Join us as we celebrate four decades of pastoral care, fellowship, and prayerful, mutual support.
COURAGE & ENCOURAGE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
July 25 – 26, 2020
ONLINE THIS YEAR!
Click here to view the conference flyer
Important update for our members regarding COVID-19 and the
Annual Courage & EnCourage Conference
Due to the ongoing safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to gather in person for this year's Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference, which was originally scheduled to take place late July at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. The State governor's plan to reopen Illinois business and institutions will not permit large groups to gather until a vaccine is identified, thus prohibiting us from moving forward with our plans for this year's conference.
Over the years, our Annual Conference has become our yearly family reunion. It is where our members can freely express their joys, struggles, and successes with those who understand their experience, and who share their commitment to growing in holiness. It is an understatement to say that we are disappointed by these developments, especially since it means we will not be able to celebrate our 40th anniversary with you in person.
However, thanks to modern technology, we will be able to move forward with our Annual Conference online, featuring keynote speakers on each of the Five Goals, witness testimonies, and time for shared prayer and discussion. We also invite regional chapters to consider hosting Annual Conference "viewing parties" for local Courage and EnCourage members.
Know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to finally seeing you in person next year!
CONFERENCE PRESENTERS
Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
Fr. Philip Bochanski has served as Executive Director of Courage International, Inc. since January 1, 2017. Father was Chaplain for the Courage apostolate in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for five years, before being appointed to the position of Associate Director in January 2015. An award-winning author, he has written and edited several books, audio series, and articles on various aspects of Church history, catechesis and spirituality. In 2019, Pope Francis awarded Father Bochanski the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, given in recognition of “sustained and exceptional service” to the Church.
Fr. Colin Blatchford
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Knoxville in 2014, Father Blatchford received his B.A. in philosophy from Ave Maria University in 2006, and completed his seminary training at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Father Blatchford began serving as Associate Director of the Courage apostolate on September 8, 2020. Prior to receiving the appointment, Father Blatchford had been the Chaplain for Courage and EnCourage in his home Diocese of Knoxville, a position which he held for two and a half years. He has been aware of the work of Courage for 15 years, since first meeting Fr. Harvey at Ave Maria University in Florida.
Mary Rice Hasson, J.D.
Mary Rice Hasson, is the Kate O’Beirne Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where she directs the Catholic Women’s Forum, a network of Catholic professional women and scholars. Mary is also co-founder of the Person and Identity Project, an initiative that equips parents and faith-based institutions with the resources they need to counter gender ideology and promote the truth about the human person. An attorney and policy expert, Mary has been a keynote speaker for the Holy See during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, addressing education, women and work, caregiving, and gender ideology. Mary and her husband Seamus Hasson have seven grown children, and one granddaughter.
Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM
Fr. Ricardo was born into a Catholic family of both Salvadoran and Mexican descent and is a native of San Diego, California. He joined the Fathers of Mercy as a postulant in July of 2008 and, following his one-year novitiate, he professed his first year of temporary vows of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity on August 14, 2009. He graduated from Holy Apostles College and Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Fathers of Mercy in May of 2013. For three years, he served as an associate pastor of four small parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville. In June of 2016, he was reassigned to the Fathers of Mercy Mission Band. He also currently serves as the community’s Treasurer General.
Fr. Malachy Joseph Napier, CFR
Fr. Malachy is originally from Georgia, the second oldest of eight children in the family – six boys and two girls. In 2008 he joined the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, making his final vows in 2014, and being ordained to the priesthood just last year in May of 2020. During seminary he focused his studies on the anthropology of John Paul II and Edith Stein, which culminated in writing a thesis on the topic of sexual identity and gender ideology from the Catholic perspective. In his final year of seminary, he was blessed to work with Courage and receive formation and experiences that have shaped his priesthood already. Currently he serves in the CFR's mission in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where his principle work is with youth and prisoners.
Deacon Patrick Lappert, MD
Patrick W. Lappert, MD, is chaplain for Courage in the Diocese of Birmingham and divides his time between his private practice of plastic surgery and serving as deacon at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church in Decatur, Alabama. Deacon Lappert was raised in a Jewish home, but lived most of his adult life as an atheist. He converted and was received into the Catholic Church in 1995. As a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Lappert established the Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgery Unit, as well as the Wound Care Center for the largest medical-treatment facility in the world. A veteran of the Naval Service, he retired with the rank of Captain, USN, after serving for twenty-four years. He also served for three years with the United States Marine Corps, flying in the F4 Phantom with VMFA-451. Deacon Lappert has been married to Patrice Ann Oberst for thirty-four years. They have six grown children.
