VALPARAISO – The date has been set and the Diocese of Gary’s Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization, along with numerous volunteers, are preparing for the 2026 Emmaus Conference. After a successful inaugural event which saw close to 1,000 attendees in 2025, the faithful of Northwest Indiana are encouraged to save the date for this year’s conference which is scheduled for Aug. 22 at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso.
The Emmaus Conference is designed to be a transformative experience to inspire and equip individuals to live out the Gospel message in their daily lives.
“Emmaus is a reminder that we are not meant to live the Christian life in isolation,” Father Declan McNicholas said. “When we gather as a diocesan Church, we rediscover our shared mission and find strength in walking together.”
The director of missionary discipleship and evangelization said those on the planning committee have listened carefully to feedback and are looking for ways to improve hospitality flow and how to help participants carry what they receive back into their parish communities. He shared that “Emmaus is meant to be more than a one-day event; it is meant to spark ongoing conversion and mission.”
The heart of Emmaus will remain the same: Christ at the center, prayer as the foundation and a clear focus on missionary discipleship. The structure of keynote talks, breakout sessions, worship and Mass will continue. At the same time, being the second year allows the diocese to build on experience.
Father McNicholas said he enjoyed seeing people from across the Diocese of Gary gathered in one place with different parishes, cultures and generations united by a shared desire to encounter Christ and grow as missionary disciples. He noted there was a palpable sense of joy and expectation throughout the day.
“The conference was successful because it was rooted in prayer and real life,” Father McNicholas said. “The talks were accessible, the worship was reverent and people felt genuinely welcomed and included.”
Allison Maciejewski, of St. John, is just one member of the planning committee for the Emmaus event. Reflecting back to last year, she said there were many things that she enjoyed about that day, but it was being in the company of other faithful in Northwest Indiana that stood out most. With it being the first conference like it in the diocese, she said it was beautiful to see so many people come together on a Saturday to share their faith.
“The feel of the community that gathered was that of excitement and joy,” she said. “I particularly enjoyed adoration and the variety of speakers.”
Maciejewski explained the planning of the Emmaus Conference continues to be very intentional – trying to ensure that this experience touched men, women and both the English and Spanish speaking communities. The energy and number of volunteers added to its success.
Coming to any event with an unfamiliar layout and an abundance of people can seem extremely overwhelming, but Maciejewski said seeing so many bright t-shirts with the word “volunteer” written on them put people at ease. She said the abundance of smiling, welcoming volunteers singing and clapping as people entered the venue was “electrifying” last year.
There were volunteers throughout the entire venue to give directions, talk to those who were alone, or just be a steady presence ready to jump into action.
Maciejewski said, “Volunteers contribute to the success of this event and represent the hands and feet of Jesus. They build community and elevate the entire experience.”
The planning committee is looking closely at the experience the venue provides. The team learned that certain meeting spaces were better than others as far as acoustics and overall experience, so they will consider how to better utilize the venue’s physical space.
A major consideration of the committee is to secure engaging, inspirational speakers who are known by many in both the English and Spanish-speaking communities. Father McNicholas said this year’s speakers are not only excellent communicators but authentic witnesses. Each brings a distinct voice and set of gifts, yet all are deeply rooted in Scripture, Church teaching and lived discipleship.
The keynote speakers include: Jason Evert, a world-renowned speaker and best-selling author; Liz Kelly Stanchina, the community leader for Women’s Formation at Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire Institute; Father Agustino Torres, CFR, a priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the founder of Corazón Puro; and Mar Muñoz-Visoso, executive director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.
Father McNicholas said, “They understand the realities people are facing today and speak in a way that is both inspiring and practical. Attendees can expect talks that challenge, encourage and help them live the Gospel with greater intentionality.”
The committee is focusing a bit more this year on the youth and young adult experience. There will be two pre-conference events the night before to build excitement leading up to the conference.
Maciejewski said the Diocese of Gary is extremely intentional about making disciples and building God's kingdom. She commented that its programs are well thought out, engaging and inspirational.
“I know when I decide to participate in any diocesan event, I will come away feeling uplifted,” she said. “The Emmaus Conference provides a positive atmosphere that will leave you feeling filled with joy and closer to Jesus. We need more of these types of programs!”
Father McNicholas added that people leave personally renewed and encouraged, but they also leave with a clearer sense that they are part of something larger than themselves.
“Bringing people together from across the diocese helps us move forward with a shared vision, language and hope, recognizing Christ is truly alive and walking with us — like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,” he said.
For more information and to register for the Emmaus Conference, visit https://dcgary.org/emmaus.
