Tapestry of Promise
The Work of God Woven from the Threads of the Old Covenant
Catholic Conference
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Ann Arbor
Thursday November 19th – Saturday 21st , 2026
Inspired by the call of The Most Reverend Bishop Boyea to make 2026 the "Year of the Bible," the Tapestry of Promise conference invites you to deepen your understanding of the beautiful way in which Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is prefigured by the events of the Old Testament – a tapestry woven by God from the people and events of the Old Covenant. We invite you to grow in faith through the Sacraments, sacred music, and the dynamic teaching of learned and charismatic speakers.
A Three-Day Catholic Conference
- Thursday — Through His Church
- Friday — Through His Mother
- Saturday — In Himself and in the Eucharist
Breakout Sessions
Workshops
Workshop schedule and descriptions will be posted as they become available.
A Year of Continuing Formation
Features of the Conference
- Five outstanding keynote speakers delivering a total of twelve keynote addresses
- 20 breakout sessions on a wide variety of timely topics
- 6 focused workshops led by active Catholic ministries
- Daily Rosary, Perpetual Adoration, and the Sacrament of Confession
- Holy Mass on Friday and Saturday
- Special evening gatherings:
- Thursday: General conference dinner (tentative)
- Friday & Saturday: Fine dining with entertainment and networking in the Assisi Center
Evening Gatherings in the Assisi Center
Hotel Information
We will have secured a block of discounted rooms for conference attendees at DoubleTree in Ann Arbor. During conference hours, a shuttle will operate between the hotel and St. Francis Parish.
We are in the final stages of confirmation with the hotel and we will update the details as they become available.
Key Dates
Premium Earlybird Ticket Sales Begin
July 18
Earlybird Ticket Sales Begin
September 5
Regular Ticket Sales Begin
October 10
Event Registration Begins
Sign up for breakouts and workshops
November 5
Late Ticket Sales Begin
November 19 - 21
The Conference
Keynote Speakers
Bear Woznick (emcee) is a bestselling author of 12 Rules for Manliness, Deep in the Wave, and Deep Adventure. A two-time World Tandem Surfing Champion, ninja black belt, skydiver, pilot, and adventurer, he hosts EWTN’s Long Ride Home TV show and Bear Woznick Adventure radio program.
Karlo Broussard is a staff apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers with a Doctorate in Philosophy. A dynamic and engaging presenter, he travels nationally giving talks on apologetics, biblical studies, theology, and philosophy. He is an adjunct professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Holy Apostles College and Seminary, and a regular guest on Catholic Answers Live.
Dr. Mary Healy is Professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, a bestselling author, and an internationally sought-after speaker. She is a general editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and the author of multiple volumes in the series. One of the first three women appointed to the Pontifical Biblical Commission, she also serves as a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Joe Heschmeyer is a staff apologist for Catholic Answers and the host of the popular podcast and YouTube channel Shameless Popery. A former litigator and former seminarian, he brings sharp reasoning and deep theological insight to his presentations on Catholic doctrine. He is the author of several books, including The Eucharist Is Really Jesus.
Steve Ray is a Catholic convert, author, apologist, and pilgrimage leader. Raised in a devout Baptist family, he was active in Protestant ministry before an extensive study of Scripture and the early Church Fathers led him and his wife Janet to enter the Catholic Church on Pentecost 1994. A certified Holy Land guide, Ray leads pilgrimages to biblical sites and appears frequently on EWTN, Catholic Answers, and other outlets.
Shayne Smith
Tim Staples is a Senior Apologist and Director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers. A former Southern Baptist and Assembly of God youth minister, he converted to Catholicism after an intense study of Scripture and Church history. With over 30 years of experience, Tim is a highly respected speaker, author, and radio host known for his powerful conversion story, deep biblical knowledge, and passionate defense of the Catholic faith.Purchase Tickets
Earlybird Premium — $175
Limited to 100 tickets
Earlybird Ticket — $200
Limited to 200 tickets
Before September 5th
Regular Ticket — $250
Couples Tickets — $200
Subject to availability
Late Ticket — $300
After November 5th
Student / Clergy — $130
Limited to 100 tickets
We are looking for sponsors to help make more student and clergy tickets available or to help us reduce the price further!
Friday Dinner Event — $150
Comedian Shayne Smith (tentative)
Limited to 200 tickets
Saturday Dinner Event — $150
Entertainment to-be-determined
Limited to 200 tickets
Cancellation Policy
All payments are non-refundable unless the conference is canceled by us or a governmental agency. If the Conference is not canceled but you choose not to attend, there will be no refund.
Kenny Burchard served for twenty years in full-time Protestant ministry, including twelve years
as the founding pastor of a Foursquare Gospel church in California. He holds an M.A. in New Testament Biblical Theology from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (Fresno Pacific). In 2019, he and his family were received into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Kenny currently serves as Director of Development for The Coming Home Network International and co-hosts their podcast On the Journey with Matt Swaim and Ken Hensley. He is the creator and host of Catholic Bible Highlights on YouTube, where he demonstrates the biblical foundations of Catholic teaching. Kenny is co-author of God of Love, Fire, and Light: A Biblical Defense of Purgatory (with Dave Armstrong) and has appeared twice on EWTN's The Journey Home.
Breakout Speakers
Dr. Kristin Collier is an associate professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan where she serves as the director of the University of Michigan Medical School Program on Health, Spirituality, and Religion and as an associate program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. She completed medical school, residency, and chief residency at the University of Michigan. Her academic interests center on human dignity and the ways this concept grounds moral obligations at the margins of life. Her peer reviewed work has been published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the British Medical Journal, the Annals of Internal Medicine, and The Journal of General Internal Medicine. She has had writings published in Notre Dame’s Church Life Journal, Theopolis, America Magazine, Public Discourse, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. She is also a wife and the proud mother of four sons.
John C. Pinheiro, Ph.D., is director of research and publications at Acton Institute. He was professor of history and the founding director of Catholic Studies and the Semester-in-Rome Program at Aquinas College. He is author or editor of five books, including the award-winning Missionaries of Republicanism: A Religious History of the Mexican-American War (Oxford, 2014). His 2019 book, The American Experiment in Ordered Liberty (Acton, 2019), examines the compatibility of America’s founding principles with Catholic Social Teaching. His newest book, edited with Dylan Pahman, is The Christian Roots of American Liberty: A Reader (Acton Institute, 2026).
He is on X as @DrJohnPinheiro.
