2026 CFLA Conference
Join Catholic family life ministry leaders from across the country at the Catholic Family Life Association Annual Conference, Forged in Faith, taking place October 8–10 in Charleston, South Carolina. This year’s gathering invites participants to be renewed and strengthened for ministry through prayer, formation, and shared wisdom rooted in the enduring strength of our Catholic faith. Together, we will explore how families are formed, refined, and sustained by faith amid today’s challenges—equipped with practical tools, inspiring speakers, and meaningful opportunities for connection. Come be forged anew for the vital mission of serving families in the life of the Church.
Pre-Conference Training Opportunities
Some organizations will offer training for their programs on Thursday before the conference starts. Click the links below for more information and to register for the training.
Agapè- Training and Certification Workshop for Leaders in Quinceañera Preparation
Holy Cross Family Ministries- Marriage Illuminated Date Night Leader Training
FOCCUS- More Information Coming Soon
Meet Our Keynote Speakers
Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a missionary and storyteller who travels the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. She is the author of seven books about Scripture and the Saints and currently works as a campus minister at the University of Notre Dame. When she’s not obsessively googling obscure Saints, trying to convince people to read Scripture, or driving appalling distances while listening to audiobooks on double speed, she loves watching the Olympics and spending time with her nieces, nephews, and godchildren.
John Brahier
John Brahier is the Director of Partnerships at Longbeard. In this role, he supports institutions and developers who are seeking to leverage Longbeard's Catholic AI tools to support the evangelizing mission of the Church. He supports the on-going internal evaluation efforts within Longbeard to ensure that the Catholic AI solutions being built are mission-aligned, effective, and positively impacting the Church. With ten years of experience in the Catholic education and ministry sector - including eight years combined at Divine Child High School and the Archdiocese of Detroit, he brings an deep understanding and love of the Church and a spirit of innovation and missionary zeal to his work. John and his wife (Ann) live in Harper Woods, where they are raising their five children.
Deacon Tim Lynch
Deacon Tim brings a deep well of experience as a mental health counselor and a faithful servant of the Church. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Divine Mercy University and is a Certified Traumatologist through the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology. His clinical expertise includes advanced training in complex trauma, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention.
In addition to his professional qualifications, Deacon Tim brings a pastoral heart and a personal commitment to serving those who serve the Church. Based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Anita, he is a proud father and grandfather who values accompaniment, healing, and hope.
Shaunti Feldhahn
Shaunti received her graduate degree from Harvard University and was an analyst on Wall Street before unexpectedly becoming a social researcher and best-selling author. Today, she applies her analytical skills to investigate eye-opening, life-changing truths about relationships, both at home and in the workplace.
Her groundbreaking books, such as For Women Only, Thriving in Love & Money, and her Find series of devotionals, have sold more than 3 million copies in 25 languages. Her research is regularly featured in media as diverse as The Today Show, Focus on the Family, The New York Times and iMom. Shaunti and her family live in Atlanta and enjoy every moment of life at warp speed.
Bishop Jorge Rodriguez
Doctor in Sacred Theology by the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome. Dean of the Theology Department of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome (1994-1997). He has taught Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, at the Pontifical Institute Regina Mundi and at the Institute for Religious Sciences at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Associate pastor at Stella Maris parish, in Rome. From 2006 to 2014 he was Vice Rector and Professor at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary of Denver. He was appointed Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Thornton, CO., in 2014. On November 4, 2016 he was consecrated auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Denver.
Breakout Speakers and Sessions
“Building Better Families: Boundaries and Technology”
Presented by Irene Chambers
This session will present information and statistics on screen time, the impact of social media on youth mental
health, and AI’s rapid growth, framed through the lens of the Church’s call to human flourishing. Focus of the
presentation will be: core teachings of the Church; practical challenges and family realities; common issues;
age-specific guidelines; a suggested family challenge; and responsible practices around AI.
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“From Arrival to Belonging: Catholic Pastoral Care for Immigrant Families”
Presented by Carla Ferrando-Bowling
This session explores helping immigrant families move from hospitality to belonging through Gospel values
and Catholic social teaching. Participants will examine pastoral and cultural challenges, intercultural ministry,
language access, leadership, and trust-building. Through discussion, real-life examples, and shared pastoral
practices, attendees will gain tools for creating welcoming, inclusive parish communities that foster dignity,
solidarity, and accompaniment and help immigrant families move from simply arriving at our churches to fully
belonging within the Body of Christ.
