The Archdiocese of Atlanta is sponsoring three one-day conferences in August, September and October with the theme “Connecting the Pieces.” Under the auspices of the Office of Formation and Discipleship, the conferences will focus on evangelization, initiation and catechesis.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, Paulist Father Frank DeSiano will lead an all-day session inviting attendees to consider the church’s mission of evangelization from a comprehensive point of view, exploring Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples.” A nationally recognized expert on evangelization, Father DeSiano earned a doctorate in ministry from Boston University and has given workshops, retreats and parish renewals across the United States and Canada. He served as president of the Paulist Fathers (1994-2002) and is the president of PNCEA, Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. His most recent book is “Reactivating Our Catholic Faith: Reflections to Get Real About Faith.”

The Aug. 15 conference will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, Father Michael Witczak will “connect the pieces” with a conference on initiation at Transfiguration Church, Marietta, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Father Witczak, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has studied sacred liturgy in Rome, earning his doctorate there. He is currently an associate professor at The Catholic University of America, where he teaches sacramental theology and liturgy. Fathe Witczak will guide participants in an update of the sacramental theology of initiation in light of the church’s catechetical directives.

A conference on catechesis will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Pius X Church, Conyers, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sister Digna Vela, a sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, will lead the conference, challenging attendees to consider catechesis and the proclamation of the Word—the U.S. bishops’ theme for Catechetical Sunday 2009. Sister Vela will encourage seeing the Word of God acting in daily life as nourishment for the journey of discipleship. Workshops during the conference will expand on these themes and offer practical knowledge and tools for ministry.

Sister Vela serves as the catechetical director for the Diocese of Victoria, Texas, a position she has held for 20 years. She has a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. She has served on the board of the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership and has written regularly for the Religion Teachers Journal. She oversees the publication of “Disciples on the Journey,” a Lenten faith-sharing booklet for small groups.