The Ignited by Truth Conference is one of the largest Catholic conferences on the East Coast with a general attendance of 1400-3000 people. Since 2003, the Ignited by Truth Conference has brought nationally-known, dynamic Catholic speakers annually to the Diocese of Raleigh to enlighten the minds of thousands of adults, young adults, high school and middle school students. God’s graces have enkindled many hearts through the opportunities given for prayer and the sacraments, Catholic books and media have been purchased and taken away for further study and sharing, and ministry displays have inspired works of service. The Ignited by Truth conference brings people together to experience the joy of life with God and sends them forth to be powerful witnesses to the Catholic faith in their families and communities.
The mission of Ignited by Truth is to spread the light of truth from the teachings of the Catholic Church and ignite the hearts of fellow Catholics in a love for their faith. In addition to their annual conference, Ignited by Truth shares the treasures of the Catholic faith through their website, social media, email, and a blog series called Wind and Flame.

In February of 2003, a group of mothers dedicated to raising and educating their children in the Catholic faith suggested bringing noted Catholic speakers to Raleigh. Within four months, financing for the first Ignited by Truth conference was secured, a venue had been selected, and nine noted Catholic speakers were engaged, including author Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, apologist Jim Burnham, and speaker and convert Michael Cumbie. Since then, Ignited by Truth speakers have included notable speakers like Patrick Madrid, Edward Sri, Scott Hahn, Tim Gray, Peter Kreeft, Jeff Cavins, Janet Smith, Abby Johnson, Jennifer Fulwiler, Immaculee Ilibagiza, and Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Talks are designed to enhance, encourage, and build faith, and to give attendees the courage and determination to proclaim what they have received, and address all areas of life, like Scripture, prayer, the sacraments, apologetics, vocations, evangelization, and theology and science.

The 22nd annual Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference and Lenten retreat was held this year on April 4-5, and was attended by approximately 1600 people. Bishop of Raleigh Luis Rafael Zarama, encouraged this year’s attendees to be pilgrims of hope this Jubilee Year. “No matter where we are traveling or what obstacles we encounter, God is always present,” he stated in his letter of support. “Let us humbly ask Our Lord to strengthen us in our collective mission to bring to light the truth of the teachings of the Catholic Church and to ignite in all hearts a love for the Faith and for each other.”

The conference began with a Night of Worship that included confessions, a blessing of the weekend by Fr. Jason Brooks, LC, and Eucharistic adoration and procession, with music provided by Dana Catherine.
The keynote address that evening was given by Dan Briggs, who served as a Special Forces medic with the National Guard before transitioning to active duty, during which time he had multiple combat deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Africa. He also worked as a Hollywood stuntman and a professional pilot, and he more recently has been a part of a nonprofit organization called Sentinel Foundation, which works to counter child trafficking and exploitation, and provide crisis response to preserve human life during emergency situations.

Dan’s conversion came after several significant combat injuries that changed the course of his life and eventually led to his medical retirement from the Armed Forces in 2015, after 17 years of service. After a troubled childhood and adolescence, and substantial medical issues that threatened the continuation of the military career that he loved, Dan had grown angry with the God who he felt had abandoned him as a child, and now had failed to protect him and was stripping him of his life’s work. Slowly, he came to realize that he had been placing his identity in his own abilities and accomplishments, which had always left him feeling dissatisfied. On Easter of 2013, Dan joined the Catholic Church.

“I had always put my value in what I had done and what I had been, but I didn’t think I was worthy to be loved. Where does your true value come from? The truth comes from the fact that you are a son or daughter of God, and because of that, you have inherent value, and you are worthy to be loved, and that inherent worth can never be stripped from you no matter what happens.”

The main conference was held on Saturday, and began with a rosary led by Fr. Jason, followed by Mass presided by Fr. Michael Burbeck, vicar general of the Diocese of Raleigh. Speakers included Catholic author and speaker, Sonja Corbitt; Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary; Sr. Kraemar of the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee; author and cloistered monk, Fr. Augustine Wetta; and Fr. Robert Spitzer, president of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith and the Napa Institute.

Fr. Robert Spitzer, who has authored many books and scholarly articles, particularly on the topic of faith and science, including the award-winning books New Proofs for the Existence of God and Science, Reason, and Faith: Discovering the Bible, spoke on the miracles of the Eucharist and the intercession of Mary at Lourdes as seen through the lens and scrutiny of science.

“When we put these two facets of our uniquely Catholic faith together in our lives, and we appeal to Mary and receive the Holy Eucharist as often as we can, appealing to Jesus to transform our hearts and to forgive our sins, we can rescue the entire world,” says Fr. Spitzer. “Because Mary is a part of the economy of salvation, and the Holy Eucharist really is the Real Presence, and the real body and blood of Jesus Christ, really transforming us, really protecting us, really guiding us, really inspiring us, really breaking the grip of the evil spirit, really moving us through the mystical body into the heart of Jesus Christ and Mary forever.”

To find out more about Ignited by Truth, and for highlights and talks from this year’s conference, visit their website at ignitedbytruth.org. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or subscribe to their email list to be informed of upcoming events.

You can also join Ignited by Truth on the first Saturday of every month, when they host a rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet at a different parish throughout the diocese of Raleigh. Find the next event here.

To find out more about Regnum Christi North Carolina, visit their website at rcnorthcarolina.org.