Fr. Larry Hostetter, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro, gives the English-speaking keynote address during the Aug. 29, 2026 Parish Ministry and Leadership Conference, held this year at the Owensboro Convention Center. RACHEL HALL | WKC
‘In mission we are one in love’
PMLC celebrates ‘One Church, United in Mission’
BY DR. JEFF ANDRINI, EVANGELIZATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Several offices of the Diocese of Owensboro come together to coordinate a dynamic event for parish members every other year. The Parish Ministry and Leadership Conference is held in late summer or early fall and brings together our Hispanic and Anglo communities.
Our theme this year was One Church, United in Mission and our English-speaking keynote address was delivered by Fr. Larry Hostetter, pastor of St. Pius X in Owensboro. Through scripture, Church history, and great Catholic thinkers and saints, he shared the vision of Jesus and the ongoing development of the Church beginning with Jesus where he says “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). In the fifth century, Augustine taught that the Church is a mystical body of saints and sinners; it is the Holy Spirit that is the bond of unity. He shared examples of the reality of disunity in the Church and ways we have addressed these realities over the centuries.
Shifting to the mission of the Church, Fr. Larry echoed Jesus, saying, “in mission we are one in love, which flows from prayer. United in prayer, especially the Eucharist, we go out to share that gift in love with the hungry world.” Highlighting Matthew 25, he suggested that the mission is nothing less than participating in God’s plan of bringing the reign of God to fuller realization through how we love.
Attendees of the Aug. 29, 2026 Parish Ministry and Leadership Conference visit exhibit booths during break time. The conference was held this year at the Owensboro Convention Center. RACHEL HALL | WKC
During breaks and lunch, participants enjoyed 14 different exhibit booths from Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, JustFaith Ministries, Hospice of Western Kentucky, Saint Meinrad School of Theology, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro, St. Maximilian Kolbe Bookstore, Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center, and several diocesan offices. Childcare was provided.
The afternoon was filled with some incredible breakout sessions and presenters from five different states! If you would like to receive the power point or information about any of these, please email me. These included “Reclaiming the Heart of Christianity Through Divine Flow and the Contemplative Tradition,” and “Called and Gifted: Discovering How God Has Equipped You to Serve” by Brian Plachta; “Reclaiming Your Pastoral Role: Tips for Being a More Effective Leader,” and “Listening, Discerning, Leading: Creating a More Effective Parish Council” by Dr. Bernadette Kime.
Our Sunday Visitor sponsored Ana Arista’s two presentations, “Meeting Diverse Learning and Behavioral Needs in the Catechetical Setting,” and “Building Bilingual & Bicultural Bridges in Faith Formation 101.”
The other four sessions were “Tools and Time for the Journey of Aging: Meeting the Spiritual Needs of our Senior Adults” by Maryann Joyce; “Kerygmatic Catechesis” by Rose Wheeler; “Catholic Social Teaching” by JustFaith Ministries presenter, Heidi Villaluz; and “What Does a Missionary Disciple Look Like?” by our own Dcn. Jay VanHoosier, director of faith formation for the Diocese of Owensboro. The Hispanic ministry track was led by Dr. Oscar Castellanos.
In 2022, we held the event in Owensboro. In 2024 it was in Hopkinsville and last month it was back in Owensboro. Where should we consider hosting it for 2028? Let us know.
Peace in Christ,
Jeff
Dr. Jeff Andrini is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship. Contact him at [email protected].
A religious sister attends Mass during the Aug. 29, 2026 Parish Ministry and Leadership Conference, held this year at the Owensboro Convention Center. RACHEL HALL | WKC
Originally printed in the October 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
