A reader writes

I’m passing this along because you guys are either priests, deacons, and seminarians from California or the Northwest or you know such folk and can pass the word along. The Franciscan Summer Conferences held out here in Steubenville every summer have a special grant program to help cover the costs of any priests, deacons, or seminarians who want to attend any one of the conferences . Also, any priest who agrees to hear confessions while at a conference gets the registration fee waived . Married couples are also eligible for discounts, though not for the Northwest grant.

I’d recommend the St. John Bosco Religious Educators Conference, the Applied Biblical Studies Conference, or the Defending the Faith Conference for everyone who’s not interested in being at the more Charismatic Catholic type conferences. If you’re open to the experience, the other conferences are great as well whether or not you’re charismatic (I have yet to speak in tongues or do anything along those lines–probably never will; I tend to be much more the middle of the road type Catholic–and I still found the experience of reporting on the conferences tremendously enriching).

For those of you who are scholars in some of the fields being covered–some of the conferences might just be tremendously refreshing anyway, even though there may be little to no new information. Treat it as a retreat, a chance to be with people in love with Jesus, excited about their faith, in love with the Church, and enthusiastic about spreading the word. The personal accounts of conversion and God’s grace working in the world are hugely encouraging, and these are wonderful opportunities to network with people from all over the world engaged in the apostolate.

Also, I’d love to see folks from the Northwest out here over the summer! If anyone does come, be sure you or they try to say hi to me!

The form to apply for the grant is attached. More information for registration and info on the conferences is at the conference website.

Spread the word!

Now you know!