January 27, 2010
Annual faith conference to include screening of 'The Human Experience'
By Julie Filby
Throughout history many have asked, “What’s the meaning of life?” The award-winning documentary “The Human Experience” (Grassroots Films) attempts to provide an answer. Those attending the Living the Catholic Faith Conference (Feb. 26-27) will have an opportunity to watch a special private screening of the film. In their pursuit to discover life’s meaning, a group of young men living in New York set out to experience existence as a homeless person in New York City, an orphan in Peru and a leper in Ghana. A film crew followed them to document their journey. “The film attempts to show the beauty of life in the midst of hardship and suffering,” said Joseph Campo, executive producer and director of the St. Francis House for Young Men in Brooklyn. “Ultimately it’s about the desire for truth, the quest for understanding and the resilience of the human spirit.” He said most people leave the film wanting to do more for others, especially the poor. “‘The Human Experience’ deals with … family, joy, suffering, faith, hope, love, and especially forgiveness,” he said. “We hope it inspires others to be better people in their daily lives.” That concept mirrors the overall mission of the Living the Catholic Faith Conference, according to event organizers. |
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(watch the Human Experience movie trailer) |
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“It’s easy to compartmentalize faith—to think about it on Sundays then allow it to drift to the background during the week,” said Don Schneider, director of evangelization and catechesis for the Western Slope, Northern Area and Eastern Plain parishes of the archdiocese. “The (Living the Catholic Faith) Conference is an opportunity to reflect on how faith should impact our daily lives as parents, spouses, co-workers—to reflect on what it really means to ‘live the Catholic faith.’” In addition to the film screening, the two-day conference will feature keynote presentations, exhibits from nearly 100 Catholic organizations and vendors, opportunities for adoration and confession and more than 20 workshops. This year’s conference explores the theme, “I have chosen you” (Jn 15:16). To build a powerful ongoing prayer life, Tim Gray, biblical scholar and president of Denver’s Augustine Institute, will offer an introductory workshop on Lectio Divina. He will discuss common challenges that can occur when praying and how to overcome them using the ancient method of praying with Scripture. “There is nothing more powerful than Scripture for hearing God speak to you,” he said. “Come learn how to use the rich resources of our Christian tradition to transform your prayer life.” Parents, grandparents, teachers and others who work with teens can further their understanding of pop culture’s influence at “Youth CULTure,” a workshop presented by Chris Stefanick, director of youth ministry for the archdiocese. The session will explore the roots of post-modern pop culture, how it’s affecting the faith of teens, and how to help young people root their lives in Christ. The conference begins Friday with Mass celebrated by Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. Saturday commences with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley. Keynote sessions include Gray speaking on the vocation of a teacher; Catholic dramatist and singer ValLimar Jansen, portraying how to live, breathe and move in the word of God; a talk on the family as the path to holiness by Janet Smith, expert on human sexuality and marriage; and a question and answer session with Campo and actor Jeffrey Azize following the screening of “The Human Experience.” Saturday’s line-up will offer presentations in Spanish by San Antonio Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, S.T.L.; Father Juan Puigbó, director of Sol Vocational Institute, a ministry of the Diocesan Laborer Priests; Liliana Flores, Hispanic youth ministry coordinator for the Denver Archdiocese; and Renato Sander, a consecrated layman of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae community. Bishop Cantú will deliver presentations in both Spanish and English. For more information or to register, visit www.archden.org/lcfc2010, e-mail lcfc@archden.org or call 303-715-3260. |
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LIVING THE CATHOLIC FAITH CONFERENCE 2010 Who: All adult Catholics areinvited to attend |
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