The first of its kind conference in the Diocese of Harrisburg is offering a slate of national speakers and inspiring workshops that will connect individuals in an inter-generational event next month.
“BEHOLD! A Conference for the Family of God” will welcome Bishop Frank Caggiano, Damon and Melanie Owens, The Scally Brothers and a relic of Blessed Stanley Rother among the itinerary of the unique, one-day event, set for Saturday, October 18, at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg.
Highlights of the day include a keynote address by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut; various breakout tracks for men, women and couples; special programming for youth and young adults; a Vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior; and an evening picnic dinner and musical entertainment.
“Bishop Caggiano is down-to-earth, with a wonderful sense of humor and an air of relatability that earns the respect of his faithful and his peers. He is also a man of deep faith. His keynote will give us words of wit and wisdom that will inspire us to keep seeking Christ without allowing our fears and failings to keep us from taking that first or next step toward healing and reconciliation,” said Melissa Maleski, Diocesan Director of Laity and Family, in an interview with The Witness.
Damon and Melanie Owens, founders of Joyful Ever After, will offer break-outs for married couples on “Getting the Marriage You Want from the Marriage You Have” and “Forging Deeper Family Bonds.” International speakers and parents of eight, they speak from experience, having revived their marriage that was once in trouble.
Additional break-out presentations are planned for men, including “The Ordered Household: Encounter with the Created World;” tracks for women include “Called to Communion: Freely and Fully Yours,” and “The Spirituality and Science of Happiness.”
The dynamic musical duo The Scally Brothers will bring their passionate and faith-based music to the conference, which promises a relaxed and flexible experience. Attendees can select which sessions they prefer to be part of, enjoy time in quiet prayer, visit vendors and come and go throughout the day and evening festivities.
Attendees will have a chance to venerate a relic of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first American-born martyr, who was killed as a missionary priest in Guatemala in 1981. In collaboration with the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Harrisburg Serra Club, a relic of Blessed Stanley Rother will be available at the conference for private veneration and to request intercessory prayers for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Bishop Timothy Senior will celebrate the Vigil Mass at the conference, which will combine formation, celebration, and festivities attractive to people of all ages and at various places in their faith development, from the devout to those who are lukewarm or searching.
“The event is called BEHOLD! because we want this to be a memorable moment in the lives of our Diocesan community; a moment where the faithful pause to listen for the whisper of Christ in their hearts and hold on to that sense of God among them,” said Maleski.
“The day emphasizes authentic personal connection – with each other, and with Christ who is always present and waiting for us in the Blessed Sacrament,” she said.
The event is the only conference in the Diocese in 2025. BEHOLD! takes the best of the annual men’s and women’s conferences, and adds experiences for children, teens and couples.
“The beauty of BEHOLD! is that it is an event for everyone; the devout, the curious, and the ambivalent are all welcome…. BEHOLD! is about starting a conversation, not teaching a particular article of faith or pushing an agenda,” Maleski said.
“The ultimate goal of BEHOLD! is to become a launchpad for deeper, more intentional conversations about the fundamentals of our faith and how we truly live as Christian disciples at the more intimate levels of the Diocesan community: parishes, ministries, and families,” she said.
Registration is now open, and includes pricing for adults, teens, children and families. To sign up and learn more, visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/behold-a-conference-for-the-family-of-god/.
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
