KERNERSVILLE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s annual Family Life Conference offers the faithful a chance to learn more about the Church’s teachings on marriage, family and the sanctity of life and how to apply them in today’s world.
This year’s conference, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville, combines powerful speakers with worship and fellowship.
“Every year the conference is different, focused on different aspects of the topics of family life and marriage,” said Jessica Grabowski, director of the Respect Life program for the diocese. “We try to bring in different national speakers each year who focus on topics that are very current.”
The day will start with Mass celebrated by Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor for the Diocese of Charlotte.
Two guest speakers this year will present timely topics, considering recent events in a culture that is rapidly becoming more secular and distancing itself from traditional ideas of marriage and family, Grabowski added.
Katy Faust will speak on “Defending Children’s Right to their Mother and Father.” Faust is founder and president of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children’s right to a mother and father. The movement promotes a child-centric perspective of marriage and family, and defends the rights of children in daily life and in the courts. Based in Seattle, Faust is an author whose articles have appeared in a wide array of publications including Newsweek, USA Today and The Federalist.
Grabowski noted that one of Faust’s concerns is the effect that in vitro fertilization (IVF) has on the relationship children have with their parents.
Mario A. Sacasa, a licensed marriage and family therapist with a Charlotte practice, will discuss “The Virtue of Hope in Family Life.” Sacasa travels the country lecturing on themes of marriage, relationship, sexuality, hope, and positive psychology, including appearances for the Theology of the Body Institute and the National Catholic Singles Conference. He also hosts the “Always Hope Podcast,” which focuses on helping listeners grow in emotional and spiritual health.
Grabowski said Sacasa’s talk will be useful for those who are seeking “where to find hope in today’s culture,” including ways to discover the hope intrinsic to the Church’s teachings on family life.
Dr. Faith Daggs, a Catholic OB/GYN based in Cary, will discuss “Pro-Life Laws and Women’s Health.” Father Noah Carter, pastor of Holy Cross Church, will offer a talk on “Christian Ordering of the Family.”
There will also be a discussion panel and a Q&A session featuring all the speakers as well as Father Peter Ascik, director of the diocesan Office of Family Life, providing attendees with a chance to more deeply explore themes discussed earlier in the day.
Holy Cross Church is located at 616 South Cherry St. in Kernersville. Registration is required, and the cost of the conference is $20 for students, $30 for adults and $100 for vendors.
— Christina L. Knauss
For details
At www.charlottediocese.org/2023-family-life-conference: Register and get more information about the upcoming Family Life Conference.
CHARLOTTE — The Season of Creation begins Sept. 1 with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Since 2015, Pope Francis has asked Catholics each year to start the month of September by praying for our common home.
“The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking His help for the protection of creation and His mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live,” Pope Francis said in his inaugural announcement for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation in 2015.
During the Season of Creation, Catholics are called to focus efforts to protect the planet for ourselves and future generations.
The theme for the 2023 Season of Creation is “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” This theme is inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
Pope Francis notes, “God wants justice to reign; it is as essential to our life as God’s children made in His likeness as water is essential for our physical survival.”
The five-week-long Season of Creation encourages and assists the faithful to respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for the environment – as individuals, as family, as parishioners and as members of community.
What can you do?
Consider reading Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” –whether for the first time or to explore more deeply the pope’s message.
The full text is posted at www.laudatosimovement.org, along with more resources and the pope’s statement for the 2023 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ webpage www.usccb.org/environment also focuses on environmental concerns – with resources such as prayers, educational videos, advocacy information, and Church quotes and statements about the environment. The webpage also includes links to the encyclical “Laudato Si’” as well as a “Laudato Si’” discussion guide.
— Joseph Purello is director of the Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy for Catholic Charities.