Engaging the Young Church Conference 2025

LIGHT THE LAMPS – FOSTERING PILGRIMS OF HOPE

"Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:15-16

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus uses the image of a lamp as a reminder that our light is not meant to be kept to ourselves, but rather shared with others to glorify God.

This year's Engaging the Youth Church Conference keynote presenter, Katherine Angulo, will help us examine how we fuel our own flames to be beacons to those in our ministry and beyond. She will discuss sharing our light with young people and their families, even when it may not be easy.

Join us as we light the lamps and shine the light of Christ for the young Church and their families.

You can view digital and printable promotional materials .

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The Engaging Youth Church Conference is an opportunity for priests, deacons, and all who minister to younger and older adolescents, including Youth, Young Adult, Jr. High Ministers, their volunteers, Parish Catechetical Leaders (including Discipleship Formation and Family Ministry Directors), High School Campus Ministers and Theology Teachers, Athletic Coaches, and any others who minister to the adolescent age group to:

• Get encouraged and inspired for the work of ministry
• Foster relationships and collaboration between fellow ministers
• Collectively pray for the needs of youth, young adults, and various ministries for them

COST

$40 per day/$75 for both days.

The cost includes: keynote presentations and workshop opportunities, prayer, small group discussions, Mass on Friday, continental breakfast and lunch each day

Registration deadline: September 12, 2025

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

• 8:00 am Gather
• 8:15 am Mass
• 9:15 am Continental Breakfast
• 9:30 am Keynote
• 11:00 am Workshop
• 12:15 pm Lunch
• 1:00 pm Keynote
• 2:15 pm Prayer
• 2:30 pm Depart

SATURDAY

• 8:30 am Gather/Registration/Continental Breakfast
• 9:00 am Welcome/Prayer
• 9:30 am Keynote
• 11:00 am Workshop
• 12:15 pm Lunch
• 1:00 pm Keynote
• 2:15 pm Prayer
• 2:30 pm Depart

WORKSHOPS | FRIDAY

Summer Mission Trips from A to Z

From Appalachia to Zilwaukee, consider the different aspects of a summer mission trip for your ministry setting.

Empowering Parents as Disciples

Partner with those who have the most influence on their child's faith life to activate their family to grow as disciples.

Handling Discouragement in Ministry

It can be hard to share joy and hope in times of discouragement. Learn pratical solutions to navigate disheartening times in your ministry.

Tending the Flame

Strengthen your spirit for ministry in this workshop by focusing on prayer, self-care, and the Light of Christ.

WORKSHOPS | SATURDAY

More Than Just a Meeting

There is no one golden ticket for ministry, but there are some key areas to consider when building or growing your ministry to adolescents.

Praying and Young People

Helping young people develop a habit of prayer and discover different prayer styles.

Tips and Tools to Better Communicate and Engage with Young People and their Parents

Social Media. Canva. CRMs. Learn how to use different tools to stay in regular contact and engage with adolescents as well as their parents.

Tending the Flame

Strengthen your spirit for ministry in this workshop by focusing on prayer, self-care, and the Light of Christ.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER | KATHERINE ANGULO

As the Program Director of the Thriving in Ministry Initiative, Katherine directs five imortant outreach efforts, up to $19 million supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The newest, called Pathways to Communion, aims to strengthen the ecosystem of theologically informed service opportunities for young Catholics in the United States. Katherine also works to prepare pastoral leaders for long-term ministry in the Church in the Strong Foundations for Catholic Leaders program; provides intellectual and spiritual renewal for invited diocesan priests in the Bishop John M. D'Arcy Program in Priestly Renewal; and is partnering with Iskali to creat cultures of affiliation in the Hispanic Catholic Church in the United States through the Young Adult Innovation Hub. The Holy Family of Nazareth as the foundation for catechetical renewal within the domestic Hispanic Church guides the Holy Family Initiative for Family Catechesis program, which is being piloted in the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Diocese of Raleigh, NC.

Born in Mexico and raised in Colombia, Katherine received her B.A. in Modern Languages in 200 and her M.A. in Pastroal Ministries in 2005. She has more than 22 years of experience in parish and diocesan ministry. She is part of the Board of Advisors for the Lilly Endowment in Thriving in Ministry Initiatives. She also serves on the Board of Governors for the Mexican American Catholic Colleges (MACC), and on the Board of Advisors for the Nuevo Momento Initiative from Boston College.

Host or Publisher Archdiocese of Detroit