Marian Eucharistic Conference set for January 2007 

By Betty Huff, St. William’s Atascadero

The 11th Annual Central California Marian Eucharistic Conference will be held in the Mid-State Fairgrounds auditorium on January 12 through 14, 2007.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Deus Caritas Est” – “God is Love” – from 1 John 4:16. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

The Master of Ceremonies for this event will be David Parkes, an accomplished vocalist from Dublin, Ireland. His talents have blessed us each year since the first conference. David’s concert on the evening of Friday, January 12, begins after the welcoming ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

As emcee, David will be introducing six popular and dynamic speakers. Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR from New York City is making his second appearance at the Marian conference with a fresh and inspiring message on the love of God. It is miraculous that Father can be here. After his first appearance in 2004 he flew immediately to Florida for another speaking engagement. As he hurried across the street, a taxi hit him and caused major injuries to his head, torso and legs. People everywhere asked God to spare his life and as the prayers poured in the healings began.

Fr. Groeschel is the founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a community which follows the Capuchin Tradition and now has over 80 friars and sisters. They are dedicated to preaching reform within the Church and caring for the homeless in the South Bronx and Harlem as well as in London and Honduras.

Fr. Groeschel has also written many articles and books which boldly proclaim the message of the Gospels. In addition he can be seen on EWTN on his program entitled “Sunday Night Live with Fr. Benedict Groeschel.”

Three other popular EWTN hosts will also be speaking at the Conference: Marcus Grodi, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. and Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR.

Marcus Grodi’s fascinating program is “The Journey Home and features guests who have come back to the Catholic Church or guests who have converted to Catholicism. Many of the converts were former Protestant ministers as was Marcus. He attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, received his Masters of divinity and was ordained a Protestant minister. Nine years later and after much soul searching he knew God was calling him to “come home.” In 1992 Marcus and his family were received into the Catholic Church.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s of divinity in theology and earned a doctorate in Old Testament studies. His credits and accomplishments are almost too numerous to mention, but he has a very humble spirit and is most at ease in cowboy boots! Fr. Pacwa speaks 12 languages including Arabic, and has traveled throughout the Middle East for over 20 years. With a unique understanding of this culture he will be a very timely speaker.

Fr. Andrew Apostoli was ordained in 1957 by Bishop Fulton J. sheen and is currently serving as a vice-postulator for the cause of canonization for Bishop Sheen. A member of the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Fr. Apostoli has been active in teaching, counseling and preaching at retreats. He has written numerous books and pamphlets.

Fr. Santan Pinto, SOLT, is returning for his third time to the conference. He was born in India in 1948. He joined the Jesuits in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1977. He worked in Calcutta with Mother Theresa where he had a supernatural experience with Jesus. He then entered the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) in 1987. In 1992 he founded the Disciples of Jesus and Mary, a formation program for the laity. A special part of the conference will be a powerful healing service presided over by Fr. Pinto.

Fr. William J. Halbing, pastor of St. Antoninus church in Newark, NJ, is making his first appearance at the conference. Father received two master’s degrees from Seton Hall University, attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey and was ordained in 1982. Fr. Halbing is a lively, sprit-filled priest who has been involved with charismatic renewal since 1975. He has spoken at tent revival meetings, days of renewal, parish missions, children’s bible conferences and Hispanic ministry conferences.

A special treat of the 2007 conference will be the talk with teen students given by Fr. Masseo Gonzalez, OFM on Friday evening. Fr. Masseo has a way of connecting with youth and understands their temptations and frustrations through his own experience. He was kicked out of Catholic high school and spent the majority of his early ears under the hood of a car or underneath a bottle. A fight which resulted in the amputation of part of his leg was the turning point in his life. He was inspired to change his ways when a Franciscan order took over his parish. The piety of these Mexican Americans took hold with him and he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1996. Fr. Masseo is based in Arroyo Grande where he ministers to youth.

Another welcome feature of the conference is the huge gift store. Dealers from all over have religious items to sell. Also available are books, videos and tapes of each speaker. Motels are located close by and RV parking on site costs only $20/day.

Early registration is advised. Please call 805/462.1443 or fax 805/461.8750.