For Our Searching Souls

The Christ Our Life Conference, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2020 was a beautiful, life affirming event. We heard world-class speakers, celebrated Mass, experienced Reconciliation, visited Jesus in Adoration, and filled our spirits with music, prayer and rejoicing! Stay tuned for information about the 2022 Conference. Due to restrictions put on us by Covid 19, we still have a significant budget shortfall. Will you consider donating?

Please consider a generous tax deductible donation to aid our ministry in bringing souls to Christ.  Thank you!

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“This experience has changed me immensely. I now understand the importance of Christ in my life. The whole experience just makes me want to be a better person and revolve everything around the glory of God.”

“There were children, seniors, religious and felons, all races, converts and cradle Catholics, and maybe even a few non-Catholics, people from every walk of life…all worshipping God together for two days. It doesn’t get any better than that on earth.”

“A gentleman drove his wife to the conference and told her that he would be going back to the hotel to rest and watch sports on TV. A speaker caught his attention; he never left the conference and was back again the next day for the entire event.”

BLOG POSTS

Mary's mealsMary's Meals
November 27, 2020

Little Acts of Love

Did you see  "Love Reaches Everywhere" at the conference? The title “Love Reaches Everywhere” was inspired by words Ellen created for a Mary’s Meals t-shirt. Whether you saw it or not, it is worth watching again for a spiritual and joyful boost as you head into Advent. You will find it at the end of this post. What you may not realize is how Mary's Meals and the Christ Our Life…
Karen Quiner 0
Love0
Daily Reading Reflection
November 7, 2020

“Bring To Me What You Have”

By: Jean Severson That busy time of year is upon us.  It’s November already, we are eight months into a pandemic, we voted, kids are in school, we gained an hour (of what??) and the holidays are right around the corner.  Sometimes the feeling of ‘there isn’t enough time’ beckons its beat into our already overloaded bodies and minds.  There just isn’t enough time…. In February of this year, 2020,…
Guest Contributor 3
Love0
AdorationChrist Our Life 2020
November 1, 2020

Come Let Us Adore Him

One of the highlights of the Christ Our Life Conference is always the hour of adoration on Saturday night. It is so powerful to be in the darkened arena worshiping our Lord with a multitude of true believers. One of the surprises this year, and a clear sign of God’s wonderful creativity, was the way adoration blessed so many of you online! Of course we all would have preferred to…
Karen Quiner 2
Love0
Christ Our Life IowaMarriage and Family
October 23, 2020

Bearing with one another through love

The reading for today, Friday, October 23rd, is from Ephesians 4: 1-6 and, it brings to mind the talk from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers on day one of our conference. Deacon Harold was talking about marriage, and particularly the incredible stresses put on the family during the Covid pandemic. People are worried about jobs, their kids' schooling and so much more. And in addition to the stress of the pandemic, people…
Karen Quiner 2
Love0
Christ Our Life 2020
October 17, 2020

Preparing the Way

Driving through downtown Des Moines, I am stopped at the corner by Wells Fargo arena on a sunny, warm fall day. Colorful leaves skitter across the road; the breeze teases a longer summer; and pollen triggers my allergies. Looking at the arena – empty now – I remember the late August day when a small team gathered at that same corner to pray the rosary to prepare the arena for…
Patty Fredrichs 9
Love0
Divine MercyVatican II
October 11, 2020

Chaos, Vatican II, and Mercy

My husband Tom and I took a day trip yesterday to enjoy the leaves and the glorious Iowa countryside.  One of the things we did in the car was listen to a video by Fr. Michael Gaitley, a Marian Priest. The previous evening we had watched a  video entitled “Bakhita, From Slave to Saint.” These two things, the video and the talk by Fr. Gaitley, were an amazing and inspiring…
Karen Quiner 0
Love0
Christ Our Life IowaChrist Our Life 2020
October 3, 2020

I Am Still Riding a Spiritual High

How about you? It has been a week since COL 2020 and I am still buzzing from the joy and the excitement of the weekend. The Holy Spirit was such a strong presence. I could feel it and so many people have expressed the same thing to me. Rob Carey, Conference Coordinator One thing that has happily surprised me was hearing from people who were unable to attend in person…
Rob Carey 8
Love0
Daily Reading Reflection
October 1, 2020

Christ lives. Alleluia!

I find yesterday's reading from Job to be so hopeful and so comforting during these seemingly chaotic times. It fits so beautifully with the strong message received over and over during the conference this past weekend. "Be not afraid!" I use the word "seemingly" not because we are imagining the turmoil, but because as Christians, we don't have to live in the chaos. We can choose, sometimes with a force…
Karen Quiner 2
Love0

SPEAKERS FOR THE 2020 CONFERENCE

Father Donald Calloway, MIC

From affiliation with a foreign mafia to drug use and incarceration,  Fr. Don’s stunning conversion is mesmerizing. Now an international author, leader of devotion to St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, Divine Mercy, the Holy Rosary (and talented surfer) he motivates countless souls.

Sister Miriam James, SOLT

Sr. Miriam passionately conveys that every person is deeply and unconditionally loved. After facing trauma, addiction and emotional emptiness as a young adult, despite popularity and athletic success, she encountered the authentic love of God that changed the course of her life and still continues to do so to this day.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

This on-fire Catholic deacon enflames hearts for Christ by co- hosting EWTN national radio program Morning Glory, hosting and co-hosting EWTN television programs and preaching throughout the world. His Benedictine spirituality richly enhances his deep faith.

Mirjana Soldo

Author of My Heart Will Triumph, referring to Blessed Mother Mary’s heart, Mirjana has received apparitions from Mary since age 16. This gentle and holy woman encourages the faith of hundreds of thousands in Medjugorje each year.

Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow

This Scottish founder and CEO of Mary’s Meals returns to share recent experiences and insights from throughout the world. Mary’s Meals now feeds more than 1.6 million impoverished children at their place of education daily.

Jon Leonetti

Radio host, author, presenter and national parish mission leader, Jon has served as Christ Our Life’s emcee since the first conference in 2010. Jon’s devotion to the Sacraments, prayer, the saints and family life inspire all to lead holy lives.

Steve Angrisano

A perennial favorite of Christ Our Life audiences, Steve returns to provide the ideal combination of music and story-weaving in a sensitive and timely manner, enhancing the conference experience for thousands.