Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 20, 2001
Archbishop to speak at June conference
FOCUS event to feature dynamic national, local speakers
By Alwen Bledsoe
FOCUS, a Catholic organization that trains and places missionaries on college campuses, will host an all-day conference June 23 for Catholics seeking encouragement in their faith and for those wishing to know more about Catholicism.
Currently 42 men and women between the ages of 17 and 32 are in intensive summer training sessions through FOCUS learning about Vatican II and brushing up on Scripture and catechism, as well as evangelization skills. The conference speakers, who are assisting in the summer training, will give the general public a chance to peek in on some of what FOCUS missionaries are learning this summer. The conference at the Boulder Theater will feature Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Scott and Kimberly Hahn, Curtis Martin, Ted Sri, and Tim Gray. They will speak on the sacraments, the virtues, salvation history, and reading Scripture.
"Many Catholics are looking for a sense of encouragement and an opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the faith," said Curtis Martin, founder and president of FOCUS. "It's a great day to gain appreciation for what a great gift it is to be Catholic, and it's a great opportunity to invite a non-Catholic friend to learn about the faith,"
he added.
The speakers, including the archbishop who is "gaining world-wide recognition as a teacher of the faith," said Martin, are all gifted communicators who inspire young leaders to adopt and pass on the faith.
Scott and Kimberly Hahn are well-known Catholic communicators and authors of numerous books, including "Home Sweet Rome: Our Journey to Catholicism" and are board members at FOCUS. Scott is a professor of theology at Franciscan University. Tim Gray teaches theology at Christendom College and is vice president of Education and Training for FOCUS.
Ted Sri, regional coordinator of FOCUS, is a professor of theology at Benedictine College in Atchinson, Kan., — the birth place of FOCUS — and has a degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Martin called Sri a popular professor "known for motivating and encouraging his students not only to learn theology (but to apply it)."
Sri will be speaking on the biblical foundations of Catholic beliefs about Mary and on misconceptions surrounding her importance to Catholic faith. He said he hopes the conference will help laity discover the same principles of Christian leadership and evangelism FOCUS teaches, principles rooted in Scripture and Catholic tradition.
"We're all called to be Christian leaders and share the love of Christ, whether in families or in parishes or in our communities," said Sri, adding that the conference will help people learn to apply their faiths in their everyday lives.
Martin, who, with Tim Gray, co-authored the recently released "Boys to Men: The Transforming Power of Virtue," will be speaking on the importance of virtue.
"I'll be giving Catholics practical tools on how to tap into the life transforming power of the sacraments, and the virtues are the particular tools that allow us to tap into that power," said Martin.
This is the conference's third year, said Martin, calling it a "great opportunity" for Catholics.
"My hope is that (participants) will gain a shot in the arm in the form of encouragement to be a committed Catholic," concluded Martin.
Tickets to the conference are $20/individual, $30/couple and, for groups of 10 or more, $10 each. For more information, call FOCUS at (970) 506-0751. Early registration is suggested, but, if space allows, walk-in registration will be available June 23. The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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