Go! Conference hopes for encounter with Jesus

How do we individually meet and follow Jesus, experience his joy and then invite others to do the same? 

Find out by joining Catholics, who are in ministry or those just sitting in the pews, wanting to get energized about their faith, at the GO! 2024 Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference, “Encounter Jesus, GO with Joy!” Jan. 12-13 at the Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd. in Kenner.

 “You don’t have to be an expert to share the faith,” Deacon Michael Whitehouse, Ph.D., conference coordinator and deputy director of faith formation in the Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Pope Francis likes to say, it’s about an encounter with Jesus Christ. “This is our call personally and our desire for all people: to encounter Jesus (or encounter him anew) and to go forth sharing that joy they have received with others – joy that provides the ultimate direction for our lives!”

Archbishop Gregory Aymond will open the conference Jan. 12 by celebrating 9 a.m. Mass. 

Get fired up with speaker, author and “faith horticulturist” Mike Patin from Lafayette as he gives his keynote address, “Joy to the World – Let’s GO!” at 10:30 a.m. In it, he’ll detail how those in ministry can keep their enthusiasm and share the Good News in today’s world.

So much to learn
More than 40 breakout sessions are scheduled at the conference, and an exhibit hall will offer a multitude of faith formation resources.

Deacon Whitehouse said the diversity of topics will be appealing to many. 

“We have so many breakout sessions, that the constant comment about the convention is, ‘Who am I going to choose?’” Deacon Whitehouse said. He said they are spread out so attendees can concentrate on and learn more about one topic during the two days.

Breakout sessions begin Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. with Becky Eldredge, Steve Botsford, Dr. Mark Gitner, Courtney Brown, Colin MacIver, Dr. Joseph White, Nicole Wood and Colleen Bond and Dr. Joe Paprocki with topics from Ignatian contemplative leadership, to building Catholic identity in schools to using technology to enhance faith formation and a climate of prayer.

At 2:30 p.m., attendees have a choice of breakouts from Stephen Binz, Dina Dow, Dr. Tracey Lamont, Kathleen Cory, Annie Grandell, Tammy Vidrine, Dominican Sister Dot Trosclair and Jesuit Father Mark Thibodeaux. 

The final session of the first day includes breakouts from Dennis Johnson, Stephanie Clouatre Davis, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Aimee Boudreaux MacIver, Jennifer Prather, Jan Singletary, David Wilson and Deacon Matt Halbach, Ph.D. Among the topics here are: becoming a eucharistic disciple by encountering the Lord in Scripture, developing ministries with young adults, finding beauty in chaos and is “Jesus on a shelf or in your heart?” 

 On Jan. 13, Archbishop Aymond presides over an opening prayer and welcome at 9 a.m. Then, talented musician and actor ValLimar Jansen blends her storytelling, Scripture proclamation, music, prayer, and reflection at 9:45 a.m. with “Encounter Jesus: Light and Hope” for others.

Breakout sessions begin at 11 a.m. with Dr. Kathleen Dorsey Bellow, Stephanie Clouatre Davis, Dr. George Hebert, Courtney Brown, Maureen Pratt, Megan Cottam, David Gauthier, Dr. Joseph White and Dr. Joe Paprocki who will delve into encountering Jesus in ministry, discerning young people, parents as first witnesses and the givers of the gift of faith.

 Starting again at 1:30 p.m., breakout sessions by Father Gabriel Cisneros Campos, Tammy Jackson, Becky Clements, Earl Gervais, Deacon Jesse Watley, Rebecca Sheptock, David Wilson and Becky Eldredge will teach  attendees how to pray within the busyness, how to jump start parish religious education and encountering Jesus’ joy.

Paprocki, an author with a doctorate in ministry and a national consultant for faith formation at Loyola Press,   will give the final keynote address, “The Good News in Three Words” at 3 p.m. He will identify “practical ways to share the authentic joy of the Gospel.”

 A closing Mass at 4:30 p.m. will be celebrated by Father Ajani Gibson, pastor of St. Peter Claver Church in New Orleans.

“In everyday life as well as in ministry we have challenges and difficulties, yet the promise of Christ to be present among us changes everything,” Deacon Whitehouse said. “It is our encounter with him that provides the ultimate direction in our lives. It is the joy we receive from those encounters that we share.”

Visit the conference website: https://go4th.faith for details and registration. One day attendance is $105; Friday and Saturday together: $150; lunch is $15 a day. 

[email protected]

Faith conference
What: 2024 GO! Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference, “Encounter   Jesus, GO with Joy!”

Date:  Jan. 12-13

Where: The Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner.

Cost: One day: $105; Friday and Saturday together: $150; lunch is $15 a day. 

Details, registration: https://go4th.faith for details.