The Archdiocese of Kingston is inviting Catholics from its parishes across eastern Ontario to “Come and See” the fruits of its history this August, with a bold, archdiocese-wide spiritual speaker series designed to spark rejuvenation and celebrate 200 years of faithful history. 

Building on a year already marked by gratitude for two centuries of resilient faith and growing diversity, Kingston’s “Come and See” speaker series aims to translate the anniversary spirit into a more personal encounter and renewal for those who attend. From Aug. 13 to 15, various speakers will deliver talks on topics such as surrender, deeper prayer, trust amid uncertainty and the power of Christ’s Resurrection at four of the archdiocese’s regional churches simultaneously in an intentional effort to draw parishioners together before sending them back into their communities spiritually refreshed as the busy fall season approaches.

Fr. Justin Pulikunnel, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Marmora and Sacred Heart of Mary in Madoc and member of the Archdiocese of Kingston’s 200th anniversary planning committee, said while the overall feeling across the archdiocese is one of gratitude for the legacy left by previous generations, this event comes from a strong, shared sense of responsibility to build on that legacy.

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“ We have never done anything as coordinated in the archdiocese, where events are happening on the same day at the same time, and so the idea was about how we could get people united across the diocese while providing a good speaker on different aspects of the faith that can bring renewal and refreshment,” he told The Catholic Register.

Aug. 13 will be the archdiocese’s first foray into the decentralized speaker approach, with Lisa Canning set to speak at St. Joseph’s Church, Kingston, Kim Zember at St. Francis Xavier Church in Brockville, Fr. Donald Haggerty at St. Michael the Archangel in Belleville and Fr. Stéphane Pouliot for the northern deanery at St. John the Baptist Church in Perth, all beginning at 7 p.m. 

Though modest in approach, Pulikunnel and his team hope through the wide range of topics across the archdiocese’s many beautiful and historic churches, spiritual renewal and diocesan unity will follow. 

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“ We heard loud and clear from our young women and young mothers about the excitement around Canning, who will speak to trusting in God amidst the impossible. Zember is another very authentic speaker with an incredible backstory who will share how we can surrender to God's love, which is sure to be popular as well,” he said.

Haggerty, as pastor of St. Patrick's Cathedral and an author of many books for Ignatius Press, will touch on deeper prayer and the second conversion, with the dynamic Pouliot presenting a topic tied closely to the anniversary theme, “To know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” 

Aug. 14 will see Toronto’s Cardinal Frank Leo give his own keynote at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Kingston on “Knowing and Loving the Beloved,” before celebrating a Taizé prayer service with those in attendance. The hope is to attract Kingston’s growing youth and young adult community. 

“There seems to be a lot of attraction to St. Carlos Acutis, and so at that evening cathedral vigil, we plan to give out special medals that were commissioned to encourage the young people to continue to have devotion to him and his love for both the Eucharist and evangelization. It was important for us to put an emphasis on that during this series,” Pulikunnel said. 

The series will close the following day on the Solemnity of the Assumption with Holy Mass at the Cathedral, celebrated by Kingston Archbishop Michael Mulhall.

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Regardless of which speaker pulls in the most attendees, Pulikunnel hopes that, in a year with 200th-anniversary celebrations across the archdiocese, Come and See can offer local Catholics a chance to return to their own parishes and communities spiritually renewed in some of the faith’s most core truths and steeped in the history of their local tradition.

“Even in the summer, during the time of relaxation and of slowing down, we want people to be open to being touched and moved in their hearts, hearing someone outside of our circles testify to the power of Christ and His resurrection,” he said.