World-renowned American Catholic evangelist and apologist, Tim Staples, will be delivering a three-day conference at St Thomas More Parish in Bateman from 22 to 24 October and organisers are hoping the church will be big enough to hold the expected crowds.
Mr Staples, who is the Director of Catholic Answers, a leading Apologetics website based in the United States, is well known for his presentations on US television network EWTN and is reported to have led thousands back to the Catholic faith since his own conversion in 1988.
His reported, extensive knowledge of Scripture and Church Doctrine, combined with his humour and passion, have captivated audiences around the world.
In an exclusive interview with the eRecord, Mr Staples said that he was looking forward to his first trip to Perth and hoped his visit would provide Catholics with the opportunity to learn something new about their faith, while also inspiring them to become better Catholics.
“I hope my visit there will light a fire so that the desire of people’s hearts will be to explain and defend our Catholic faith,” he said.
“I hope each person will leave the seminar with a renewed sense of their calling to evangelise.”
Mr Staples, who was raised a Southern Baptist, set out in his early adult life to prove how wrong the Catholic Church was, but eventually became one of Her most passionate, knowledgeable and ardent defenders.
Describing himself as “an apologist/evangelist by nature and by gift of God”, Mr Staples told the eRecord that he wants to equip participants with information to defend their Catholic Faith, but also to challenge them with the call to evangelise.
“Evangelisation is not an ‘option’ for Catholics,” he said.
“It is core to our deepest identity as Catholic Christian followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Bateman parishioner and organiser, Michael Chong, told eRecord that the idea for the conference, titled Why be Catholic?, was developed during the planning of a year-long program organised by the parish’s Adult Formation Committee.
“The other two programs we organised were based on DVD study courses and we felt that it would be extremely beneficial to have a live event with a renowned presenter speaking on the faith,” Mr Chong said.
“Tim Staples was chosen for his enigmatic and charismatic presentation style but, most importantly, for his orthodoxy.”
Mr Chong said the event, which will comprise eight talks given by Mr Staples over three days, was aimed at practising, lapsed and non-Catholics alike, with the aim of assisting all those in attendance with advancing further on their spiritual journeys.
Bateman parish priest, Father Phong Nguyen, said he sees the event as an opportunity for Perth Catholics to deepen their understanding of the Church.
“For some, the faith begins with the RCIA program or is inherited from the family, but it cannot end there,” he said.
“This conference is a great way for laity and clergy to be fed, formed and sent to be witnesses of Christ and His Church.”
The cost to attend the three-day conference is $30. For more information, go to www.batemancatholic.org/conference2015 or contact 08 9310 1747.
Mr Staples’ visit is sponsored by the Bateman parish.