Parishes hosting this year's family conference

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
MOBILE — With the Archdiocese of Mobile celebrating “The Year of the Eucharist and the Parish,” this year’s “One Faith One Family” conference will be parish-centered. 
The biennial archdiocesan family conference takes place Saturday, April 24 at participating parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. Unlike previous conferences that were held in a central location, parishes will host their own event with livestreamed material provided by the archdiocese.
“As we were planning, we were thinking ‘why are we going to bring people out of the parish like we’ve done in the past? Shouldn’t we try and do something that would plug them into their parish?' ” said Pat Arensberg, Archdiocese of Mobile director of the Office of Family Life and Evangelization. “Of course, some of that was precipitated because of COVID and that probably started the conversation. But I really think it’s a better model in terms of trying to build up family life in our parishes.”
Moving to a livestreamed, parish format also helps to better reach all corners of the archdiocese, said Janet Masline, associate director of the Office of Family Life and Evangelization.
“Because our archdiocese is so big we know that oftentime people from the further reaches won’t make a trip to Mobile or Daphne (sites of previous family conferences),” Masline said. “We’re excited about this opportunity.”
According to Masline, the archdiocese is providing parishes with suggested itineraries, but parishes have leeway to adjust. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President Justin Castanza will serve as emcee and the suggested program includes talks from Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and Damon Owens.
Owens is the founder of Theology of the Body Institute, Joy-Filled Marriage New Jersey, and New Jersey Natural Family Planning Association, nonprofit organizations dedicated to building a marriage culture through training, seminars and conferences.
“What he’s going to be talking about is what actually happens when we receive Christ in the Eucharist,” Arensberg said. 
Participating parishes are also encouraged to participate in either Adoration or a Eucharistic procession and use some time to highlight their various ministries. 
The suggested itinerary recommends each participating parish conclude the day should with their respective Vigil Mass.
The material is being provided to parishes at no cost. Parishes might add supplemental items, such as lunch, and thus ask participants for a donation.
Material will also be provided in Spanish and there are suggested children’s itineraries as well.
Several parishes have already registered to host "One Faith One Family." Those interested in attending, but are members of a parish not yet signed up are encouraged to offer a hand. 
“Talk to your pastor. Tell him you want to do this, maybe tell the pastor you’re willing to help and those folks can call our office and we’ll walk them through it,” Arensberg said. “We have a whole team of people who volunteer and are willing to help. They can help get it off the ground.”
— For more information, visit mobarch.org/one-faith-one-family