is the President of the Evangelical Catholic. His experience of being sought after and apprenticed by a zealous disciple maker drives him to help others have the confidence and skills to reach people in the world with the abundant life of Jesus. After a short career in engineering, Jason began working in the Church as a parish Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. In 2007, he graduated with a Master’s in Divinity from the University of Notre Dame and began leading the Evangelical Catholic. Under his leadership, the Evangelical Catholic has experienced consistent expansion in equipping Catholic laity for apostolic impact in the world. He has seen first-hand the power of lay evangelization fueled by the institution of the Church. Jason lives in Madison, WI with his wife and six children.
Dave Durand
Author; Public Speaker; Entrepreneur
Dave Durand is an entrepreneur, author and on air radio contributor. Dave has built and sold several companies including founding and leading Best Version Media LLC. Under Dave‘s leadership, Best Version Media became the largest company of its kind, servicing 17 million monthly readers in over 1,200 North American Markets. Along with other leadership awards, Dave won Glass Doors most admired CEO three times and was honored as the Earnst & Young entrepreneur of the year. He has authored four books and has been a Relevant Radio Morning Air contributor for 20 years. Having a heart for the Church he co-founded Lighthouse Catholic Media and other NFP’s. Most Recently Dave is involved in the production of films and episodic programing.
Fr. Michael Berry, OCD
Provincial, Immaculate Heart of Mary Province
Fr. Berry joins us as the conference’s chaplain. He was installed as Provincial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province in July 2020. A native of the metropolitan New York area, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He made his first profession of vows at Holy Hill in July 2000 and was ordained priest at St. Florian Church in Milwaukee in June 2006.
Fr. John Riccardo
Executive Director, ACTS XXIX
Fr. John Riccardo was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996, where he served as a pastor for 15 years. In 2019, he founded ACTS XXIX – Mobilizing for Mission, and serves as its Executive Director. ACTS XXIX, a non-profit apostolate that exists because God wants His world back, unleashes the power of the gospel and equips ordained and lay leaders in order to mobilize the Church for mission. Over the last three years, ACTS XXIX has been engaged in upwards of twenty dioceses and has ministered to more than 3,000 priests. Fr. John hosts a weekly podcast, “You Were Born for This,” and publishes a weekly article, “Thoughts From the Trailer.” He is the host of the radio program “Christ is the Answer” and has authored several books.
Kurt Klement
Executive Director, Divine Renovation USA
Kurt Klement has been the Executive Director of Divine Renovation USA since early 2021. Previously, he served for 25 years in various roles in parish ministry at St. Ann Catholic Church in Coppell, TX, including youth, young adults, Alpha and overall parish evangelization and discipleship. Kurt also has experience as one of the senior coaches with Divine Renovation, accompanying dozens of pastors on a journey of renewal. He has five children with his wife, Jenny, and has called Dallas home for most of his life.
Michael School
Executive Vice President, Catholic Leadership Institute
Michael School serves as Executive Vice President for the Catholic Leadership Institute. Prior to this role, Mike served the Catholic Diocese of Richmond for 12 years as the Executive Director of the Center for Marriage, Family, and Life, Director of the Office for Evangelization, and Director of the Office of Social Ministries. Mike’s career includes corporate experience as an IT Project Manager and a Corporate Learning Consultant for Capital One. Mike also leads a consulting company to support several Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and non-profits. Mike holds a BBA in Information Technology and BA in Government from the College of William and Mary as well as a MA in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University. Mike and his wife live in Richmond, VA with their six children.
Joshua Danis
National Director, Alpha
Joshua Danis is the National Director for Alpha in a Catholic Context in the United States. He is also the author of Living the Fruit of the Spirit: How God’s Grace can Transform your World, published through “Word Among Us.” Formerly, he worked for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in Family and Respect, and he holds degrees in Theology and Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He now resides in Minnesota with his wife and two children. There, they love Minnesota lakes, the Minnesota United Soccer Team, and waiting out the end of Minnesota winters.
Dcn. John Green
Mission Advancement Officer
A missionary at heart, Dcn. John has been active sharing the good news for over thirty years. In 1986, he worked on the streets of New York City with Covenant House. In 1989, he founded Emmaus Ministries, an outreach to men involved in prostitution on the streets of Chicago, and served until 2011. Dcn. John lives in Stow, OH with his wife and four children. He serves as a permanent deacon at Holy Family Parish.
Peter Andrastek
Senior Consultant
Peter has worked in adult formation in the Church since 2003. He holds a Masters Degree in Pastoral Theology from Ave Maria University. His experience includes preaching retreats, priest convocations, teaching theology at the graduate level, instructing adult catechesis courses, being a guest lecturer at seminaries, and giving presentations and trainings for numerous parishes, dioceses, movements, and institutions in the Church. He also has articles published in Notre Dame’s Church Life Journal. Peter currently advises a team that serves over 150 ministries around the world, including dioceses, parishes, and military bases. He lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin with his wife and eight children.
