About the Marian Conference

We Made History!

On July 24-25, 2026, Mother of Hope Marian Conference made history by offering a Marian Conference in this region of the United States for the first time in a quarter-century. 700 persons (from youth to senior citizens) registered for the event, which took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

Highlights included Mass with Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, on the feast of St. James -- the first to ever witness an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as Holy Hour and Benediction led by Fr. Nathanael Mudd of the Fathers of Mercy.

Speakers

• Dr. Leonora Butau (Theologian & Educator)
• Mary Jane Fox (Co-Founder/Co-Director, Pilgrim Center of Hope)
• Noelle Mering (Fellow, Ethics & Public Policy Center)
• Fr. Nathanael Mudd, CPM (Chaplain, National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion)
• Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFM (Spiritual Director and Author)
• Cathy Steves (Our Lady of Sorrows devotee)
• Greg Willits (Co-Founder, Rosary Army apostolate) 

An ongoing stream of penitents for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as well as a theme of healing & reconciliation in the presentations, resulted in attendees reporting spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

Praised be God! Blessed be Mary, Mother of Hope! Pilgrim Center of Hope thanks all who participated with their labor, time, and commitment.

Many are asking; "When is the next Marian Conference?" Pilgrim Center of Hope's staff will consider attendee feedback and support for the apostolate as we discern whether/when the event may return. We definitely plan to continue emphasizing the role of the Blessed Mother in our 2027 Catholic Men's Conference (March 6) and Catholic Women's Conference (July 31).

What Is A Marian Conference?

Answering the need for hope in today's world, the mission of Mother of Hope Marian Conference is to:

• Encourage families & individuals to know and love God
• Promote the Blessed Virgin Mary as a maternal model of hope and consolation
• Inspire all to approach & imitate her in their daily journey of faith

Some of Our Story

In the 1990s, San Antonio, Texas was the home of Marian conferences; events that attracted thousands of persons who walked various journeys of faith, organized by the Marian Center of San Antonio and Pilgrim Center of Hope.

After many years of prayerful discernment, Pilgrim Center of Hope was inspired during the 2025 Jubilee Year ("Pilgrims of Hope") to revive the Marian Conference in San Antonio, under the title "Mother of Hope" scheduled for July 24-25, 2026.

Read more: Originally published in San Antonio Express-News

Frequently Asked Questions:

Speakers

Most Rev. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, will preside at Holy Mass during the conference's Saturday morning program. Archbishop Gustavo is a Missionary of the Holy Spirit religious who has led the Archdiocese of San Antonio since his installation on November 23, 2010. 

He reflects that Jesus Christ "continues to act in our lives. But He rarely acts alone – He calls us to open our hearts in prayer and trust, and He gives us His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a companion and intercessor." The Archbishop says, "As the Mother of God, she contemplates the mystery of her Son, seeking to understand and embrace His mission. Her journey is not one of ease but of faith, trust, and profound love."

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