Holy Relationships Conference in a Crazy World

Our first annual spring conference was a beautiful gathering of young adults for community, formation, and inspiration.

We opened the day with Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Izen, centering our hearts on Christ.

A key theme from Dr. Philip Rolnick's talk, The Fourfold Expression of Love: Personalizing the Good was letting God's unconditional agape love flow through us. The four forms of love—agape, philia (friendship), eros (romantic love), and storge (kinship love)—are mutually enhancing. Furthermore, the more we open ourselves up to God's love, the more open we are to truth. Dr. Rolnick expressed that "contact with reality is contact with God." He also emphasized that we do not pursue this truth alone; we have been given other 'wayfarers' who are on the journey of faith. Dr. Rolnick noted that "Christian wayfarers hold something infinite in common: Christ."

Dr. Kate Soucheray's keynote talked encouraged us to stay committed to pursuing what is good and virtuous. "Knowing virtue and choosing to pursue it will keep us from being moved around [by the culture].”

Lastly, Tanner Kalina’s keynote was an energetic Gospel-infused sendoff. Tanner articulated how we might think, act, pray, and love like Jesus. He encouraged us to fix our hope ultimately in heaven. No matter the struggles that life throws us in different seasons of live, "our hope must penetrate into the eternal."

Thank you to all who participated, volunteered, and contributed to make this conference a grace-filled experience for all.