Andrea Jackson
Lead Content Creator and Ministry Consultant
Andrea Jackson has over a decade of experience activating the laity for fruitful mission in the world. A graduate of Harvard University and Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Andrea has a degree in English and a Master of Divinity. She began her career equipping students at Harvard for evangelical outreach on campus and subsequently spent four years in a Boston parish training parishioners to live the lay apostolate. Andrea is a co-author of the Evangelical Catholic’s Reach More Mission Training curriculum for laity as well as accompanying training material for staff and clergy. She has led workshops and trainings for numerous parish and campus groups including Notre Dame’s Echo program for Catechetical Leaders, Notre Dame’s Master in Divinity program, Northwestern and Yale Catholic centers, and parishes across the country. As a consultant with the Evangelical Catholic, Andrea coaches pastors and staff in the best practices to equip parishioners for apostolic prayer and action in the world.
André Lesperance
Senior Content Creator and Ministry Consultant
As a Senior Ministry Consultant and Content Writer, Andre advises parishes in implementing the Reach More™ mission process, delivers parish missions and training events, and continually works to expand the EC’s formation and training materials. He has worked in Catholic ministry and education since 2003 and holds a master’s degree in theology from Marquette University. Andre lives near Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife and their four children.













Priests for an Apostolic Age Conference Schedule
Event Schedule
Click the arrows to expand the schedule for each day of the event.
Day One (Memorial of St. Francis de Sales)
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
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Conference Check-in
11:00 am
Hotel lower level
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Opening General Session: The Church’s Great Evangelical Call (Petrine and Marian)
2:00 pm
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How Laity Spread the Gospel in the World: Video Interviews
2:30 pm
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General Session II: Awakening Imagination for Lay Agency
2:40 pm
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Eucharistic Adoration and Prayer
3:00 pm
What is Jesus saying to you about your part in this awakening?
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Small Group Discussion
3:45 pm
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Evening Prayer and Holy Mass
5:00 pm
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Welcome Reception
6:00 pm
Dinner on your own
Day Two (Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul)
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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Holy Hour and Morning Prayer
6:30 am
Optional
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Breakfast
8:00 am
Breakfast on your own
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Opening Session: Welcome and Priest Testimony
9:00 am
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Keynote from Msgr. James Shea: From Christendom to Apostolic Mission
9:20 am
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Small Group Discussion
10:15 am
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Mass
11:15 am
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Lunch
12:15 pm
Lunch on-site
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General Session III: The Parish as Fuel for Apostolic Activity – Reality Leads to Structures
1:30 pm
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Interactive General Session IV: Setting Your Apostolic Trajectory
2:30 pm
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Eucharistic Adoration
4:30 pm
Time for what you need: Prayer, Confessions, Adoration, joyful fellowship in the lobby bar
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Dinner, Social/Networking Time
6:00 pm
Dinner on your own
Day Three (Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus)
Thursday, January 26, 2023
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Holy Hour and Morning Prayer
6:30 am
Optional
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Breakfast
8:00 am
Breakfast on your own
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Keynote Session from Dave Durand: Training for the Stewardship of Influence
9:00 am
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Small Group Discussion
12:00 pm
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Lunch
12:30 pm
Lunch on-site
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General Session V: Panel Discussion with Apostolic Priests
2:00 pm
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Small Group Discussion
3:15 pm
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General Session VI: Final Exhortation and Commissioning
3:45 pm
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Evening Prayer and Holy Mass
5:00 pm
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Cocktail Reception
6:00 pm
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The Avery Cardinal Dulles Apostolic Activity Award Banquet
7:00 pm
The Avery Cardinal Dulles Apostolic Activity award is an acknowledgement of leaders of the Church who are advancing the apostolic activity of the Church on both “ad intra” and “ad extra” fronts. “Ad intra” and “ad extra” come from a speech given by Leon-Joseph Cardinal Suenens at the Second Vatican Council in response to the council’s question: “How does the Church of the twentieth Century respond to the Master’s ultimate commandment?”
You may also view the event schedule as a PDF: View Event Schedule
Avery Cardinal Dulles Awards for Apostolic Activity
On December 2, 1962, Leon-Joseph Cardinal Suenens gave a speech to the Second Vatican Council outlining a plan that was immediately and unanimously approved. The guiding question for the Council, outlined in Suenens’s plan, was, “How does the Church of the twentiethCentury respond to the Master’s ultimate commandment?” The work of the Council was split between responding to the Great Commission in two arenas: 1) ad intra and 2) ad extra.