Registration: All registrants will be screened for approval and will receive an email notification once approved, usually within 24 hours. If you do not receive this email after 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If the email isn’t there, contact us here. Registrants must be 18 or older.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
Donation: In these trying times, we know that cost may be an obstacle. We are happy to announce, for this year only, a “pay what you can” conference fee. Registrants may click on the PayPal button below and select One Time Donation. Please write “2020 Conference” in the “Write a note” section of the donation form.
Suggested Conference Donation:
US$ 25.00 per person or per household
You are welcome to donate more, if you wish.
Amounts over $25 will be issued
a tax acknowledgment letter.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Download PDF of schedule here.
*Times are listed as EDT.
**Important note: Due to limited space and privacy considerations, breakout sessions are reserved ONLY for members of Courage (adults 18 years and older who experience same-sex attractions and choose to live by the Five Goals of Courage) and EnCourage (families and friends of those persons who identify as LGBT, who choose to live by the Five Goals of EnCourage). Thank you for your understanding.
Saturday – July 25, 2020
TIME* |
ACTIVITY |
SPEAKER |
| 12:00 – 12:15 pm | Introduction | Fr. Philip G. Bochanski |
| 12:15 – 1:00 pm | Goal 1: Chastity | Fr. Sean Kilcawley, STL |
| 1:15 – 2:00 pm | Goal 2: Prayer & Dedication | Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR |
| 2:15 – 3:00 pm | Break | |
| 3:00 – 4:45 pm | Breakout Sessions** (Each breakout is exclusively for those indicated by breakout title.) • Courage Men • Courage Women • EnCourage (General) • EnCourage Gender Identity Questions • Ministry Personnel Networking/Discussion (3:15 – 4:15 pm) • Courage Español • EnCourage Español |
Moderators • Fr. Donavan Labbe and Fr. Paul Scalia • Fr. Raphael Salzillo, OP • Fr. Dave Leon, Fr. Nathan Reesman, and Fr. Eric Rodrigues • Deacon Patrick Lappert • Margaret Hendricks • Fr. Victor DeLuna • Fr. Richard Samour |
| 4:45 – 5:30 pm | Goal 3: Fellowship | Dr. Stephen Hopkins |
| 8:00 – 10:00 pm | Activities (Prayer room, Social room, etc.) | Various Hosts – TBD |
Sunday – July 26, 2020
TIME* |
ACTIVITY |
SPEAKER |
| 12:00 – 12:15 pm | Introduction | Fr. Philip G. Bochanski |
| 12:15 – 1:00 pm | Goal 4: Support | Deacon Hilmar Pabel, Ph.D. |
| 1:15 – 2:00 pm | Goal 5: Good Example | Member Testimonies |
| 2:15 – 3:00 pm | Break | |
| 3:00 – 4:45 pm | Breakout Sessions** (Each breakout is exclusively for those indicated by breakout title.) • Courage Men and Women • EnCourage (General) – Love in All Seasons • EnCourage and Courage Men (ALREADY FULL) • EnCourage and Courage Women (ALREADY FULL) • Courage Español • EnCourage Español |
Moderators • Fr. Philip G. Bochanski and Fr. Colin Blatchford • Mary Rice Hasson • Fr. Peter Ryan, SJ • Rilene S. • Fr. Victor DeLuna • Fr. Richard Samour |
| 4:45 – 5:30 pm |
Brazen Chastity and the Gift of Self Español: The Importance of the Five Goals of Courage in Our Pursuit of Holiness |
Sr. Helena Burns, FSP Fr. Richard Samour |
The conference will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.
Zoom Instructions
We encourage attendees to familiarize themselves with the Zoom webinar platform by reading Zoom Basics for Webinar Attendees. Each registrant, upon approval, will be emailed an Annual Conference Webinar Confirmation which will include a unique access link for online attendance and participation. This approval/confirmation email will be emailed to you within 24 hours of registering. If you do not receive this email after 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If the email isn’t there, contact us here.
Celebrating 40 Years of Ministry!
This year, the Courage Apostolate is celebrating a very special milestone of 40 years of ministry. We humbly thank God for the solid foundation He has laid in this apostolate through the faithful, tireless ministry of its founding director Fr. John F. Harvey OSFS, and through the dedicated, generous leadership of both Fr. Paul Check and our current director Fr. Philip G. Bochanski. We’re grateful for all who have served and participated in this Christ-centered, sacramental community and who continue to do so, especially the members of Courage and EnCourage, whose quiet lives of virtue, holiness, and commitment to both truth and love set an example to all the world and the Church. May the Lord continue to bless our apostolate for another 40 years!