Conferences
The Marten Program sponsors a preaching conference every other summer, inviting leaders and gifted practitioners in the field of homiletics to share their insights with other preachers in the field. These are extended moments for busy preachers to come away from their routine to the peace-filled campus at Notre Dame. Revel in the sunset over St. Mary's Lake. Wake up to the calling of birds. Most of all, enjoy the camaraderie of others who are passionate about sharing the Gospel.
Registration and lodging information for the next conference will be shared online; additional questions can be directed to University Enterprises and Events (uee@nd.edu)
Marten Summer Conference: June 21-23, 2027
University of Notre Dame
"Behold, I Make All Things New"
Cultivating Wonder in Preaching, Liturgy, and Music
Conference details and registration available in early 2027.
2025 Preaching Conference: Jesus, Dead and Risen, Jesus Living in the Church: Preaching the Paschal Mystery
June 16-18, 2025
Taking a line from a work by the great French theologian, Louis Bouyer, the theme this summer's Marten Conference is the Paschal Mystery (Jesus, dead and risen) as both the central content of our preaching and also as the mystery that formats our praying, reading, and preaching of the Scriptures.
This is the eighth in a series of conferences on Catholic preaching. It is intended for anyone who cares about preaching: priests, deacons, seminarians, teachers of homiletics, other interested parties whether Catholic or non-Catholic. It begins Monday evening, June 16 and concludes the afternoon of Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Keynote speakers include Bishop Joseph Perry, Rev. Dr. Hans Boersma, Karla Bellinger, Fr. Robert Imbelli, and Rev. Dr. Sergius Halvorsen. There will be additional smaller break-out sessions with presentations by a number of scholars and practitioners of homiletics on a range of topics related to preaching. Registration fee includes conference materials, receptions, and five meals (breakfast, lunch, and banquet on Tuesday and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday).
To view the June 2025 conference, please visit this link.