The annual Together in Holiness marriage conference will return to Columbus for the second time, taking place Sept. 19 at Columbus St. Catharine of Siena Church.
Organized by the St. John Paul II Foundation, which seeks to declare the good news about life and family, the conference strengthens spouses in the sacrament of marriage. Together in Holiness empowers them in forming their children in faith, even offering childcare during the conference.
“It’s just a really great conference for married couples or engaged couples,” said Liz Christy, the Columbus diocese’s associate director for the Office of Marriage and Family, “just a day of formation and marriage enrichment. We had a great first year last year and decided to bring it back. I … foresee that it will continue for a while.”
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This year, the conference, which lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., will begin with Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes. The sacrament will include a special blessing for all couples in attendance.
“We’ll have confession available and then several talks throughout the day,” Christy said. “(There will be) time for couples to … talk to one another (and) reflect on their marriage (and have) small group discussions at the tables.
“It’s (also) a good opportunity to meet other couples throughout the diocese or attend with other couples. It’s a day to come together with your spouse, to learn more about the faith together, to be enriched as a married couple and help strengthen your family.”
Last year’s conference speakers included Kevin Lowry, the diocese’s chief financial officer and author of books on marriage and family. “My experience with these (conferences) is you can always take away one or two things that you can put into practice immediately,” he said. “I would, in fact, encourage people to go into the conference with that mentality – that they want to leave with at least one concrete idea they can (practice) immediately.”
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Lowry, who spoke alongside his wife of 37 years, Kathi, said he believes in the power of small, practical steps that lead to considerable outcomes.
“The thing that has made all the difference in (our) marriage … is allowing ourselves to be shaped by the Gospel. It’s almost like (that docility) is key – along with a million and one practic(al) things,” he said. “Oftentimes, so much of the learning was tied to mistakes, especially on my part.”
Nancy Ariza, senior conference coordinator for the St. John Paul II Foundation, said that “one of the biggest takeaways from couples attending Together in Holiness is (how the conference) engages both the head and the heart. Couples will hear from local and national speakers who share inspiring, real-life experiences of living this path to holiness in light of Church teaching.
“At the same time, they have the opportunity to attend Mass as a couple, receive the sacrament of reconciliation and pray together in Adoration … Throughout the day, attendees are able to get to know other couples in their community and build friendships that last beyond the conference, all while the parents in attendance have peace of mind knowing that their children are being well taken care of with our affordable, onsite childcare program.
“This is a day that couples across varying stages of life and many different dioceses look forward to as a way of investing in their marriage.”
For additional information on the conference, to view this year’s speakers and register, visit September 19, 2026 | Columbus, OH | Together in Holiness – St. John Paul II Foundation.
