'Dynamic Deacon' will present diocesan-wide conference at Blessed Sacrament Parish

Friday, Mar. 18, 2016

SANDY — Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers will bring his passionate evangelist approach to living the Catholic faith to Blessed Sacrament Parish April 9 for the annual speaker event, “A Day of Evangelization.” 

The two topics Deacon Harold will address are “The Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Joy in the Catholic Faith,” and “Truth and Freedom in Challenging Times.” 

During his talk on pursuing happiness, Deacon Harold will explore the difference between true happiness and feeling good. He also will consider logical factors that hinder and impede the pursuit of happiness, examine the relationship between the Holy Spirit’s gift of knowledge and the desire for happiness, and how true spiritual joy is found in obeying God’s will. 

Deacon Harold will explore the relationship between truth and freedom in society and in the Church drawing a connection between God’s holy will and the obedience of faith in the midst of anxious and turbulent times. 

The deacon’s areas of expertise include marriage and family life, discerning the will of God, the sacraments, the Church’s vocational choices and how they are lived out, male spirituality, pro-life issues, evangelization and prayer, according to the website deaconharold.com. 

Deacon Harold holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from the University of Dallas. He co-hosts the weekly broadcast “Living Stones,” on Mater Dei Radio, and has appeared as a guest on numerous national and international radio programs, including “Catholic Answers Live” and “Vocation Boom Radio.” In addition, he co-hosts several series on EWTN television.

Deacon Harold is a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey; he is also a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.

This is Blessed Sacrament Parish’s third annual speaker event.

“As we continue to offer the speaker events, we feed off the energy of our fellow parishioners and the wider diocesan community,” said Sharon Jackson, Blessed Sacrament pastoral associate and co-conference organizer. “The speakers we invite are usually regulars on Immaculate Heart Radio 1010AM in Salt Lake City, and they either host their own show or are guests on other EWTN programs. It seems the faithful in Utah are hungry for apologetics and are learning to delve deeper into the faith and how to share it with those around them.”

Many of the attendees have returned for other conferences “and are eager to find out who we will invite the next year,” Jackson added.

WHAT: A Day of Evangelization

WHO: Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

WHERE: Blessed Sacrament Parish, 9800 South 1700 East, Sandy

WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 

COST: $20; catered lunch is an additional $10. 

For tickets, call 801-571-2071 or visit http://www.blessedsacramentsandy.org/speaker.html.