Good News Conference

23/08/2025

We are excited to welcome Sister Agnes Mary Graves to our 2025 Good News Conference!

Sr. Agnes is the Director of Nursing at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and a perpetually professed member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, MI. She is currently assigned to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent in Winona, MN.

21/08/2025

Every day, we thank God for the opportunity to practice communal worship– It allows us to hold hands in praise, share peace at Mass, and feel like a unified force of Faith!

19/08/2025

Descend 21 Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Orlando is the perfect place to grab a drink, chat with friends, and reflect on your day at the Good News Conference!

Named for the number of steps in its curved staircase entrance, Descend 21 offers entertainment in a lively indoor-outdoor setting. Along with delicious signature dishes, the restaurant also offers lounge seating, cozy fire pits, and a beautiful terrace overlooking the Grotto Pool. Test your swing in Descend 21's Topgolf Swing Suites!

17/08/2025

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

– Matthew 5:16

16/08/2025

Do you recognize this incredible work of art?

The gifted hands that sculpted it will be lifted in worship at this year’s conference, as we welcome world-renowned sculptor Timothy Schmalz to our annual event!

Sculpture BY Timothy Schmalz has touched faithful hearts all across the globe. One of his most beloved works, titled "Be Welcoming", lives in the square before St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City. From one angle, you see a homeless traveler: cane in hand, sack slung over his shoulder, carrying all his earthly belongings. But as you walk around the sculpture, you'll see a transformation– the worn bag becomes majestic wings, the dark hood now flowing hair, and the stranger is revealed to be an angel, right before your eyes.

14/08/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Dave and Lauren Moore, founders of the Catholic Music Initiative, will be sharing their gift of song with us at the 2025 Good News Conference!

Their musical mission embraces the transformative power of beautiful liturgy, bringing timeless sacred music to the forefront of worship. Learn more about their organization below!

12/08/2025

We've seen it time and time again– the likeminded, welcoming community of our annual conference has a way of turning strangers into good friends.

Kevin Oates shared how he and his wife still keep in touch with people they met at past events:

“Two years ago we sat next to another couple at dinner– turned out we only lived an hour apart from each other. We have gotten together twice since we met! My wife still stays in touch with two of the women she met at the second Good News Conference in Phoenix. They make sure to reconnect and see each other at these conferences,” Oates said.

The Oates will be returning for a fourth time this year, and we are excited to see these warm reunions continue!

11/08/2025

Hope— it’s an anchor of our faith, the light that will carry us through the valley of the shadow of death, and the driving force behind our conference this year.

As the Good News Conference draws near, we invite you be inspired by our theme of hope and ponder it's presence in your daily life; Father Mike Schmitz describes it as a "relationship of trust in God".

"Hope is rooted deeply in faith," he said. "Faith is when we entrust ourselves to another."

Fr. Mike shared these insights back in 2017– but they remain relevant as we prepare for this years gathering. Watch his full reflection below!

Hope, in the Christian sense, is often misunderstood. It is not the same as optimism or presumption. It is not the blind faith that we will go to heaven or t...

08/08/2025

Today, we are shining a spotlight on St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron Saint of hope and impossible causes, and one of Jesus's twelve apostles!

Known for his unwavering faith and devotion to Jesus's message, St. Jude perfectly embodies the theme of our 2025 conference– Hope.

06/08/2025

The Good News Conference will provide continental breakfast and dinner, but you may want to venture out for a snack in-between sessions, or a nice lunch to commemorate your trip! Our latest blog details dining options at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and beyond, exploring some of the exciting flavors of International Drive!

Read more below!

The Good News Conference provides complimentary breakfast and dinner, but you may find yourself craving a midday bite or a special dinner out during your stay in Orlando. From on-site hotel dining options to popular restaurants nearby, here are some of the delicious options Orlando has to offer!

05/08/2025

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'"

— Isaiah 52:7

04/08/2025

At the 2024 Good News Conference, Fr. Mike Schmitz discussed our theme of Mercy, sharing the unending depths of God’s grace during his address to the audience. He emphasized that Lord loves you as you are, regardless of past sins or discouragement.

Watch his 2024 keynote speech below!

BulldogCatholic

Regardless of sin, wasted potential, or discouragement, the Lord loves you as you are.Fr. Mike Schmitz shares the unending depths of God’s mercy during his a...