July 26 – 28
Faith Transforming Culture
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
—Matthew 28:19
There is not a conference on earth that better equips ordinary Catholics for the work of the new evangelization. The program at Defending the Faith includes bestselling authors and renowned speakers—men and women who not only teach, but also motivate. People travel from the far corners of the country (and abroad) to attend, and they go home with renewed confidence, zeal, and real knowledge. They go home with power to evangelize.
This year’s conference focuses on the difference in the new evangelization—the qualities that make it new. Pope Benedict XVI, like his blessed predecessor, insists that this is not just the work of missionaries and priests. Explaining and defending the faith is the job description of every Catholic. No pope, no bishop, no parish priest can reach our workplaces and neighborhoods the way ordinary lay people can, if they’re prepared to give witness. No experience prepares lay people as well as Defending the Faith.
The popes tell us we must take the Gospel not only to those who are ignorant of Christ, but also to those who are baptized but have grown lukewarm in faith. Ours is not just a one-time witness, but ongoing and ever-deepening.
What’s more, our focus is not just individual, but cultural. Our goal is the establishment of what Blessed Pope John Paul II called a “civilization of love.”
This year’s roster of speakers helps us to see our mission clearly—what we need to do to bring about change in politics, media, art, and everyday conversation
We must not abandon the field to those who despise our faith. We cannot love our neighbor if we’re not working to transform the culture. We will be judged by how well we’ve given witness.
Defending the Faith is where great and effective witness begins. Make your beginning by registering today.
Talk Titles
“Offering the World a Better Life!”
“Mary Star of the New Evangelization: Our Lady’s Spiritual Journey and the Year of Faith”
“How to Lose the Culture War”
“I Fought the Church and the Church Won”
Workshops
“New Media and the New Evangelization”
“By What Authority?”
“Don’t Impose Your Morality on Me! Engaging the Culture of Moral Relativism”
Additional Information
Early Session begins 2 p.m. (Travelers’ Mass available at 4 p.m.)
Conference ends Sunday by 1 p.m.
UPDATE: While there is still plenty of On-Campus Housing available, unfortunately all Air-Conditioned Housing is now Sold Out for this Conference. Only NON Air-Conditioned On-Campus Housing remains.
To Download a listing of local Hotels CLICK HERE .
Speakers
Dr. Scott Hahn
Dr. Scott Hahn is the author or editor of over 40 books, including best-sellers Rome Sweet Home and A Father Who Keeps His Promises. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has delivered thousands of popular talks and academic lectures, nationally and internationally, on a wide range of topics related to Scripture, theology and Catholicism. A Franciscan University professor since 1990, Dr. Hahn is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Dr. Hahn graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with his master’s in divinity and received his PhD in theology from Marquette University. Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly since 1979. They live in Steubenville Ohio and have six children and seven grandchildren.
Website: www.scotthahn.com www.salvationhistory.com
Mark Hart
Mark Hart serves as executive vice president for Life Teen International. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Mark is a best-selling and award-winning author and co-author of a dozen books. He has traveled the globe speaking to millions and is a regular guest on several Catholic radio programs, including a weekly spot on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Mark’s weekly Life Teen podcast (available through iTunes) and his popular DVD Bible Study Series, “T3,” are used in youth groups and classrooms around the globe. Mark has been a featured speaker at the Steubenville Youth Conferences for the last several years. He and his wife, Melanie, have three daughters, and live in Arizona.
Bishop Jeffrey Monforton
Bishop Jeffrey Monforton was born in Detroit, Michigan and is the eldest of three sons. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology, as well as a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In 1994, he was ordained to the priesthood. In 2006, Cardinal Adam Maida named him the twelfth rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, a post he held until 2012. Under his leadership the seminarian population at Sacred Heart has grown to the largest it has been in 38 years. Bishop Monforton was named the fifth bishop of Steubenville by Pope Benedict XVI on July 3, 2012.
Website: www.diosteub.org
Jeff Cavins
Jeff Cavins returned to the Catholic Church after serving as a Protestant minister for 12 years. He received his MA in theology from Franciscan University, and then went on to develop The Great Adventure: A Journey Through the Bible, a Bible study program that enables students to understand the chronological flow of the Scriptures. A former radio and television host, he’s a prolific author and the co-editor of the Amazing Grace series, which includes Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer, Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, and Amazing Grace for Married Couples. Cavins currently works as director of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute in St. Paul, and resides with his wife, Emily, and their three daughters in Minnesota.
