Athlone conference
Keeping the faith in the 21st century.
About this event
What's it about?
At this year’s conference, commemorating the 1500th anniversary of St Bridget's death, a panel of speakers will explore the relevance of this great saint today. In the increasingly pagan Ireland in which we find ourselves let us explore the apostolic zeal and power of prayer that supported St Bridget in converting Ireland to enable us to be faithful apostles carrying the torch of faith in our country today. Fr Sherry will outline how St Bridget helped to secure the country’s initial conversation from paganism to Catholicism and the virtues that exemplified the saint’s life which are as necessary today to live out our Catholic faith. A SSPX sister will discuss the necessity of the contemplative life of a religious, a hidden but powerful daily supplication to God supporting every missionary endeavour. Mrs Connolly will outline how a woman can devote herself to her greatest mission in life; the protection, nourishment and supporting of life exemplifying how the true notion of the feminine nature can be reclaimed and lived in the world today. Mr Kennedy Hall will give the final talk explaining how the SSPX; a missionary society adhering to the perennial Faith of the Church, devoted to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the restoration of the Catholic priesthood carries this missionary spirit forward in the pagan world today in the same spirit of the first missionaries in Ireland to restore all things in Christ.
St Bridget of Kildare is credited with pioneering female monastic life in Ireland and together with St Patrick and St. Colmcille is one of the country’s three patron saints. St Bridget was born during the lifetime of St Patrick and founded the first convent in Ireland. Her convent greatly prospered and many of her nuns had been sent by her to make new foundations in other parts of the island, for the instruction of the pagans converted by the preaching of St Patrick. St Bridget was very active assisting those who needed help whilst devoting much time to prayer and maintaining continual interior recollection.
Adults 18 and older must register to attend.
Child-minding Service
A child-minding service for children 4 - 14 years will be available. If you plan on leaving your children without supervision at any point in the day you MUST register your child here.
Accommodation
This is a day-only conference, all lodging must be booked independently of the event organisation. It is advisable to book early.
Meals
-Tea/Coffee and evening buffet food are included in the conference cost.
-You must make your own arrangements for breakfast and lunch.
Q&A
A Q&A session with the speakers will form part of the conference. If you have questions you would like addressed, please put them in writing to [email protected].
Raffle
Tickets can be purchased here or at the conference, which means you don't have to attend the conference to win.
Thank you for your generosity!
Travel
- Car parking facilities are available at the venue.
About the Speakers
Fr. David Sherry - The Spread of the Faith in Ireland
Fr. Sherry is the District Superior of UK, Ireland & Scandinavia. He was born in 1981 in Cavan, Ireland. He entered the Seminary of St. Curé d'Ars, Flavigny, France in 2001 and was ordained priest at the Seminary of St. Pius X, Ecône, Switzerland in 2007. The first five years of priesthood saw postings in St. Michael's School in Burghclere, Carluke in Scotland, and then Athlone in Ireland as prior. In 2013, Fr. Sherry was appointed headmaster of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, New Hamburg, Canada. In 2020 he was then made District Superior of Canada until 2024 when he was appointed District Superior of Great Britain & Ireland.
A SSPX Sister - The Religious Life in a Pagan World
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Society of Saint Pius X was founded in 1974, when the first sister received the religious habit. Their activities facilitate and complete the apostolate of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X in priories, missions, schools, retreat houses, retirement and nursing homes or seminaries. In addition to household tasks, the Sisters undertake a variety of works: teaching in schools, offering catechism classes in schools and parishes, running camps and summer activities, directing parish choirs and women’s groups, etc. The founders, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and Mother Marie-Gabriel Lefebvre, his sister, were both missionaries in the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
Mrs. Gina Connolly - Reclaiming Feminity
Gina has a Degree and a Masters in Theology from the Pontifical University, Maynooth where she also studied History and Latin. She has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Ulster, Coleraine. Gina has taught at primary and second level schools and at third level where she specialised in Dogmatic Theology and Religious Education methodology. While her oldest children were pre-school, she worked as a freelance journalist and writer for Catholic publications and as an occasional speaker at conferences, where time allowed. She is a mother of six and is currently a full-time Mum to her four youngest children, whom she home educates.
Mr. Kennedy Hall - The Missionary Society of the SSPX
Kennedy Hall is a Catholic author, journalist, podcast host and broadcaster. He is the author of two books, Terror of Demons: Reclaiming Traditional Catholic Masculinity and Lockdown with the Devil. He has a growing YouTube channel where he hosts The Kennedy Report. He is married with a growing family and lives in Ontario, Canada.
Agenda
- 08:00 - 09:00 Low Mass – Corpus Christi (CC) church, Connaught Gardens, Athlone
- 09:00 - 09:30 Parents to drop-off children at CC church hall for child-minding service
- 10:00 Conference begins – The Sheraton Hotel, Athlone
- 10:05 Fr. Patrick Abbet: Opening Address
- 10:15 Fr. David Sherry - The Spread of the Faith in Ireland
- 11:00 Break for Tea
- 11:45 SSPX Sister - The Religious Life in a Pagan World
- 12:30 - 14:30 Lunch (BYO) - parents to collect/leave back children from CC church hall
- 14:30 Mrs. Gina Connolly - Reclaiming Femininity
- 15:15 Mr. Kennedy Hall - The Missionary Society of the SSPX
- 16:00 Q&A
- 16:00 - 16:30 Parents to collect children from CC church hall
- 16:30 Rosary
- 17:15 Fr. Patrick Abbet - Final Word
- 17:30 Close of Conference - Raffle & evening buffet
