This year’s Evangelization Leadership Summit, hosted by the diocese’s Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, will return to Ohio Dominican University on Saturday, Nov. 14. The summit, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is a one-day event that invites participants to discover the Church’s mission of evangelization.

While traditionally geared toward parish catechists and evangelists, this year, the sixth annual summit, Called and Sent, is open to anyone interested in attending.

“Each of our speakers is focusing on a different Church doctrine or something related to our diocese specifically,” said Liz Christy, the diocese’s associate director for marriage and family.

“The audience is … parish leaders, parish volunteers – some school staff will come. We’ll have parents and grandparents and really anyone who’s interested in evangelization in general, learning more, trying to be equipped.”

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Keynote speakers include Bishop Earl Fernandes, who will reflect on Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas”; Dr. Marlon De La Torre, senior director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis; Chris Burgwald, chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Dr. Amy Roberts, associate professor of theology and catechetics at Franciscan University.

Father Michael Hartge, the diocese’s vicar general and Moderator of the Curia, will offer an update on the diocese’s pastoral planning process. A keynote in Spanish will also be offered with Paco Gavrilides, adjunct professor theology at Franciscan, set to speak.

“We’re working with Hispanic ministry offices and multicultural ministry offices, trying to provide opportunities for evangelization, growth and learning as well for the Hispanic community,” Christy said.

Exhibitor booths will be open at lunchtime, and attendees will have an opportunity to socialize and network during the break.

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A series of breakout sessions will be offered in the afternoon. Breakout speakers include Jack Dreher, the diocese’s mental health ministry coordinator; Deacon Dave Bezusko, senior director for the diocese’s Vicariate of Catholic Social Doctrine; Angela Patch; eastern regional director for NET Ministries; and Jason Spoolstra; associate director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

De La Torre’s keynote will focus on St. Juan Diego (1474-1548), who received apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill, located near modern-day Mexico City. Our Lady asked that a shrine be built at Tepeyac, where she would pour out graces to those who invoke her.

The Diocese of Columbus is preparing several initiatives leading up the 500th anniversary of the Guadalupe apparitions in 2031. The summit ties the upcoming initiatives with St. Juan Diego’s role of being called and sent.

“There’s a natural interplay with Juan Diego as a disciple and evangelist and a catechist,” De La Torre said. “You’ve got a human being who was both afraid, stunned – and in disbelief that he was entrusted with a message that, at first, he did not quite understand, but yet that he faithfully carried on.

“At times, we want to run away when God calls us, and so, what do we do when we run away? Is it fear that takes over than faith? And so, that’s going to be part of the, I would say, content and context of the presentation.”

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Like Juan Diego, who delivered Our Lady’s message to the local bishop, De La Torre encouraged the faithful to bring Christ to others.

“I think that that’s what our Lord expects of us when we see Him, when we encounter Him: ‘What will you tell others about Me?’” he explained. “I think that’s, hopefully, a message that will come across in the presentation but also the entire summit as well.”

A committee, headed by De La Torre, was organized to plan several diocesan processions, workshops, formation series and events in the years leading up to 2031. De La Torre said he expects pilgrimages to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City will be offered, as well as celebrations at the Columbus Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the New Evangelization parish.

To register for this year’s Evangelization Leadership Summit, visit Evangelization Summit November 14, 2026 – Catholic Diocese of Columbus – Columbus, OH.