It seems appropriate, then, to award leaders of the Church who are advancing the apostolic activity of the Church on both fronts, so crucial to making disciples of all nations.
Ad Intra Award
This award is given to anyone who is bringing apostolic leadership within the Church. The Great Commission is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The essential mission of the Church is evangelization (Evangelii Nuntiandi 14). St. Pope John Paul II said, “I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church’s energies to a new evangelization” (Redemptoris Missio 3). What leaders in the Church are bringing innovative, exemplary leadership to shift the paradigm of the Church to indeed “commit all of the Church’s energies” to making disciples of all nations? These nominees could be ordained, religious, or lay leaders that help the Church send disciple makers into the world.
Ad Extra Award
The Church needs models of lay apostolic zeal. The world needs witnesses and disciple makers in the world who build natural friendships, sacrificially love those around them, are on the look-out for the least of these, and deftly share the Good News as the Spirit leads. These lay people have not been called to ad intra apostolates. Their personal apostolates are ad extra, bound to the secular. They passionately love the world. They lead with mercy and conversation. They generously accompany people closer and closer to the heart of Jesus and make disciples. Recipients of this award will not be bishops, priests, lay ministry professionals, or leaders of Catholic organizations. These will be apostolic lay people with active, intentional personal apostolates outside the walls of their parish.
Conference Co-Sponsored By:
Leading for Innovation | January 23-24
Get the most out of your experience by joining us for this pre-conference workshop. Learn how to listen empathetically to the needs of your parishioners more effectively, ideate quickly, and ultimately architect ministry moments that matter. Limited space available.
- Steep yourself in an ethos of “strategic doing” and the mindset that an innovative culture is manifested in action, not just words.
- Discover how curiosity and asking a “more beautiful question” can unlock creative potential.
- Learn to employ tools that make creativity within the parish less of a spontaneous act and more of a team sport.
- Engage the values of a growth mindset and learn tactical ways to implement across your team.
To attend this workshop, please select the pre-event option “Priest For an Apostolic Age + Leading for Innovation Workshop Provided by OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation” when registering for the conference.
Schedule:
January 23
4:00PM—Session #1: Asking a More Beautiful Question
5:30PM—Dinner
6:30PM—Session #2: Curiosity & Empathy: the Rocket Fuel that Launches Innovation
8:00PM—Close
January 24
Breakfast on your own.
9:00AM—Session #3: Experiment and Take Risks Strategically (and Often)
10:30AM—Break
10:45AM—Session #4: Leading a Team that Innovates for the Mission
12:00PM—Close
We’re excited to introduce a special co-sponsor for the Priests for an Apostolic Age conference: Source & Summit! They offer a stunning Catholic missal designed to help your parish elevate the liturgy and draw your parishioners more deeply into the heart of worship. We are thrilled to have the Source & Summit missals to enrich our prayer and liturgical celebrations throughout the conference.
We are delighted to welcome Pastoral Parish as a conference co-sponsor! Pastoral Parish simplifies and automates necessary processes relating to sacramental administration and pastoral care, so pastors and parish staff can focus on building a pastoral parish.
We are blessed to welcome ChristLife as a conference co-sponsor! ChristLife is a Catholic apostolate dedicated to helping the Church evangelize by serving as an effective resource for those seeking to follow Jesus Christ as a missionary disciple and proclaim the Good News.
Join us in celebrating our conference co-sponsor, Decided Excellence Catholic Media (DECM)! DECM is a leader in publishing local, faith-based, community magazines across the United States.
EXHIBITORS
Conference Venue and Lodging
Hyatt Regency – DFW Airport
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2334 N International Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75261
Join us at the Hyatt Regency at the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) intl. airport from Tuesday, January 24 to Friday, January 27, 2023. The Hyatt Regency is conveniently located adjacent to the airport and provides a complimentary shuttle service to the hotel from DFW baggage claim. There is no airport transportation cost for attendees.
Conference attendees will receive a discounted hotel rate of $169/night plus tax by booking through the hotel link provided. The room block is limited, so do not delay in booking your room. All reservations must be made by January 3, 2023.
There are two Hyatts at DFW – The Grand Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency. The conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency.
Book a RoomPriests for an Apostolic Age FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Evangelical Catholic?
The Evangelical Catholic (EC) is a Catholic non-profit consulting ministry based in Madison, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1998 to equip everyday Catholics to live out the great commission. The EC started with a small group of Catholics meeting in their home to experience Jesus powerfully through intimate friendship, rich Scripture discussions, and shared sacramental experiences. The amount of people participating in and hosting small groups grew as friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family members joined in to the shared experience of relationship with Jesus and practice of missionary discipleship.
