The 27th Annual Helena Diocesan Holy Spirit Conference is fast approaching. The weekend event – featuring Bishop George Leo Thomas and national speakers Deacon Alex Jones and Bill Richart – will be May 1-3 at Carroll College in Helena.

The conference offers something for the entire family, including a high school and middle school youth track, as well as a children’s ministry. The Reach Youth Ministry team of Washington state will lead the middle and high school youth track.

Early registration is encouraged to take advantage of discounted prices. Registration doesn’t include meals, with the exception of the middle and high school youth track. Until April 20, early registration costs are: adults and high school students, $40 per person; middle-school students, $12 per person and all college students with ID, $10 per person.

After April 20, registration increases to $50 for adults, $45 for high school, $23 for middle school students and $15 for college students with ID. Children are free, from infants to fifth grade. Adult and youth registrations are available in parishes and online at www.diocesehelena.org. For more information, contact Donna in the diocesan Pastoral Office at 406-442-5820, ext. 16.

This year, Saturday lunch and dinner are available at the Carroll College food service. The cost of Saturday lunch will be $8.50 per person; dinner is $9.50. The cost of children’s meals (under 12 years old) is $5.25 per child. Meals must be purchased via the conference registration form before April 23.


National speakers featured

Bishop Thomas will give the welcome address on Friday night.

Deacon Alex Jones of Michigan is the keynote speaker; he was ordained a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2005. He received his master’s in pastoral studies from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2007. Prior to his conversion to Catholicism, Deacon Jones was a self-described “on-fire” Pentecostal minister in Detroit. He, his wife, and other family and congregation members entered the Catholic Church in 2001.

Nationally known praise and worship leader Bill Richart, also of Michigan, will lead the music ministry team throughout the weekend. Richart leads parish missions, praise concerts, nights of healing, retreats and youth ministry, and led the music ministry for the National Charismatic Renewal Conference last year.

Conference organizers said the Reach Youth Ministry team of Washington will direct the youth track. Reach Youth Ministry is a Catholic, evangelistic, traveling retreat ministry that shares the Gospel in a relevant, genuine and engaging way with youth across the United States and Canada.

In addition to keynote presentations, the conference will include celebration of Eucharist on Saturday and Sunday, a healing service on Saturday night, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the sacrament of reconciliation.

Additional presenters for the 2009 conference are Father Bart Tolleson, parochial vicar for the Cathedral of St. Helena Parish, Father Marc Lenneman, director of campus ministry at Carroll College in Helena, and Father Eric Gilbaugh, administrator of Holy Family Parish in Three Forks and Valley of Flowers Mission Parish in Belgrade, Mont.

Make plans now to join others from throughout the Pacific Northwest on May 1-3 for a weekend of learning, singing, healing and growing in the Catholic faith.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 25, No. 3, March 20, 2009.