2025 Diocesan Pastoral Conference
Tuesday, September 23 | Sauder Village, Archbold
On Tuesday, September 23, more than 450 priests, parish staff, and lay leaders from across the Diocese of Toledo gathered at Sauder Village in Archbold for the 10th Annual Diocesan Pastoral Conference. The day’s theme, “Set Apart: Pastoral Strategies to Form Holy Disciples in a Post-Christian World,” invited participants to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of evangelization in our present age.
The conference opened with prayer before participants welcomed keynote speaker Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. In his morning session, “Setting the Stage: Discipleship in a Post-Christian Age,” Msgr. Shea invited attendees to consider signs that the Church has moved from a Christendom model into a new Apostolic Age. He also reflected on the implications this shift has for passing on the faith to the next generation.
Following the keynote, participants chose from three dynamic breakout sessions:
– How to Become “Equal to the Apostles” with Msgr. Shea
– Developing a Culture of Prayer with Your Team with Msgr. Tad Oxley
– How to Use Your Story in Ministry with Pete Burak, Vice President of Renewal Ministries
In the afternoon, Msgr. Shea returned with his talk “Some Chief Temptations of Our Apostolic Age.” He invited participants to examine which temptations they see in themselves and how parish leaders might equip the faithful to resist these challenges with hope, courage, and fidelity.
The day concluded with prayer, fellowship, and gratitude for the sponsors who helped make the event possible: Hallow, Damascus, and Annunciation Radio.
Reflecting on the conference, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas shared on social media:
“On Tuesday at Sauder Village in Archbold, I had the joy of joining 450+ of our priests and parish staffs for the 10th Annual Diocesan Pastoral Conference. Our theme, ‘Set Apart: Pastoral Strategies to Form Holy Disciples in a Post-Christian World,’ reminded us of the urgency and the hope of our mission. Many thanks to our keynote speaker, Monsignor James Shea, as well as breakout speakers Monsignor Tad Oxley and Pete Burak, for their inspiring insights, and to our Pastoral Center team for a day filled with grace and fellowship. May the Lord bless our efforts to form holy disciples in the Diocese of Toledo!”
Attendees echoed the Bishop’s words, praising the conference as “spirit-filled,” “highly relevant and engaging,” and “one of the best conferences yet.” Participants especially appreciated the balance of practical strategies and spiritual renewal, Eucharistic Adoration, and the opportunity to connect with fellow leaders across the diocese.
One attendee summed up the day well:
“Excellent. I have learned a great deal personally, and that is equipping me to be better in my role as business manager at our parish. Thank you to Bishop Thomas for his servant leadership and to all those supporting the shared vision inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
The Diocese of Toledo gives thanks for this grace-filled day of renewal and looks forward to continuing the mission of forming holy, joyful, missionary disciples in our parishes and communities.
Posted September 25, 2025 at 2:29 pm