Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

College Park

Looking ahead to 2015 congress

Published June 27, 2014

COLLEGE PARK—Deacon Dennis Dorner, lead organizer of the congress, estimated that 25,000 people attended over the two days.

Thirty-two people work year-round as congress steering committee members to make the event a success, he said, and he is grateful for their efforts.

“They do it with joy and enthusiasm that is always conveyed to the nearly 600 volunteers and the people attending the congress,” said the deacon. “We could not make it happen without their incredible support.”

One new addition this year was yellow-vested greeters to assist people with questions, coordinated by Kat Doyle and Leslye Colvin of Justice and Peace Ministries.

The congress is set by the feast of Corpus Christi, which occurred in late June this year since Easter was later. Next year it will fall on June 5-6.

“The numbers are typically down a bit when the event falls later in June,” he said. “Many people have already left for vacations. But we know that the numbers will be up again next year.”

Deacon Dorner said he received positive response to this year’s theme of discipleship, which was carried out by all of the speakers. He is already looking ahead to next year’s special 20th anniversary celebration of the congress.

“We have already invited many of our most popular speakers to come back again. We are planning an exciting overnight lock-in for the teens on Friday night,” said the deacon. He added that there are other surprises in store.

The theme for 2015 is “I will be with you always.”

This theme echoes the original purpose of the congress, he said: a focus on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and its relationship to all vocations.

“Each of us has a call and each of us needs to respond to it. The Eucharist feeds us and gives us the strength we need to fulfill that call,” said Deacon Dorner.