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“Hope Does Not Disappoint: Rebuilding Marriage through Truth, Healing, and Eucharistic Hope”
Presented by Greg Schutte, MSW, LISW-S
This workshop will explore the "Red Herrings" that Satan uses to destroy personal, and eventually, marital joy,
unity, and hope. Then we will discuss the importance of helping couples rebuild hope for their marriage as well
as a path for couples to rebuild and strengthen their marriages while connecting their journey with the
sacrament of the Eucharist.
“Expanding Pro-Life Support through fertility-related grief ministry”
Presented by Whitney Whitmore
This workshop explores the often-overlooked pastoral needs of families experiencing infertility, prenatal
diagnosis, pregnancy loss, and infant loss. Participants will examine the prevalence and lasting impact of
fertility-related grief, identify opportunities for grief-informed pastoral care, and discover practical ways Catholic
parishes and apostolate ministries can accompany families through prayer, education, remembrance, and
compassionate support—making Christ's love visible while strengthening a culture of life from conception to
natural death.
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“Forged in Faith Together: Inviting and Accompanying Families to Lifelong, Life-Changing Faith”
Presented by Kristen Fisher
What does it look like to invite and accompany families toward lifelong, life-changing faith? Come experience it
for yourself! Participate in a “mini-retreat” and discover how Family Mini-Retreats can help parishes put the
vision of the marriage catechumenate into practice. Together, we’ll explore the simple principles behind
creating family-inclusive experiences that foster encounter, conversion, discipleship, and community—and
equip families to keep growing in faith together, at every age and stage.
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Young Adult Ministry: The "Propaedeutic" Stage of the Marriage Catechumenate
Presented by Linda Ji
Young adulthood is a formative time of vocational discernment and when many expect to marry. Yet Catholic
young adult ministers usually do not identify themselves as marriage ministers. Some gaps in priestly formation
have been addressed through recent implementation of the propaedeutic year of seminary formation. Let’s
explore how marriage & family ministry can intentionally bridge young adult ministry as a “propaedeutic” stage
toward the marriage catechumenate.
Healing the Fractured Family: A Strategic Roadmap for Restoring the Divorced to Fullness of Life and Mission
Presented by Carolyn Klika Catino
Behind every divorce is a person carrying grief, questions, and a longing for hope. Discover how the Church
can respond with more than crisis management by creating a pathway of accompaniment, healing, and
restoration. This session introduces the Abounding Joy Framework—a practical model combining ministry
training, healing outreach, and the Build a New Life Workshop to help parishes welcome the wounded, restore
hope, and reconnect hearts to Christ.
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“From Singles to Sacrament: Building a Faithful Foundation for Catholic Dating and Marriage Prep”
Presented by Joseph and Crystal Gruber
Pope Pius XI wrote in Casti Connubii, "To the proximate preparation of a good married life belongs very
specially the care in choosing a partner; on that depends a great deal whether the forthcoming marriage will
be happy or not." This presentation will be on how to prepare young adults for dating and marriage with what
marriage ministries already offer.
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“We Never Taught Them How to Love: Relationship Formation in Modern Family Ministry”
Presented by Kenneth Cramer
Many of today’s family challenges are rooted in a deeper crisis of human relationship. While society excels at
forming people academically and professionally, it often fails to teach friendship, communication,
vulnerability, sacrifice, and lasting love. This presentation explores how family ministry can move beyond
programs and events toward relationship-based formation, offering practical models for accompaniment,
mentorship, and community that strengthen marriages, families, and parish life.
Shepherding From Fulfillment, Not From Exhaustion
Presented by Karen Flores
Marriage and Family Life leaders are called to accompany and serve others, but consistent service can lead to
burnout. This session presents self-care as an essential pastoral responsibility. Integrating human formation,
emotional well-being, and Catholic spirituality, participants will discover practical tools to renew their
strength, strengthen their relationships, and cultivate a healthy lifestyle that allows them to serve with greater
joy, balance, and fulfillment.
Conference Scholarship Application
If you want to attend this year’s conference but need financial assistance, we want to help. Please fill out this application to let us know how we can help.
Feeling Called to Donate?
If you would like to donate to a scholarship fund for those who wish to attend this year’s conference but cannot afford it, you are welcome to send a check to CFLA at the below P.O. Box address. These funds will go to family ministers and priests who need financial assistance to attend. Thank you for your generosity!
Please send all checks to:
Catholic Family Life Association
P.O. Box 72
North Uxbridge, MA 01538
Hotel Information- North Charleston Marriott
A remarkable transformation has taken this beautiful hotel into the next generation of travel. Experience the redesigned Marriott in North Charleston, blending modern technology and southern style.
Use the link below to register.
https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1775752780811&key=GRP&app=resvlink
