Fullness of Truth Conference draws faithful with nationally known speakers

Theologian and Catholic apologist Scott Hahn headlined a panel of nationally known speakers at the Fullness Of Truth conference in Corpus Christi, June 27-28. Entitled "The Family Fully Alive: the Word of God and the Household of Faith," the conference drew hundreds to the American Bank Center.

The conference was held shortly after the US Supreme Court issued its ruling on marriage and many of the scheduled topics directly addressed the issue. In his homily at the Mass celebrated at the conference, Bishop Michael Mulvey said the court's ruling "changed nothing" for the Church.

The court, the bishop said, "can't change the laws of God. God created men and women, we can't change that." The bishop said, his words were not a criticism or judgment of the court, they were merely the fact.

"It is not a time for despair, it is a call to faith," Bishop Mulvey said. "Let's live what we believe."

Hahn is the founder, president and chairman of the board of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He is is one of the world’s most successful Catholic authors and teachers. Hahn, who earned a doctorate in systematic theology from Marquette University, is the general editor of the "Ignatius Study Bible" and is author or editor of more than 20 books, including "Consuming the Word: The New Testament;" "The Eucharist in the Early Church;" "Understanding the Scriptures;" and "The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth."

The conference kicked off on Friday, June 26, with a dinner at the OMNI Hotel with Hahn as the keynote speaker. Rimon Makhlouf, a Christian tour guide from the Holy Land, was a special guest at the benefit dinner and spoke at the conference. Rimon was the tour guide for Bishop Michael Mulvey during his 2013 pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Hahn opened the conference of Saturday with a talk on "The Joy of the Gospel: The New Evangelization Begins at Home." On Saturday afternoon, Hahn spoke about "Evangelizing Catholics: The Bible, the Eucharist and the Marriage Covenant."

Another conference speaker was Michael Barber, with a doctorate in theology from Fuller in Pasadena, California. Barber’s dissertation was on the "Historical Jesus and Sacramental Eschatology." He is the author of several books, including, "Coming Soon: Unlocking the Book of Revelation and Applying Its Lessons Today" and, most recently, "Genesis to Jesus: Studying Scripture from the Heart of the Church." He is a Senior Fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Barber's presentation was on "Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Law and His Teaching on Marriage in Matthew." On Sunday he spoke on " The Holy Family as the Model for the Christian Family."

John Bergsma, an associate professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, spoke on "Building Holy Families: Lessons from Genesis." Bergsma, a Protestant pastor before entering the Catholic Church in 2001, is the author of "The Jubilee from Leviticus to Qumran" and "Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History." On Sunday, Bergsma spoke on "Seven Habits of Holy, Effective Catholic Families."

Brant Pitre, a professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, earned his doctorate in theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the study of the New Testament and ancient Judaism. He is the author of several articles and the books "Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile;" "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist;" and "Jesus the Bridegroom." Pitre made a presentation on "What God Has Joined: Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce and Remarriage." He also presented on "Wives Do What! Ephesians 5 and St. Paul’s Life-Changing Vision of the Christian Family."

In addition to the various sessions, attendees were able to pray the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and participate in Adoration and Benediction.

Fullness of Truth is a non-profit corporation and lay Catholic apostolate dedicated to facilitating the “New Springtime of Evangelization,” St. John Paul II initiated. Their regional family conferences and local parish-based events feature the "very best Catholic evangelists," and through the offering of faith-building resources at its book and gift stores, they "invoke and assist the Holy Spirit in planting the seeds of this New Evangelization."

Photos by Ervey Martinez


Dinner photos by Luisa Scolari