Website: www.jeffcavins.com
Kimberly Hahn
Kimberly has been married to Scott since 1979 and became a Catholic during the Easter Vigil of 1990. She has been a full-time, stay-at-home Mom since their firstborn’s arrival and currently home schools her youngest son. She has completed a book with Scott on their journey into the Catholic Church titled Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism. In addition to Rome Sweet Home, Kimberly’s other books include a 4-part series on the Proverbs 31 woman and Life Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage with Servant Publications. She holds an MA in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Kimberly and Scott have six children and seven grandchildren.
Website: www.scotthahn.com
Dr. Peter Kreeft
Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Boston College and at the King’s College (Empire State Building), in New York City. He is a regular contributor to several Christian publications, Dr. Kreeft is in wide demand as a speaker at conferences and has authored over 65 books including, including Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Christianity for Modern Pagans, Fundamentals of the Faith.
Website: www.peterkreeft.com
Patrick Madrid
Patrick Madrid is the founder and president of the Envoy Institute, an apostolate dedicated to teaching Catholics how to explain, defend, and share their faith. Patrick has authored many books on Catholicism, and will release three more in 2014: Why Be Catholic?, How to Do Apologetics, and The Heart of an Apostle. Patrick has presented countless seminars on Catholic themes around the world and hosts the popular “Right Here, Right Now” radio broadcast. Patrick earned an M.A. in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is an adjunct professor of theology at Franciscan, and in Fall 2013, will begin teaching distance learning graduate theology at Holy Apostles Seminary. Patrick and his wife Nancy reside in Ohio and have 11 children and 12 grandchildren.
Website: www.patrickmadrid.com
Dr. Ralph Martin
Dr. Ralph Martin holds a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum University in Rome. He was the founding editor of New Covenant magazine and the founding director of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office. Currently, Dr. Martin is president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. He also serves as the director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization and is associate professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He has authored of a number of books; his most recent is titled Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization. He and his wife, Anne, have six children and reside in Michigan.
Website: www.renewalministries.net
Mark Shea
Mark P. Shea is a popular, internationally known Catholic writer and speaker. He has written many books including: Mary, Mother of the Son, By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition, and This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence and is also co-author of the bestselling An award-winning columnist, Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register and his regular feature on InsideCatholic.com. Mark is known nationally for his one-minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio, maintains the popular blog, Catholic and Enjoying It, and is senior content editor for CatholicExchange.com. He lives in Washington with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.
Website: www.mark-shea.com
Dr. Ted Sri
Dr. Edward Sri is a founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), and he currently serves as the provost and professor of theology and Scripture at the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Sri holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. A nationally known Catholic speaker, he appears regularly on EWTN. Sri is the author of numerous books, including A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy, The Gospel of Matthew, and Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights on John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility. He resides with his wife, Elizabeth, and their six children in Colorado.
Jason Stellman
Jason Stellman was born and raised in Orange County, California, and served as a missionary in Africa and Europe. He attended Westminster Seminary where he received his M.Div. in 2004, after which he was ordained by the Pacific Northwest Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America and called to plant Exile Presbyterian Church in the Seattle area. He served as senior pastor until the spring of 2012, when he resigned from the ministry in order to pursue full communion with the Catholic Church, into which he was received that same year. He is the author of Dual Citizens: Worship and Life Between the Already and the Not Yet, and The Destiny of the Species. Jason lives in Washington with his wife and children.
Website: www.creedcodecult.com
Teresa Tomeo
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of experience in TV, radio and newspaper. In 2000, she left the secular media to start her own speaking and communications company. Teresa travels around the country addressing media awareness and activism and shares her reversion to the Catholic Church. A columnist and special correspondent for the national Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, Theresa also appears frequently on EWTN. She is the author of several books, including Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ and Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Woman, released in August of 2012.
Website: www.teresatomeo.com
Brandon Vogt
Brandon Vogt is an award-winning Catholic writer, blogger, and speaker. He’s been featured by several media outlets including NPR, CBS, FoxNews, EWTN, and Our Sunday Visitor. He entered the Catholic Church in 2008, and since then has become a Catholic new media expert. In 2011, Brandon released his first book, The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet (Our Sunday Visitor) which won first-place at the Catholic Press Association awards. He was later invited to the Vatican to dialogue with Church leaders about new media. More recently Brandon appeared in Fr. Robert Barron’s New Evangelization film series, for which he also wrote the official Study Guide.
