2023 Conference

We welcomed 1,400 attendees to our inaugural Discipleship Conference, hosted at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. With national speakers, a variety of breakout sessions, bilingual programming, liturgy steeped in the diversity of our archdiocesan community, and state-of-the-art facilities, the conference was a resounding success. We look forward to continuing to offer this annual conference as we live out our mission to Go Make Disciples!

Fr. John Riccardo

Fr. Riccardo is a missionary, ACTS XXIX Executive Director, and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. In 2019, after 23 years in parish ministry, he founded Acts XXIX to proclaim the gospel in an attractive and compelling way and to equip clergy and lay leaders for the age in which God has chosen us to live. Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.

Fr. Agustino Torres

Fr. Torres is a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR), a community established in the Bronx, NY and dedicated to work with the poor and evangelization. He is the President and Founder of Corazon Puro and Latinos por la Vida, apostolates dedicated to awakening and accompanying leaders in areas of great need. He is one of the founders of “Catholic Underground;” Casa Guadalupe and the John Paul II House—houses of discernment for women and men respectively.

• Jim Beckman - IMPACT CENTER

• Albert Faraj - ACTS XXIX

• Fr. Jim Goins - ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY

• Mary Guilfoyle - ACTS XXIX

• Patrick Raglow - CATHOLIC CHARITIES

• Matt Regitz - DIVINE RENOVATION

• Luis Soto - SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EVANGELIZATION & DISCIPLESHIP

• Mary Ann Wiesinger Puig - FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY CATECHETICAL INSTITUTE

• Sheri Wohlfert - ST. PAUL STREET EVANGELIZATION

7:30     Doors Open
8:10     Morning Rosary
8:45     Welcome
9:00     Morning Keynote
10:30   Breakout Series A (English & Spanish)
11:30    Lunch/Vendors/Confession
1:15      Breakout Series B (English & Spanish)
2:30     Breakout Series C (English & Spanish)
3:45      Afternoon Keynote
5:00     Vigil Mass with Archbishop Coakley

"Best Catholic conference speakers, as a group, I have ever heard. Encouraging, uplifting, challenging. I am so on fire, as were all I spoke to through the day. Great job!"

"I absolutely loved it! I can hardly wait for next year, and I pray the Discipleship Conference will expand!"

"Before I came, I was concerned that maybe this conference was only for heads of ministries. But instead, I found it was for everyone in the pew because we all need to be better disciple makers. I feel better equipped to do just that."

"Really fine conference with excellent speakers, vendors, and hospitality. My wife and I enjoyed it and got a lot out of the talks!"

"I think this has to be the BEST conference that the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has done. It was focused, intentional and the keynotes were AMAZING! I hope this is just the beginning for us as a diocese. I'm spreading the word and bringing more with me next year!"