SCHERERVILLE – The Diocese of Gary CONFERENCE '26 Training and Renewal is just weeks away and will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The annual conference is held for lectors, Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults facilitators, ministers of care, music ministers, art and environment coordinators, hospitality/greeters and sacristans.
CONFERENCE ‘26 will take place on Friday, Nov. 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville. This year's theme is "From One Generation to the Next: Faithful To The Call."
Father Martin Dobrzynski is pastor at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville and has served as Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Gary since 1992. He helped initiate the first diocesan liturgical lay ministry conference in 1986 and continues on the conference planning committee.
Father Dobrzynski explained that the conference was formed as liturgical roles within the Church were expanded to include laity. He said the event was founded to train people not just how to do the mechanics, but to understand the spirituality and theology behind the actions.
“It was to train them and then to renew those people who had been in that ministry,” he said. “It was to give them a deeper understanding of what they're doing when they're reading the Word of God, or when they're cantoring, or when they're distributing Communion or visiting the sick.”
Father Dobrzynski acknowledged the number of faithful participating in the conference has varied over the years, but the diocese has preserved the event as, “there are always people that need to be trained.”
While parishes will train individuals on the basics, like where to stand and what to do, Father Dobrzynski described the conference as providing more intensive training.
“We always encourage those people who maybe have started to do a ministry, but only received practical training, that they should really receive this more expansive training,” he said.
Father Dobrzynski explained that for those just starting in ministry, the conference is an opportunity to build confidence and better understand how to integrate what they're doing with their spiritual life. For those who have been involved in ministries for many years, he said, CONFERENCE ‘26 is a good time for renewal.
“If they have been doing one of those liturgical ministries, I hope they receive a renewed sense of what it's about, and it leads them to a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord,” he said.
Father Dobrzynski will be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s conference that includes lectures in both English and Spanish. He was ordained in 1984 after earning a bachelor's degree in history from St. Meinrad College (1980) and a Master of Divinity from St. Meinrad School of Theology. In 1991, Father Dobrzynski received a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to his diocesan duties, he also served on the National Board of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions from 1997 to 2011.
Father Dobrzynski shared that his talk will discuss some of the history of lay people in the Church but will primarily focus on the current state of lay liturgical ministers or lay ministers. Recognizing there are not as many liturgical ministers or lay ministers as there were 15 years ago, he plans to review some of the challenges and provide some suggestions for the future.
“All of us should invite at least one person into the ministry that we're doing, because those younger people need to get involved,” he said. “They need to know that there's a place where they can be trained. It's not just ‘doing a favor for Father,’ but it's an invitation to a deeper spiritual understanding of their faith life.”
This year the conference committee added a “Pre-Conference Evening of Praise & Adoration” led by Father Ivan Alatorre with a special invitation to young adults on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.
Vicky Hathaway, coordinator for youth and young adults for the diocese, said adoration nights provide an opportunity to spend time with the Lord.
“We live in a noisy world with busy schedules and dealing with worries and anxieties,” she said. “Events like the adoration night give us time and space to rest in Jesus' arms and lay all of that burden down. They also remind us that we are not alone.”
Like all communities, Hathaway noted that everyone has a role to play, including youth and young adults. She pointed out that God has given each person unique gifts that only they can share, and that being involved in parish liturgy and fellowship events allows them to share those gifts with others.
Speaking to young Catholics, she said, “Your parish needs you! It needs your kindness, your voice, your intelligence, your joy, your faith! It needs you!”
As in previous years, the final day of the liturgical conference offers a variety of renewal/training sessions.
Deacon Jim Caristi, of St. Paul in Valparaiso, will lead a presentation for Ministers of Care. The formation will focus on bridging the gap between those who are ill or homebound and the Body of Christ gathered at Mass.
“We'll be talking about the theology of being a minister of care, the challenges to be faced, and the traits and characteristics of a good minister,” he said. “We'll share stories of what works well, as well as things to watch out for.”
Caristi also stressed that the conference is an opportunity for all people, even those already serving their parishes, to receive helpful formation and realize the joy of ministering effectively.
“There is always more to be learned,” he said. “The conference helps give them the confidence that they are doing what God created them for, and confidence that they can be effective.”
Participants can register at the CONFERENCE ‘26, but preregistration is encouraged. For more information and to view a brochure with a complete itinerary and list of sessions, visit dcgary.org/conference-26.
