May 10, 2016 // Local

National Marian Conference date set

Jennifer Miller

Freelance Writer

“To Jesus, through Mary:

“There are three steps to climb to go to God: the first, which is the nearest to us, and the most suited to our capacity, is Mary; the second is Jesus Christ; and the third is God the Father. To go to Jesus, we must go to Mary; she is our mediatrix of intercession.”  — St. Louis de Montefort

By Jennifer Miller

This reflection is the theme and focus of the 2016 National Marian Conference, May 20 and 21, at the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center at the University of Notre Dame. The newly named conference is a revival of the National Medjugorje Conference, which has been held for the past 25 years. A local gem, this conference is a beautiful time of prayer and reflection during May, the month of Mary, Our Mother. The National Marian Conference and de Montefort both promote devotion to Mary as a way to growing closer to Jesus.

Sponsored by the non-profit Queen of Peace Ministries, the Marian Conference hosts an excellent line-up of a variety of well-known Catholic speakers. But what sets the conference apart is its prayerful design and schedule. Almost like a spiritual individual retreat combined with inspiring and academic talks and warm fellowship and community, the National Marian Conference offers a refreshingly beautiful way to learn or renew one’s relationship with Mary, Mother of God. The two day conference offers a medley of Catholic tradition including abundant opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation, a separate chapel of adoration open throughout the entirety of the conference, traditional and contemporary praise and worship, recitation of the rosary, and, of course, Mass. The setting is comfortable for families as well as for individuals of all ages.

“At this year’s conference, we will emphasize the importance of the rosary and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. America is in a spiritual crisis and these are the remedies that Our Lady gave us at Fatima and now, with more urgency, at Medjugorje,” explained Deacon Brian Miller of Queen of Peace Ministries.

Emphasis on the importance and power of the rosary in the history of the United States and throughout the world is a highlight in the presentation of Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries. Miller continued, “We hope to revive the rosary apostolate of Father Patrick Peyton and his famous motto, ‘The family that prays together stays together.’” Father Raymond will also speak about Father Peyton’s cause for canonization. The rosary will be prayed at the Grotto at the heart of Notre Dame’s beautiful campus. The grotto is a replica of the original grotto at Lourdes, France.

Deacon Miller also emphasized that this year the conference will focus and also promote the importance of Catholic radio as a powerful means of evangelization. This follows in concert with the invitation given by St. John Paul II on the New Evangelization. Two of the speakers, Al Kresta and Dr. Ray Gaurendi, are well known and popular Catholic radio personalities. Both speakers can be heard regularly on local Redeemer Radio stations. Making full use of modern technology in the promotion of Marian devotion and Christian evangelization, the conference itself will be simulcast on the Jumbotron within the arena.

No one is turned away due to cost of participation of the conference.

For more information, visit www.queenofpeaceministries.com as well as their Facebook site, Queen of Peace Ministries for more details and times of the National Marian Conference.