For those of you in the local area, the Boston Catholic Men's and Women's Conferences are this weekend. The Men's Conference is Saturday, 9-6 (doors open at 7:30) and the Women's is Sunday, same times.
It's rain or shine, and I know that the weather forecast is for a Nor'easter tomorrow, but we all live in New England, right? Not going to let a little sleet, snow, freezing rain stop you.
The diocesan newspaper, The Boston Pilot has a story on reactions to last year's conferences. It's quite amazing. In only three years (two for the women), they have grown to be among the biggest Catholic men's and women's conferences in the country, and all via the activity of a team of volunteers. That's right. While this is supported by the archdiocese, it is not an official function of it.
On Saturday, the lineup includes Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus; Patrick Madrid, fellow blogger, apologist, and editor of Envoy Magazine; Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana; and Scot and Fr. Roger Landry. Scot is one of the founders of the conference and was recently hired as chief development officer for the archdiocese last year. Fr. Landry is his twin brother, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and editor of the diocesan newspaper, The Anchor.
On Sunday, the speakers will be Immaculée Ilibagiza, author of "Left to Tell," a book that describes how she survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide; Dana Scallon, the famed Irish Catholic singer who ran for president of Ireland and was one of the country's representatives to the European Parliament; Sister Linda Koontz, founder of the Spirit of the Lord International Mission; and Maria Vadia, a native of Cuba who came to the US when she was 10 who is the author of several books, including "An Arrow in His Hand."
Cardinal Sean O'Malley will celebrate Mass both days.
Tickets are $40 and can be bought at the door, and on Sunday they're selling a special half-day ticket because they recognize a lot of women are working in religious education on Sunday mornings, but still want to come see Imaculee speak in the afternoon.
I'll be working in the registration area so if you come, stop by and say hello.
Technorati Tags: Catholic, Boston, men, women, conference
I loved it when I went last year, but alas, it is too far to travel now. One of the downsides of the relocation. However, living in the diocese of Rockford IL is its own reward in so many ways.