The Napa Institute Annual Summer Conference, now in its 13th year, has become the leading Catholic summit in the US, an annual wine-country pilgrimage gathering business and spiritual leaders from across the country. Founded by resorts and educational entrepreneur Tim Busch and former Gonzaga University president Father Robert Spitzer SJ, this year’s five-day event in July was held at Busch’s Meritage Resort outside downtown Napa in California.
The conference featured high-profile speakers – including former US vice president Mike Pence, former American Enterprise Institute head and now Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, and human life advocate Helen Alvaré – over 100 Masses in different rites, Eucharistic processions and ample opportunity for confession provided by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Sumptuous meals and late-night drinks took place on The Lawn, an AstroTurf-like synthetic rug.
Over 800 attendees, many from the US Midwest, convened in an atmosphere that was both reverent and relaxed, everyone appearing to enjoy a religious and intellectual respite at the height of summer in the Golden State.
