2025 National Conference

REGISTRATION 2:00 PM

Get checked-in and load up with everything you need for the conference. You'll receive your name badge, conference program, and some free stuff!

LIVE BROADCAST OF CA LIVE 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Watch the live broadcast of Catholic Answers Live with host Cy Kellett and our apologists. Attendees may ask their questions during the live show.

VINEYARD PARTNER RECEPTION 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

A special event for Catholic Answers Vineyard Partners. Private event – email [email protected] for more information.

OPENING PRAYER AND ANNOUNCEMENT 5:30 PM

Opening prayer and welcome to the Catholic Answers National Conference.

Talk 1 - Joe Heschmeyer: "The Gospel of the Kingdom": The Role of the Church in Evangelization - 5:45 PM

In Jesus's first words in the Gospel of Mark, He says, "the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). What is the role of the Church in evangelization? What is the relationship between proclaiming Christ the King and Good Shepherd, and His Kingdom and flock?

ADORATION 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join us for a holy hour of Adoration.

DAILY MASS 8:00 AM

Join us for morning Mass with Fr. Paul Check.

Talk 2 - Jimmy Akin: Come for the Ghosts stay for the Gospel: Unconventional Evangelization - 10:00 AM

Is every encounter with another person an opportunity to evangelize? A Catholic who tries to force a square peg in a round hole by pounding the table with a scriptural passage or doctrinal point in all his conversations is more likely to drive away a soul than win one, but a creative mind looks for opportunities throughout the day to plant a seed. Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World Podcast uses weird, strange, and unusual events and phenomena, to open the minds of his listeners to the supernatural and the "thing" that makes sense of the supernatural, the Catholic Faith. The same gentle unassuming and even stealthy techniques he uses on his podcast are invaluable tools for the evangelizing toolbox.

Talk 3 - Karlo Broussard: Marked for Mission: The Evangelizing Nature of Baptism - 11:30 AM

In commissioning the apostles to make disciples of all nations through baptism (Matt. 28:19), Christ reveals that baptism is essential to the Church's mission of evangelization—but He doesn't spell out how. In this talk, Karlo takes up that question and shows that baptism is far more than a personal rite of initiation: it is a sacramental commissioning into the very heart of the Church's mission to evangelize. He explores how the grace of baptism—and the indelible seal it imparts—calls and equips every Christian to share the Gospel, making evangelization not optional, but a defining mark of Christian identity.

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 12:15 PM

Break for lunch.

Talk 4 - David Anders: Evangelization according to Jesus - 2:00 PM

Christ's teaching, methods, and example are the model for all Christian evangelization. Studying these, we learn that Christ cared little about simply proving that he was right and concentrated instead of moving people from sin to righteousness. The parables, the sacraments, and the community of disciples were all tools for personal and communal moral transformation. Like Christ, true evangelists must prioritize transforming love over mere profession of belief. Otherwise, we risk becoming what St. Paul called "a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

Talk 5 - Amy E. Hamilton, PhD - 4:00 PM

EVENING MIXER 5:00 PM (FULL CONFERENCE ONLY)

Casual evening with good food and great fellowship.

APOLOGIST PANEL (SOCIETY 315 FIRESIDE CHAT) 7:00 PM

All Society 315 members are invited to join our Apologists for a Q&A panel.

DAILY MASS 8:00 AM

Holy Mass with Fr. Paul Check.

Talk 6 - Trent Horn: Normal, not "Normie": How to Evangelize (and not compromise) the Gospel - 10:00 AM

In this talk Trent walks us through how to navigate two extremes in the Church. The first are Catholics who care too much about how people feel and abandon truth in favor of sentimentality. The second are Catholics who care too little about how people feel and delight in offending others rather than leading them to Truth. Trent shows how Catholics should season their words (Col. 5:6) and present the truth in a compelling way.

Talk 7 - Tim Staples: Evangelism: Not Just a Nice Option—It is at the Core of who we are as Catholics - 11:30 AM

Drawing from Pope St. Paul VI's exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, this talk unpacks five points on why evangelization is not optional but central to our Catholic identity. The Gospel is a unique, necessary message meant to be proclaimed with clarity and conviction, not just by silent witness but through explicit testimony to Jesus Christ. This exhortation presents the essential keys to evangelization and dispels major myths that often derail the mission. You will find out what Pope St. Paul VI called "the greatest obstacle to evangelization of our time…" and receive a challenge that addresses any excuses. May each of us embrace our mission to evangelize "every strata" of every nation, every culture of the world with the Good News.

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 12:15 PM

Break for lunch.

Steve Dawson and Cy Interview: How to Talk About Jesus with Someone You Just Met - 1:30 PM

Catholic Answers Focus host, Cy Kellett sits down with Steve Dawson, president and founder of Saint Paul Street Evangelization to talk about how Catholics can overcome their hesitance and fulfill Christ's call to spread the gospel to all nations. Steve's vast experience will assure you that you don't need to be an extrovert or theological expert to share Jesus' saving message, and you can do it wherever you are—on a plane, in an elevator, while waiting on line at the grocery checkout. Steve and Cy will show you how to develop the right attitude toward evangelization, prepare your own personal message and strategy, and then put it all to work in the service of saving souls.

APOLOGIST BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3:00 PM

For the first time, we will be holding fun breakout sessions to help you hone your evangelizing and apologetics skills, and to add to the fun, participants won't know who is leading the session until it starts! Each session will be helmed by one of our speakers and will include Q and A, role playing, and all kinds of active audience participation. Topics include: Evangelizing on Your Doorstep, Evangelizing Strangers, Evangelizing Protestants, Evangelizing Techniques, Evangelizing Unbelievers, and Ask the President.

Banquet Dinner with Keynote - Chris Stefanick: Go Make Disciples: A Mission of Joy - 6:15 PM

Join us for our conference banquet with keynote speaker Chris Stefanick.

ROSARY 7:30 AM

Join us to pray the Rosary.

CLOSING MASS 8:00 AM

Join us for closing Mass with Fr. Paul Check.