Conference Sessions

Session 1 of the Live Catholic Conference 2024

“What are you looking for?” (NABRE John 1:38)

KEY MESSAGE:

The journey to happiness is deeply anchored with our desires and God’s call for us. However, true

happiness often eludes us as it depends on the nature of our desires and the paths we choose to satisfy

them. Father Robert Spitzer's "Four Levels of Happiness" provides a framework to understand these

pursuits, ranging from physical pleasures to spiritual fulfillment. Central to this journey is the universal

call to holiness, which invites us to align our lives with God's will through friendship with Jesus. This

vocation to holiness, whether lived out through marriage, consecrated life, or single blessedness, is

realized through a deep, personal relationship with Christ. Ultimately, understanding our unique vocation and achieving true happiness depends on our intimacy with God and our willingness to follow His call.

Session 2 of the Live Catholic Conference 2024

ANCHOR VERSE:

"For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall

become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together,

no human being must separate...Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted.

Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by

others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever

can accept this ought to accept it.” (NABRE, Matthew 19:5-6, 11-12)

KEY MESSAGES:

Life is filled with decisions, from mundane choices to profound questions about meaning, happiness,

and identity. In a Catholic context, vocation signifies a calling from God to fulfill His will, and by

responding to the primary vocations of the Church—marriage, consecrated life, and single

blessedness—we find true happiness, grow in love, and give glory to God. St. Ignatius of Loyola offers

a profound tool for seeking God's will, particularly regarding our vocation, through Ignatian

discernment, which involves noticing the movements within our hearts and aligning our desires with

His. In this journey, we experience spiritual movements of consolation and desolation, revealing our

closeness to God. Consolation, marked by peace, joy, and fruitfulness, draws us closer to God, while

desolation, characterized by confusion, darkness, and fruitlessness, challenges us to strengthen and

purify our love and commitment to Him.

Session 3 of the Live Catholic Conference 2024

SUPPORTING VERSE

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.” (NABRE James 1:5)

KEY MESSAGE

The journey of discernment involves aligning our desires with God's will, recognizing the love that motivates us daily, and making a daily choice to love and be loved in our specific vocations, be it marriage, consecrated life, or single blessedness. Guided by the Prayer of Falling in Love by Fr. Whelan, SJ. We embrace love as a gift and choose freely without clinging to worldly attachments. The discernment process includes identifying relevant questions about our desires, acknowledging our limitations and the realities of our options, letting go of biases and societal pressures, and seeking spiritual guidance. These steps enable us to make informed, free decisions, trusting in God's wisdom and grace. Intimate prayer, Scripture reading, resting in the Sacraments, living out the lives of the saints, and journeying with others help us sense the Lord’s presence and listen to His voice. The Holy Spirit animates our discernment, making it vibrant and effective. Spiritual accompaniment, where we share the Spirit's movements in our hearts with other persons, is essential, fostering communion as members of Christ’s body and sharers in the life of the Spirit.