NASPA 2026 Annual Convention Summary
NASPA's Annual Convention 2026 “Sacred Heights: Renewed in Spirit and United in Mission" concluded on Wednesday, September 16. We were blessed with the wonderful hospitality and beauty of the Mother Cabrini Shrine, which is led by Executive Director Joann Seaman. We also want to thank this year's convention silver sponsor, Eikhof Columbarium, for their continued support of NASPA
The Convention opened Sunday night with Vespers led by Fr. John Lager, O.F.M. Cap. followed by a welcome address by NASPA President Carol Bezak, Director of the National Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine in New York.
"New ideas and knowledge can be helpful when applied to our own settings and NASPA strives not only in these next few days - but all year - to share best practices and helpful tools to build the kingdom of God in our own setting," said Bezak. "I can truly say that none of us accomplishes great things alone, but only when we are open to formation and ongoing professional and spiritual development can our lives grow and expand – and bring the kingdom of God to all whose lives we touch."
Day 2 Monday, September 14
Monday began with Breakfast and a vendor showcase, followed by a tour of the shrine chapel and a self-guided tour of the shrine's grounds. A group of determined convention guests decided to climb the Mother Cabrini Stairway of Prayer, 373 stone steps that lead pilgrims up the mountain along the path that Mother Cabrini and her sisters took.
We heard from Creatio Executive Director Bo Brustkern about Encountering God in Nature. During Mass we were joined by Bishop Jorge Rodriquez , PH. D. - Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese of Denver.
The afternoon included talks by Focus Founders Curtis and Michaelann Martin as well as a talk by Br. Robert Chiulli - Prior Provincial, North American Province of St. Elias about designing transformative Shrine Experience.
Monday concluded with Dinner at The Buffalo Rose restaurant in Golden, Co.
Day 3 Tuesday, September 15
Tuesday's events began with Nick Barron - Executive Director of El Camino de San Antonio Missions followed by Monsignor Vito A. Buonanno - who gave a talk on shrines as schools of Prayer.
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Tuesday's final session was Marketing, Money, and Visibility: Sustainable Growth for Shrines with Miguel Mireles, JoAnn Seaman, and Julia Attaway .
The group then departed for Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception tour in Denver with Adam Hermanson -Integration Design Group. The cruciform cathedral inspired by French Gothic architecture was designed by Leon Coquard of Detroit, and completed by Denver architects Aaron Gove and Thomas Walsh. It is 195 feet by 116 feet in length and width with a vaulted ceiling rising 68 feet above the slightly sloping nave. The church originally seated 1,000 but after remodeling it seats 800.
Day 4 Wednesday September 16
The convention concluded after the Annual Business meeting. Some of the highlights from the meeting included the creation of 4 committees, the election of three new board members and the introduction of regional gatherings in 2027.
Committees: (Open to all Members contact Support@catholicshrines.org for more information)
Membership Committee
Marketing and Communication
Events Committee
Governance Committee
Election results:
President- Miguel Mireles, Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City
Vice-President - Julia Attaway, St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in NYC
Members-at-large - Carol Bezak, National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in NY and Jonathan Jerome, St. Katherine Drexel Shrine in Philadelphia.
Regional gatherings:
Our next regional gathering will be at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in NYC on February 4th.
We will have a regional gathering in April in Los Angeles; date TBA
More dates for regional gatherings in 2027 will be announced before the end of the year.
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