This year’s The Hour of the Laity Conference (THL2024): Lumen Gentium (November 7-9th at Christ Cathedral, Orange County, CA) will build upon the success of last year’s conference. It expands upon how the laity, as members of Christ’s body, His Church, have a role in being “A Light to the Nations” by bringing Christ’s light into the world through their vocation as a leader in society.
“I really think this is the hour of the laity. I'm really convinced about that.” (Bishop Olmsted, para. 377) from the recently published book, "Bishop Olmsted, on Life, Faith, and Leadership."
THL2024 is a national gathering for all lay Catholics who seek to grow as leaders to influence civil society with positive, healthy values grounded in truth and faith. It provides Catholic leadership formation to strengthen and prepare the laity to become ambassadors of Christ in our day-to-day lives and the secular world. The experts, panelists, and keynotes are lay people who positively impact society and are sound examples of authentic lay Catholic leadership.
This conference is for all lay Catholic leaders who come from many different professions, educational backgrounds, ages and statuses in life but are united in wanting to learn more about responding to God’s call to sainthood as a layperson.
Each year, several Saints and Servants of God (those in consideration for Canonization) are identified as patron saint role models, and we request intercessory prayers for the conference's success. When we asked Bishop Olmsted for saints or future saints who were lay people demonstrating these virtues, two immediately came to mind:
Saint Gianna Molla. Her great example as a wife, as a medical doctor, and as a mother - joyful in all of those vocations and freely giving her life for the sake of the child. So, she would be one that I think is very, very important. I am also struck by [Blessed] Carlo Acutis, a young Italian boy; his love for the Eucharist as a teenager is very powerful. (Bishop Olmsted, para. 379)
Blessed Carlo Acutis led others to Christ and ignited their passion for Christ by the way he lived his life and his love of the Eucharist. Although he lived a short life, dying from Leukemia when only 15 years old in 2006, he left a lasting legacy through the use of his computer skills to build a website documenting Eucharistic Miracles. During his life, he showed a particular interest in helping those in need. After Carlo’s death, there were two miracles attributed to Carlo’s intercession: one was the healing in 2013 of a severe pancreatic birth defect challenging the life of a four-year-old boy in Brazil; the second was the healing of a traumatic brain injury of a young woman from a biking accident in 2022 when her mother prayed for her at Carlo’s tomb in Assisi.
On July 1, 2024, Pope Francis approved the promulgation of Canonization, providing a pathway for Carlo to become the first Millennial saint in 2025, a Jubilee year of the Church. His love of the Eucharist continues to inspire millions around the world, including here in the United States, as we see the flame of light and hope spread across the nation in support of the National Eucharistic Congress.
The more we receive [the Eucharist], the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of Heaven.” (Blessed Carlo Acutis)
At THL2024, we aim to keep that flame burning by encouraging, enlightening and enabling lay Catholic leaders to bring Christ’s light to families, businesses and professional settings. We pray for continued growth in holiness and success in business ventures for all who attend!
Note: Saint Gianna Molla was featured in last year’s THL2023 Patron Saint Series: Help in Finding Meaning and Purpose. We are grateful for all the prayers that made THL2023 a success. We look forward to continuing that success in 2024 through the intercessory prayers of saints and the engagement of lay Catholic leaders!
Stay tuned for future articles to learn more about Saints and Servants of God role models.
Blessed Carlo Acutis – pray for us, St. Gianna Molla – pray for us
THL2024 Saints Series is sponsored by our friends at Catholic Prayer Cards.
Visit all our great Sponsors!
Catholic Association of Latino Leaders
Catholic Charities of Orange County
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Hoffman & Associates Building Corporation
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