Website: BrandonVogt.com
Schedule
All sessions will be held in Finnegan Fieldhouse, unless otherwise noted.
All meals will be served in Antonian Hall.
Chapel indicates Christ the King Chapel.
*schedule subject to change
Friday, July 26, 2013
12:00 pm – 8:00 pm Registration and Housing Check-in (St. Joseph Center)
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EARLY BIRD SESSION (doors open 1:45pm)
- “Offering the World a Better Life!” – Jeff Cavins
- “Culture Clash: Communicating Christ to the Next Generation” – Mark Hart
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Travelers’ Liturgy
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EVENING SESSION
- Praise and Worship
- “Vatican II and Lay Mission” – Dr. Ralph Martin
- “Mary, Star of the New Evangelization: Our Lady’s Spiritual Journey and the Year of Faith” – Dr. Edward Sri
10:00 pm – 11:30 pm Social available
Until Midnight – Portiuncula Chapel Open
Saturday, July 27, 2013
6:30 am – 8:30 am Breakfast
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Registration Open (St. Joseph Center)
8:00 am – 10:45 am MORNING SESSION
- Praise and Worship
- “How to Lose the Culture War” – Dr. Peter Kreeft
- “Surprised by Truth: Five Factors for Conversion to the Catholic Faith” – Patrick Madrid
10:45 am – 12:00 pm Eucharistic Liturgy
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation (Chapel)
1:15 – 1:45 pm Book Signing
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm WORKSHOPS
- “Beyond Sunday: Becoming a 24/7 Catholic” – Teresa Tomeo
- “Irreverent or Irrelevant?: Helping the Next Generation to Love Being Catholic” – Mark Hart
- “Don’t Impose Your Morality on Me?” Engaging the Culture of Moral Relativism” – Dr. Edward Sri
- “The First Culture to be Transformed: Our Own Hearts” – Dr. Ralph Martin
- “Stump the Apologist” – Patrick Madrid
3:15 pm–3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm–5:00 pm WORKSHOPS
- “Bringing America Back To Life” – Teresa Tomeo
- “Living a Cruciform Life” – Jason Stellman
- “Mary, Mother of the Son” – Mark Shea
- “Defending Marriage in a post-Christian Culture” – Peter Kreeft
- “New Media, New Evangelization: How to Evangelize Online” – Brandon Vogt
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Dinner
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation (Chapel)
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EVENING SESSION *only session that is free and open to the public*
- Praise and Worship
- “Consuming the Word: Liturgical Worship as Spiritual Warfare” – Dr. Scott Hahn
- Holy Hour
10:00 pm – 11:30 pm Social Available
Until Midnight – Portiuncula Chapel Open
Sunday, July 28, 2013
6:30 am – 8:30 am Breakfast
8:00 am – 10:30 am MORNING SESSION
- Praise and Worship
- “I Fought the Church and the Church Won” – Jason Stellman
- “Generations for Christ: Heritage of Faith” – Kimberly Hahn
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Eucharistic Liturgy – Bishop Jeffrey Monforton
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch
Until 2:00 pm Residence Hall Checkout
Register
Defending The Faith Conference July 26 – 28, 2013
CLICK HERE to Register NOW Online
To Download a Registration Form to mail or Fax in CLICK HERE .
UPDATE: While there is still plenty of On-Campus Housing available, unfortunately all Air-Conditioned Housing is now Sold Out for this Conference. Only NON Air-Conditioned On-Campus Housing remains.
To Download a listing of local Hotels CLICK HERE .
Pricing – All Rates below are per person
The $64 registration rate also applies to religious sisters, brothers, and seminarians of all ages.
Registration for Ages 18-30: $64
Early Bird Registration Rate (Registered by 4/29/13): $125
Regular Registration Rate: $145
Priest Registration Rate: FREE
Meal Plan (includes 6 meals): $59
Housing – Shared Room (2 nights): $80
Housing – Shared Air-Conditioned Room (2 nights): $90
Payment must be made in full at the time of Registration. A $15 fee will be added to all Registrations made after July 19, 2013; as well as any Registrations made on-site.
Download additional information about attending the Defending The Faith Conference.
On Campus Housing is available for all of our conferences. Download a listing of hotels in our area. We provide complimentary transportation to and from the hotels in Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia during the conferences.
If you need transportation between the Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Campus of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, please make arrangements with any of these private services not affiliated with Franciscan University: Checker Transportation 740-283-1757; Airport Service 800-326-2907. There are also several car rental agencies located at the airport.