These leaders sparked a movement of evangelization that extended to reach more and more people. As word spread about this expanding movement of evangelization, the EC helped other ministries launch lay people into mission by leading training events, writing small group guides, and traveling to ministries across the United States. To become accessible to even more ministries around the globe, the EC created its Reach More™ online service to provide training and consulting to pastors and lay leaders who ignite the mission of evangelization in their communities. Today, the Evangelical Catholic has worked with hundreds of parishes, campus ministries, and military chaplaincies worldwide.
The Evangelical Catholic inspires, trains, and supports Catholic leaders to launch and drive movements of evangelization and discipleship in their communities. We delight in partnering with Catholic ministry leaders to equip everyday Catholics to live out the great commission.
What is “Priests for an Apostolic Age”?
Priests for an Apostolic Age is a conference for priests and deacons who desire to see their parishioners activated for mission in today’s post-Christian world. The conference will draw hundreds of priests from both dioceses and religious orders throughout the country. They will hear from expert presenters, map-out their apostolic trajectories, connect in clergy small groups, and have time in silence and beautiful liturgies for prayer. Priests and deacons will gain a stronger paradigm and joyful hope for an apostolic church.
Who should attend this event?
Bishops, priests, and deacons in good standing from dioceses and religious orders.
Where is this event taking place?
Hyatt Regency Dallas at the DFW Airport. You can visit their website here.
There are two Hyatt properties at the DFW airport – the Grand Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency. Our event will take place at the Hyatt Regency.
How much does the conference cost to attend?
The conference cost is $379 (Early bird rate) through October 15; and full price is $429 through January 15, 2023.
How do I make a reservation at the Hyatt Regency DFW?
You can make a reservation through our event website. The room block is limited so don’t delay! For more general information about the Hyatt, you can visit their website here.
What is the room rate per night?
The discounted room rate for attendees is $169.99 per night, plus tax.
If I live within driving distance, do I have to stay at the Hyatt?
No, you do not have to stay at the Hyatt. Daily parking at the airport is available to attendees who are driving to the conference.
What are the parking options for those transporting themselves to the event?
Self Parking:
Terminal parking areas inside the airport: $24/day
Express parking, uncovered: $12/day
Express parking, covered: $15/day
Remote parking on airport grounds: $10/day
What should I bring to this event?
Money for three breakfasts and two dinners; vestments for Mass if you are concelebrating, and a stole if you would like to hear confessions.
Do I need to find transportation from the airport to the hotel?
If you plan to fly into DFW, you can take the free Hyatt shuttle to the hotel at no cost. The shuttle ride is less than five minutes. If you are driving, you will be able to park at the hotel for a daily fee ranging from $10-24.
I see that only 3 meals are covered throughout the conference, where should I get my other meals?
The Hyatt has three restaurants onsite and provides a free shuttle service to downtown Grapevine, TX (just a few minutes away) where you will find great restaurants all within walking distance in the charming downtown area. We are encouraging attendees to spend the evenings relaxing and being in community with one another, so make plans to attend dinner with others! There are also two on-site options for breakfast, or you are free to bring something on your own. A recommendation list will be provided prior to the conference.
Do you offer any discounts for this event?
If you register before Oct 15, 2022, you will receive a discount of $50 off the full price registration fee of $429.
What is the schedule for this event?
Check in begins at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 24, and the first session will begin at 2:00 PM. The event ends on Thursday, January 26 following a closing evening banquet. A tentative schedule can be found here.
Will there be Mass every day?
Yes, there will be a Mass each day, including a travelers Mass on Friday morning following the conference.
Can I concelebrate at the liturgies for this event?
Yes, all attendees are encouraged to participate in the liturgies, as well as sign up to hear confessions. Priests will need to obtain a letter of suitability to concelebrate liturgies and hear confessions in the Diocese of Fort Worth, more information will be sent upon submitting a registration.
Do I need to bring my own vestments?
Yes, you will need to bring your own vestments and stole if you are hearing confessions.
How do I sign up to concelebrate or hear confessions?
Once you register, you will receive a follow up survey so you can determine how you would like to participate.
I’ve registered for the conference but am no longer able to attend. What are my options?
To cancel/receive a refund:
Refund requests must be received in writing by email by December 24, 2022. A refund of the conference registration fee, less $100, will be granted for all email cancellation requests received by December 24, 2022. No refunds will be granted after this date.
To transfer your registration to another priest or deacon:
Canceled conference registrations may be transferred to another priest with no penalty by January 15, 2023.
I have a question not listed here. Who do I contact?
Please send all inquiries, questions, and concerns to ecevents@evangelicalcatholic.org.
JANUARY 24-26, 2023
Registration Now Open to Deacons!
We are excited for priests and deacons to contribute to the needed apostolic shift in Church leadership. Don’t miss this opportunity for fellowship and camaraderie among other mission-minded clergy as you gain vital skills to send your community into the world equipped to share the good news.
Register Now