Deepen your knowledge of the faith at the 2016 Pastoral Congress

Friday, Sep. 02, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — A wealth of information about various aspects of the Catholic faith will be available at this year’s Diocese of Salt Lake City Pastoral Congress. More than 30 local and outside speakers throughout the day will address the theme of forgiveness in its many forms, from social ministry to the story of King David.

The keynote speakers in both English and Spanish “will offer insights on the pathway to forgiveness. We are blessed to share their wisdom and that of many other gifted presenters,” wrote Diocesan Administrator Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw in the introductory letter to the Pastoral Congress pamphlet.

Father Roger Keeler, JCD, PhD will give the keynote address in English. The executive director of the Canon Law Society of America, Fr. Keeler also is an assistant professor at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. 

His talk at the Pastoral Congress will be “spiritual, practical, down to earth,” he said. “This is the Year of Mercy, but mercy needs to give way to forgiveness in some way, so the question that we then have is ‘How do we forgive? What is forgiveness all about?’” 

Forgiveness is necessary “because without it we’re not going to live. … We need to know that we are forgiven,” he said. “If we don’t have that forgiveness, then the barrier of its absence prevents any life and growth from happening, and I think also prevents true relationship development. So forgiving is essential to authentic relationship.”

In his talk he will look at various stages of forgiveness, including forgiveness of the self, he said. “We always find it hard to forgive ourselves because we hold ourselves to a mercilessly high standard.”

Fr. Keeler has “just a wealth of practical tips,” said Susan Northway, diocesan director of religious education, who helps organize the congress. “He uses humor and he fills his talks with personal anecdotes and his personal ministry experience.”

Other highlights of the daylong event will include a workshop on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola, given by Dr. Cathie Morgan, who trained with Menninger Foundation; an interfaith luncheon workshop featuring representatives from different religious traditions in the Salt Lake area; two marriage and family workshops by Christian and Christine J. Meerts, who presented at the 2015 World Meeting of Families; and a workshop on cultural diversity that will include an art show by Deacon Armando Solorzano, Ph.D. 

Topics include “The Wonder of Discipleship,” “Fasting so That Others May Eat,” “Hispanic Lenten Traditions in Utah,” “The Sanctity of Life and Assisted Suicide,” “How to Reach Your DDD Goal,” and “Symbols that Surround Us.”

Events such as the Pastoral Congress are places where “the heart can be touched, and when the heart is touched then there is the ability to grow, there is love, there is life,” Fr. Keeler said. Quoting Hosea 4:6, “My people perish for want of knowledge,” he said, “The idea that I think we see there is that God says to us that because we don’t know him with heart and with mind and with soul, then we die. … Do we have heart knowledge of God? Do we really know him as one of tender love and compassion for us? If we don’t know our God in this way, how are we ever to live?”

WHAT: Diocese of Salt Lake City 2016 Pastoral Congress

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Skaggs Catholic Center, 300 East 11800 South, Draper

COST: $45 per person

To register or for information, visit http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/education/2016-pastoral-congress.