It's no mystery why people get excited about our Letter & Spirit Conferences. For a very small registration fee, they get to spend a weekend with world-class Scripture scholars — in the company of other Catholics who are on fire for the faith.
Still, this year's conference — October 26-27 in Pittsburgh, Pa. — is all about mysteries. We're taking our lead from Pope Benedict XVI's bestselling book, and so our theme "Jesus and the Mysteries."
I hope you can join us. I'll be speaking, as will many noted authors: Father Francis Martin, Father Robert Barron, Dr. R.R. Reno, Dr. Brant Pitre, and Dr. Daniel Keating. Taking our cue from the pope, we'll be exploring the biblical understanding of salvation, sacraments, Church, prayer, and much more.
I can already feel the excitement — because I've been there before, and excitement is part of the package when faithful people gather to ponder the Scriptures.
As I put pen to paper, the memory of our Summer Bible Institute is still fresh in my mind. This year, we broke all previous attendance records. More than 400 people came to Franciscan University for the opportunity to spend an intensive week studying God's Word with outstanding Catholic scholars. The sessions filled our days and nights, and still we couldn't get enough. Though the week passed far too quickly, we all left with our minds and hearts full. It's a thrill for me to think of all those good people heading back to their parishes, equipped to lead life-transforming Bible studies, from sea to shining sea.
This, for me, is an answer to the ageless prayer: "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth."
Like the people in our classes, I experienced the Summer Institute as a personal renewal. But renewal means a new beginning, and so this is no time for us to rest. No, we’re just getting started! The Bible Institute is over, but the work must begin anew with the Letter & Spirit Conference.
Please plan to attend. The last two years we've filled the facilities to capacity. But, as of press time, there was still room for more. There's still room for you. If you can’t make it this year, I certainly understand, but I ask you to pray for that the event will be an occasion of grace for everyone who attends.
It’s my hope that many people — both speakers and registrants — will be able to close the weekend of October 26-27 with the words of the disciples at Emmaus: "Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
September 2007
