May 15-16, 2026
Renewal Conference
Hope. Healing. Hospitality.
Join us for a Renewal Conference centered on the healing presence of Christ and the call to be a people of hope and hospitality in our parishes and communities.
What is the Renewal Conference?
The Renewal Conference is a two-day gathering for all Catholics across the Diocese of Buffalo from May 15-16, 2026 at St. Stanislaus R&M Church in Buffalo, NY.
Who can attend?
This event is designed for all involved in parish ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo. This includes priests, parish leaders, teachers, catechists, school staff, counselors, campus ministers, pillar members and those involved in parish administration, maintenance, operations and more… We are all colleagues in mission, each playing a vital role in serving our communities.
Register
Ticket pricing for the full two-day conference is $75, or $45 for either Friday or Saturday individually. Each participant will receive a signed copy of Julianne Stanz’s book. Those who register for both days will receive two signed copies (Start with Jesus and Developing Disciples of Christ).
Day 1: Schedule
9:00 am Arrival & Light Breakfast with Vendor Fair
9:30 am Welcome | Most Rev. Bishop Michael Fisher
Purpose of Today – Rev. Bryan Zielenieski
10:00 am First Keynote | Julianne Stanz
11:30 pm – 12:45 pm Break with Lunch at 11:45 am | Alpha Presentation with Dan (Downstairs)
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Conversation with Julianne: New Vision for Parish Life
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
Presenter: Julianne Stanz
This breakout session will explore hope.
Presenter: Dan McCarthy
This breakout session will about “Why Healing Still Matters”
Presenter: Denise Gonez-Santos
This breakout session will focus on “How to Minister to Diverse Populations”.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Second Keynote | Julianne Stanz
4:30 pm Wrap Up & Closing with Fr. Bryan Zielenieski
Optional
8:00 am Mass before Conference
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Dinner with Julianne Stanz and Breakout speakers (additional fee)
Day 2: Schedule (10:00 am to 3:30 pm)
10:00 am Arrival & Light Breakfast with Vendor Fair
10:30 am Keynote on what Evangelizing Catechesis is all about | Julianne Stanz
11:45 am Break
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch | Alpha Presentation
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Second Keynote with Julianne Stanz
2:15 pm Breakouts
Presenter: Eric Figueroa
When hospitality becomes Spirit-led, it doesn’t just make people comfortable—it makes room for conversion. Join Ericfor a lively session packed with stories, proven outreach practices (including Alpha), and a few “why didn’t we do this sooner?” shifts that turn mess into momentum. Come ready to laugh, learn, and be challenged to mission that only makes sense if God shows up.
Presenter: Dan McCarthy
3:30 pm Wrap up of Day 2 and Closing Prayer
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Julianne Stanz
Storyteller, bestselling author and encourager, Julianne Stanz is known for her dynamic speaking and retreat ministry. As the Director of Outreach for Evangelization and Discipleship at Loyola Press and a consultant to the USCCB, Julianne has spent over two decades inspiring and equipping audiences across the globe.
Originally from Ireland, she brings the warmth of her Irish heritage into her talks, weaving together faith and spirituality with insights from the Scriptures with her experience in Catholic schools, parishes and dioceses.
She is the author of the best-selling books Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace and Start with Jesus: How Everyday Disciples Will Renew the Church published by Loyola Press. Her latest book, The Catholic Parent’s Survival Guide: How to Answer Your Children’s Toughest Questions about Faith, also published by Loyola Press, offers practical wisdom for families navigating faith conversations together.
Julianne is married to Wayne, and together they have three children.
Breakout Session Speakers
Dan McCarty
Dan McCarty serves as the National Associate Director of Alpha in a Catholic Context for Alpha USA. Since joining Alpha in 2020, Dan has held key leadership roles with both Alpha Ireland and Alpha USA, including Network Director for the Great Lakes Region and Culture Director. He now works closely with parishes and dioceses across the country to envision, equip, and support evangelization through Alpha, including leading Alpha’s growing Diocesan Partner network. A lifelong Hoosier, Dan lives in Indianapolis with his wife and children and is a member of St. Simon the Apostle Parish.
Austin Habash
Austin Habash is the owner and founder of Think Catholic and Sent Evangelization, a unique neighborhood evangelization ministry that trains, equips, and accompanies parish-based teams across the country. Habash is a former diocesan seminarian and Carthusian monk, passionate about sharing the Gospel wherever he goes. Habash resides in Denver where he enjoys recording his podcast, “Summa in a Year,” and praying among God’s beauty in the Colorado mountains.
Eric Figueroa Pérez
Eric Figueroa Pérez is an evangelization leader and AI/decision-science executive working at the crossroads of people, impact, and faith. With two decades in corporate strategy—and graduate formation in both business and theology—he helps leaders build human-centered systems that honor vocation, dignity, and mission.
In ministry, Eric focuses on creating post-modern New Yorkers can explore Faith, Life, and Meaning. With thirty years of ministry experience, he has served across diverse cultural and generational settings, including young-adult evangelization in New York City, and has partnered with Alpha, Corazón Puro, the CFRs, A3NE, the Archdiocese of New York, and the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is a husband, father, creative, and mentor passionate about forming leaders who can bridge faith, culture, and the realities of a rapidly changing world.
Denise Gonez-Santos
Denise Góñez-Santos was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. The daughter of Eduvijis and Ana Gonez. She is a lifelong member of Holy Cross Church. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in bilingual elementary education at D’Youville University and a master’s degree in educational administration at the University at Buffalo. She is the mother of two sons and is married to Deacon Miguel Santos.
Denise is an educator, professional development leader, and former administrator. Her career began as a teacher at Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy in the Buffalo Public Schools. Among her many teaching and leadership roles, Denise was the executive director for the Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) West at Erie 1 BOCES. Currently, she works part-time as a school improvement specialist and consultant for school districts with immigrant and refugee students learning English as a second language. She is a member of the recently formed New York State Education Department, Indigenous Languages Steering Committee.
She serves with immense joy as a lector and an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Holy Cross Church. For the last nine years, Denise has participated as a member of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Team in the Diocese of Buffalo.