Lifest • Oshkosh, WI July 9, 2026
That little device runs more of our lives than we’d like to admit—and for teens growing up with it, the stakes are even higher. Join Tony and Kristin Bird, parents of three teens and longtime educators, for an honest conversation about phones, social media, and family life. Learn why delaying smartphones and social media matters, how to set boundaries that actually work, and how to keep real connection alive when screens are always competing for attention. You’ll leave with tools you can start using right away and a clearer vision for helping your family thrive in a world that never logs off.
Tony and Kristin Bird are parents of three teens and longtime educators from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Between Tony’s work in public education and Kristin’s ministry through Burning Hearts Disciples, they bring practical, hard-won perspective to helping families raise connected, resilient teens in a world that never logs off.
Additional resources and downloads are available below
Before You Do Anything Else: Reclaiming Prayer as Relationship
May 21, 2026
A retreat day for catechetical leaders whose prayer lives have quietly become another place of pressure rather than rest. This day creates space to name the hidden lies we carry about prayer – what it should look like, how it should feel, and how easily our work for the Church can replace time with the Lord.
Through reflection, Scripture, silence, and sacramental prayer, participants are invited to encounter prayer again as honest relationship rather than performance or obligation. This is not a retreat about learning new methods or fixing spiritual habits, but about letting Jesus meet us where we actually are and gently restore prayer to its rightful place at the heart of our lives.
Mareda is an independent association of catechetical leaders in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Pilgrims of Hope: Parish Mission Dec 1 - 3, 2025
This Advent, we’re invited to rediscover a hope that’s more than just positive thinking – it's a way of living that brings light even in hard times. Over three evenings, Tony and Kristin Bird will share honest stories, Scripture, and practical ways they’ve found hope through forgiveness, prayer, and everyday struggles. Whether you’ve been close to God for years or are just wondering where to begin, these evenings offer a space to rest, reflect, and be renewed. Come as you are and find encouragement to keep going, no matter where you are on the journey.
Additional resources and downloadable resources & reflections to help you unpack the mission's theme and topic will be found below after each night of the mission.
