Gathering part of Detroit seminary's centennial celebrations aims to help attendees grasp 'urgency' of new evangelization
DETROIT — On Oct. 11-12, hundreds of Catholic clergy, religious and laity will descend on the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit to discuss the new evangelization and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ today.
The two-day academic symposium is packed with high-profile keynote speakers coupled with roundtable discussions about the role each person plays in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The conference, “Enter Through the Narrow Gate: The Urgency of the New Evangelization in the Third Millennium,” is part of Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s centennial celebration, and will feature several high-profile Catholic academic speakers, including:
- Brownsville, Texas, Bishop Daniel Flores, a former Detroit auxiliary bishop and a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis;
- John Cavadini, Ph.D., professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame and director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life; and
- Scott Hahn, Ph.D., renowned author, speaker and founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and chair of biblical theology and the new evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
“We’re really excited about the keynote speakers,” said Fr. Timothy Laboe, Sacred Heart's dean of studies. “They bring unique perspectives on the issue of the new evangelization from different levels of Church life.”
Bishop Flores, as director of the U.S. bishops' evangelization and catechesis committee, will bring a perspective on evangelization as it impacts the U.S. Church, while Cavadini will talk about pastoral challenges and opportunities for dioceses, parishes and schools, Fr. Laboe said.
“Dr. Hahn is a university professor, popular lecturer, author and, I’m proud to say, father of two seminarians,” Fr. Laboe said. “He brings a special expertise on the role of sacred Scripture in evangelization and how we can be better evangelizers for others.”
Fr. Laboe said the conference will address what it means to be a disciple in the third millennium.
“We know from Jesus that discipleship requires us to go through the 'narrow gate,'” Fr. Laboe said. “We can’t avoid suffering, because discipleship means we have to pick up our crosses and follow Christ. Suffering can be experienced in different ways, but all suffering is difficult. We have to be ready to endure the difficulty of doing things differently if that is what it means to share Jesus Christ.”
The conference at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd., begins at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, and extends to Saturday, Oct. 12, with Mass at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak at 4:30 p.m.
Symposium registration is $125, and more information can be found at symposium.shms.edu.
While the symposium will be focused on academics, it's also geared toward “people who want to learn more about how to share their faith with others,” Fr. Laboe said.
“Our mission is directed toward clergy and lay minsters in their pastoral work, and the symposium has that same focus: taking the fruit of high-level academic work and presenting it so that it benefits the people in our parishes.”
In addition to the keynote speakers, Sacred Heart faculty will address additional topics, including how the Second Vatican Council instructed lay Catholics to take an active role in evangelization, the role of Mary as the Star of the New Evangelization, and what it means to suffer for the faith in the 21st century.
“I hope people will come away with a much better idea of the issues and some solutions for evangelization in today’s world,” Fr. Laboe said. “I don’t know if you'll find as many influential and well-respected scholars on the new evangelization under the same roof at the same time.”
Fr. Laboe added the symposium is a chance to showcase the Church in Detroit and the work of Sacred Heart Major Seminary as the school begins its 100th anniversary.
“The symposium recognizes and celebrates the academic contributions of the seminary as we look to the future,” Fr. Laboe said. “No one here expects to be around for the bicentennial celebration, but we work with the hope that it will happen. We need to have the urgency today to encourage others to embrace the good news of Jesus Christ so that God’s work will continue in the hearts of people for generations to come.”
Enter Through the Narrow Gate: The Urgency of the New Evangelization in the Third Millennium
- What: An academic symposium sponsored by Sacred Heart Major Seminary
- Who: Keynote speakers include Bishop Daniel Flores, Scott Hahn, Ph.D., and John Cavadini, Ph.D., as well as breakout sessions with Sacred Heart professors and faculty
- When: Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12
- Where: Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit, MI
- Cost: $125 per person; register at https://symposium.shms.edu/
