DECATUR — Approximately 900 people attended the 2016 Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference (DAEC), which was held Nov. 4-5 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. This was the 20th biennial event and was entitled “Harvesting the Fruits of Discipleship.” Attendees participated in prayer services, listened to keynote speaker Greg Willits, took part in breakout sessions and were also encouraged to visit the 40 booths of exhibitors who were at the event.

The conference was open to all adults interested in deepening their appreciation for and understanding of the Catholic faith and the role of discipleship, said Christine Malmevik, director for Catechesis and chairperson of the 2016 DAEC.

“When the DAEC is planned, the ultimate goal that is kept in mind is: How can attendees grow in their faith and relationship with and become better disciples of Jesus Christ,” Malmevik said. “By means of the Morning Prayer experiences, the keynote addresses, the 19-plus breakout session speakers, the exhibitors and the first night dinner, the planners sought to weave the theme — ‘Harvesting the Fruits of Discipleship’ — into the two-day experience.”

Keynote speaker Willits, who is well-known in the Catholic media, is an author and has several other apostolates, called his Friday address “Tied in Knots.” He pointed out the primary difficulties people have in knowing, living and sharing the faith and then identified strategies to overcome those issues to become more fruitful disciples for Jesus.

On Saturday, Willits told attendees that they had a mission: to know their own identity. God made people for a purpose, he said, and each person needs to know how to identify his own talents and skills. Using those talents and skills will help individuals stay on target and live out their own unique God-given missions.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki attended DAEC and lead Morning Prayer on Saturday. A good number of priests were on hand to attend sessions along with Catholic school principals and teachers, and parish DREs, PSR coordinators and catechists.

Breakout sessions were led by people from states such as Kansas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri, along with leaders from other areas of Illinois and also several representatives from the Springfield diocese. Reps from Loyola Press, Our Sunday Visitor, Pflaum, RCL/Benziger and Sadlier, also presented on how textbooks are aligned to diocesan Religion Curriculum Standards.

Now that they have returned home from DAEC, attendees should go forward as disciples, Malmevik said. “Participants should share what they have heard and learned from the DAEC experience with co-workers, family members and fellow parishioners, helping all gain insights into how we as communities of missionary disciples can grow in our faith in Jesus Christ and conform our lives to his example and teachings.

“The role of evangelist and the call to ‘make disciples of all nations’ belong to all of us,” Malmevik said. “The DAEC is an opportunity to reflect on that role and call.”