Announcement From Anastasia Northrop On Catholic Singles Conference

I want to give you an update on some exciting news regarding the National Catholic Singles Conference, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the conference!

The Past

I made the decision to organize the first conference in the summer of 2004, after hearing Mary Beth Bonacci speak on the Theology of the Body and singles. I had been studying and promoting theTheology of the Body since 2000 and had already organized a couple events on the topic. In the meantime, a friend of mine had been urging me to organize a conference especially for singles. With the help of another friend, I held the first National Catholic Singles Conference (NCSC) February 18-19, 2005 in the Archdiocese of Denver. Being the first one of its kind, I had no idea how many people would come. We were going to be quite happy if 250 people showed up, so we were pleasantly surprised when we ended up with a full house of about 400 single Catholics from all over the US! Before the weekend was over, I was being asked when the next conference would take place. And here we are, 6 states, 13 conferences, and over 4,000 attendees later!

It has been a great joy for me to be able to spend my time as a single on an effort which has brought so many of my fellow Catholics together and provided a venue through which many have grown in their faith, encountered Christ in a deeper way, and even met their future spouses! I am grateful to God for all He has done through the conference - and I’m grateful to all who have assisted and attended, helping make the event what it is.

As you may or may not know, organizing this conference has taken up a good portion of my year, every year. Having already been working in ministry with OFWC Media for many years when I started it in 2005, I had the flexibility necessary to devote the immense number of hours which something like this requires. Over the years I have had the assistance of many wonderful volunteers who have helped with various aspects of the conference - logistics, promotion, liturgies, registration, pre/post conference events, etc.. I could not have done it without them! Nor could I have done it without the help and support of my family, who have been behind me from the beginning and who have helped behind the scenes both in preparation for and onsite at the various conferences. (I hope you’ve had a chance to meet some of them!)

Though the NCSC has been my priority for the last ten years, I’ve also continued to network, speak, and write on the Theology of the Body on the side, as well as organize other TOB-related events. In 2011 I went back to school and am currently in the process of writing my thesis for my Masters in Catholic Pastoral and Religious Studies, with an emphasis on Marriage and Family. I’m at a point where I’ve realized I can no longer run a conference, which would normally involve a whole staff of people, by myself. (One thing I also dealt with over the last 10 years was a stress-related adrenal fatigue issue, which took three years to really overcome.) In order for the conference to grow, and in order for me to be able to live a healthy, sane life, I need more help.

The Present

And that is why I’m happy to share the exciting news that I'm teaming up with the CatholicMatch Institute (the content arm of CatholicMatch.com) comes in! CatholicMatch.com has been a sponsor of the NCSC since the first conference in 2005. I’ve gotten to know Brian Barcaro (the co-founder of CatholicMatch.com) through our mutual work and personally as a friend. We share a passion for providing formation and resources for singles, along with opportunities for singles to meet one another and build relationships, both with one another and with God. When the CatholicMatch Institute was launched a few years ago, it provided a solid basis on which we could base a partnership between the NCSC and CatholicMatch Institute. Last year we worked more closely than we had in the past, and I had the opportunity to work with some of the CatholicMatch staff. I also started writing for the CatholicMatch Institute blog. This year I have made the decision to run the conference as one of CatholicMatch Institute’s events. Not only will this provide me much-needed help, but it will help both of us toward our goal of reaching even more singles! While CatholicMatch is known notably for providing online meeting opportunities for single Catholics, they do much more and want to continue to do more for singles, couples and church leaders. I hope to share more with you in the future as we strive to provide more NCSC-type event opportunities.

The Future

The National Catholic Singles Conference will not only be the inspiring, fun event that you have experienced it to be, but I believe that together we can make it an even better event that touches even more lives! I still need volunteers to help with local and regional promotion of the conference, wherever it happens to be, as well as to help with various logistical aspects. If you want to bring the NCSC to your area and have a team of friends who want to volunteer with you, please let me know! As always, the NCSC and related events welcome all singles, whether or not they are members of CatholicMatch.com.

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary, we have launched a brand new website! Please take a moment to check it out and tell me what you think! In addition, I want to invite you to the 10th Anniversary National Catholic Singles Conference (our 14th) to be held October 23-25, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia (which happens to be where I heard that talk by Mary Beth Bonacci back in the summer of 2004...) As always we have a fantastic line-up of speakers planned, along with time to pray together, eat together and have fun together!

It is my hope that every year we all come away from the conference encouraged in our faith and our walk with Christ, inspired to give ourselves during this single time in service to others, better connected to our fellow brothers and sisters, and hopefully, more prepared for the vocation or mission to which God has called us! Our ultimate vocation is union with God - the question is, how are we going to live that out now?

Please join me in Atlanta! And in the meantime, I ask for your prayers as I continue to strive to make the best decisions for the NCSC and follow the Lord’s call in my own life. May we all continue to give our “Fiat” to the Holy Trinity, as Mary did!

Have a blessed rest of Lent and a joyous celebration of the Holy Resurrection!