Utah Catholic Conference will offer day of faith formation for local Catholics

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

DRAPER — The Utah Catholic Conference, which will be held Sept. 20 at the Skaggs Catholic Center, will provide local Catholics with a day of faith formation featuring inspiring speakers, engaging workshops, vendor exhibits and fellowship. The theme is “The Road of Hope.”

The conference will open with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Oscar A. Solis and continue throughout the day.

The conference theme was inspired by the Church’s Year of Hope, a jubilee designated by Pope Francis on the 2,025th anniversary of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The theme of the conference uses a road to symbolize that faith is a journey, said Peri Flanagan, director of the diocesan Office of Faith Formation and conference co-chair. 

“Continuing education of our faith is a necessary requirement,” Flanagan said. 

Faith must be constantly nurtured, she said, “and this is a grand opportunity for everyone to hear keynote speakers that are really talented, and then to spend some time in workshops, and uncover topics like liturgy and worship, or prayer or a deeper relationship with Mary.”

Catholics in Utah can often feel isolated, and participating in the conference allows them to feel part of the great community of the faithful, she said. “This is a huge opportunity for everyone to come together and see each other and learn from each other.”

The keynote address in English will be given by Mark Hart, a best-selling author and radio host. He also is Life Teen International’s chief innovation officer and a longtime youth minister. In addition, he serves as a catechist, book editor, speaking coach, publishing and marketing consultant, and as a research fellow for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He is the father of four children.

Spanish-speaking keynote speaker Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ, is the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, the charitable branch of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas. In 2014, Sr. Norma worked with the local community to establish the immigrant Humanitarian Respite Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Pan American University, a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, and a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University, Chicago.

Following the keynote addresses, adult participants at the conference will be able to choose from among 35 workshops presented by leaders of the faith from across the diocese. Topics include faith formation, marriage and family life, liturgy and worship.

The youth session, for young people in grades six to 12, will have John Levi as the keynote speaker. Levi is a hip-hop artist known for his unique fusion of Catholic faith and hip-hop culture. A Catholic school principal in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, Levi has a background in education, youth ministry and psychology.

Levi is a “great, inspirational hip-hop artist,” said Michael Edwards, director of the diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  “He and his friend Carlos Zamora, they’ve been in the hip-hop industry for a very long time period. They started off with non-traditional, non-Catholic, non-Christian hip-hop, and felt a call from God to transform their lives and transform their hip-hop, and they’re going to talk about their lives and how they have gone through so many struggles.” 

Sammie Carel, youth and young adult director for the Diocese of Phoenix, also will speak to the youth. Then, in the afternoon, Levi will be joined by Zamora in presenting two breakout sessions.

“I think it’s very important for everyone to know that they are all welcome and all are wanted,” Flanagan said of the conference. “We will have Mass with the bishop at the very beginning; it will be worth the trip.”

WHAT: Utah Catholic Conference, “The Road of Hope”

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 20

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

COST: Adults $40 through Sept. 5, $65 after Sept. 5; youth $5. Includes lunch. 

Visit https://www.dioslc.org/ucc-registration-selector to register.