Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership coming to Baltimore

By Elizabeth Skalski

eskalski@catholicreview.org

Jesuit Father James Martin, the unofficial chaplain to the “Colbert Report” show on Comedy Central, and Bishop Gerald Kicanas are keynote speakers at the first Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership.

The conference, coming to Baltimore March 8 to 10, works to strengthen pastoral leaders in their ministry and in the church from across the region and will offer classes, trend sessions and nearly 100 breakout sessions. This theme is “Witness Hope!”

Father Martin, the author of “My Life with the Saints” and “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,” will explore the relationship between Christian joy and the new evangelization in a talk March 9 titled “Feeding Hope.”

Religious educators, deacons, priests, liturgy directors, principals, music ministers and others may attend. Parishioner Day, March 10, is for catechists, visitors of the sick, youth ministers and choir members, among others.

The conference, which will be held at the Hilton Baltimore, is co-sponsored by the Association of Catholic Publishers and the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Department of Evangelization. The conference focuses on the mission and the needs of pastoral leaders with the challenges of a growing, changing church.

To register, sign up for email updates or for additional information, visit www.midatlanticcongress.org.