Priests for an Apostolic Age

A conference for priests who long for more

You were made for this moment.

In an increasingly secular culture, the call to live and lead as apostolic priests has never been more urgent. You see it every time your people walk out the church doors. There’s a deep hunger for meaning, connection, and truth. You know the Church must go out. But how? And with whom?

Priests for an Apostolic Age is a conference designed to equip, encourage, and unite priests like you—men who long to lead boldly, form lay apostles, and reignite the Church’s missionary heart. Through prayer, formation, conversation, and fellowship, this experience offers practical support and spiritual renewal for the modern priest.

"We all want more for our Church, and this conference has been a way to learn how to live that out in our priesthood in this apostolic age. I’d encourage priests and bishops to attend this conference. I think it is an opportunity to build fraternity among priests from around the country who have that same desire to enter into an apostolic age living their priesthood in a way that will bring people to Jesus Christ. It is a great opportunity for reflection of ourselves individually, but also of how we see the Church moving forward. "

Bishop Louis Tylka Diocese of Peoria, IL

When I hear the phrase “apostolic age” I really think about the time we’re in which mirrors the time of the apostles. That’s what we have been talking about here at the conference - that need to have a vision like the apostles knowing we’re living in a time where society isn’t promoting Christianity. We are here to be equipped to equip our own our people to go out, and it has been really inspiring.

Fr. Tom GardnerSacred Heart Catholic Church, Coshocton, OH

"I would encourage those thinking about attending this conference to “have that fire, that zeal in you. Continue to be hopeful."

Fr. Martin NguyenLa Purisima Catholic Church, Orange, CA

"I love this conference, it is spot on. I think it is getting to the heart of what every ministry should be about in the Catholic Church."

Fr. John AmsberrySt. Charles Borromeo, San Diego, CA

"I believe this conference is equipping me in my personal vocation and calling as a pastor of a small country parish as one called to lead my people closer to Jesus and to discover how to be a disciple - a missionary disciple. That has been a big focus of this conference, what does it mean to be a missionary disciple compared to a regular disciple. "

Fr. Nate HarburgGood Shepherd Parish, Ubly, MI

"We are in this age where the attitudes of the Apostles are to be very helpful to how we minister in this age. We are not in the Christendom period anymore where people are coming to the Church to seek Jesus. We have to go out and find them and bring Jesus to them, and them to Jesus."

Fr. Chaz Dunn St. Canera Parish, Neosho, MO

What makes a priest apostolic?

Is an apostolic priest someone who always has eloquent, engaging homilies? Is he a pastor who has been entrusted with a large, vibrant parish? Maybe he’s someone who has a lot of influence in his diocese. While these things may be true of great priests, they’re not the most prominent characteristics.

Instead, he:

Cares deeply about forming laypeople and sending them on mission
Sees the parish as a launching point, not just a destination
Hungers for deep formation and spiritual renewal
Desires authentic brotherhood with like-minded priests
Leads with humility, courage, and joyful conviction

More about Priests for an Apostolic Age

Priests for an Apostolic Age Podast

Can’t wait for the next Priests for an Apostolic Age conference? In the meantime, have a listen to the podcast it inspired!

Tune in for conversations between Senior Consultant Peter Andrastek, Fr. Keith O’Hare of the Diocese of Arlington, and their guests as they discuss common challenges priests face in today’s world and how to face them.

A Church built for mission.

It’s still true that “evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity” (Pope Paul VI). Yet, in a fast-paced and changing world, we can be tempted to fall back on old (and broken) approaches. What does it take to help your parish or campus ministry face the future and become an apostolic church, ready to transform the world?

For the theology behind our approach, get our white paper:

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