CHARLOTTE — Family Life Conference registered guests warmed themselves with fresh brew and light conversation before pulling out their notebooks in anticipation of a panel discussion on hot button topics like converting non-believers, suffering and politics.
Around 40 participants met on Jan. 18 in the Diocesan Pastoral Center for this year’s conference themed “Cultural Challenges & Catholic Faith.”
Father Peter Ascik, director of the Diocese’s Family Life Office and pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Shelby, warmly greeted participants promptly at 10:00 a.m., “This conference is designed to focus our attention and shine the light of the gospel on central issues pertinent to human life, to family life, to society, and to the church.”
Pastor of Our Lady of Grace in Indian Land, Father Jeffrey Kirby, started off the morning with his message, “The Way of the Lord: Speaking Moral Truth with Love.”
Father Kirby, full of charisma and laughable anecdotes, argued that conversion of lost brothers and sisters cannot be conquered through nagging and ultimately falls into the hands of God. Through quotes gleaned from John Paul II and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, he instructs to humbly set an example through orthopraxy (living the faith), then find a true human connection, and finally, at the opportune time, gently approach the gospel.
“We don’t have to give the entire catechism of the Catholic Church in one sitting. We can let them digest, walk the journey and let them take their time,” said Father Kirby, reminding participants that St. Paul the Apostle took three years to fully emerge into his new faith.
Loren Barrett, a parishioner from St. Gabriel, recently returned to the faith. She wasn’t sure why she impulsively dragged her husband to the conference, but after hearing Father Kirby’s words, she knew they were exactly where God intended.
“I just wanted to express that everything you just said touched my heart,” Barrett told Kirby.
Director of Research and Education at the North Carolina Family Policy Council Adamo Manfra took the podium next to deliver “Faith in the Public Square: Catholic Engagement in Politics and Policy.” Manfra acknowledged that in secular politics there is no clear “Catholic” party. This is where discernment comes into play, he says. When the ballot is difficult, “Instead of voting for the lesser of two evils, vote to lessen the evil.” Manfra went over his “All S” strategy to utilize when attempting to take a political stance in a judgmental country.
“When you have something on your heart, seek God’s will, seek God’s truth, survey the landscape, speak up, stand your ground, surrender the outcome and start over,” he said.
Over a lunch of boxed rotisserie chicken, green beans, and rice, guests bonded, chatting about their new-found insights.
St. Matthew parishioner Carissa Scibor said, “I love how applicable what the speakers are saying is to our own lives and how we want to bring our faith into our everyday culture.”
Melissa Scanlon, Walking with Moms in Need Program Coordinator, noted, “I thought it was really good how the speakers came to the same end. We have to speak the truth and stand for the truth, but ultimately the outcome is not up to us. It’s in God’s hands.”
The final speaker, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Christine Wisdom delivered a soft-spoken message, “From Suffering to Healing in Family Life.”
Wisdom knew she would take care of people since she was a little girl, but getting there was more tumultuous than expected. She didn’t know her path, but God did, and suffering was a part of that journey. Wisdom believes “God meets you where you are at.” During her adolescent years, at a little retreat during adoration, while singing “Open My Eyes to Your Heart, Lord,” God met her. Ever since she became more strident in her faith, she was destined to become a pastoral counselor. Later she married Bryan, whose last name ironically is “Wisdom,” whom she met on CatholicMatch.com. He had the same zeal for Christ she did. Through her joys and sufferings, from infertility to childbirths and miscarriages, she became better equipped to guide others.
Today Wisdom uses her experiences to help others heal their mind, body, and soul.
“The Lord knows everything about us. He called us. He is forming us and working to bring us to Him through our wounds,” Wisdom stated.
Following the lectures, Wisdom and Manfra were joined by Father Ascik for an hour-long question and answer session. Some questions had more difficult answers than others, but everyone left imbued with a new sense of enlightenment.
“It was really a great opportunity to get so many different Catholics together to get to know our faith and how we interact with the rest of the diocese. It is nice to watch us all come together,” St.
Luke parishioner and father of five, Robert De’Ath stated, with his wife, Katy, by his side, bouncing new baby, Joey, on her knee.
— Lisa Geraci. Photos provided by Binh-An Nguyen.
