It can be hard to find faithful, inspiring Catholics to share their witness publicly. But one organization provides a “turnkey solution” to finding Catholic speakers -- and it was all inspired by a brother’s admiration for his little sister.
When Joe Condit was in college, his younger sister, Christina Condit (now Christina Jacobin), began speaking to groups of young people about Catholic teaching on personal dignity and self-respect.
Her positive, faith-filled message resonated with teens and young adults, so much so that she began speaking to bigger and bigger groups.
“I was so inspired by her talking to her peers in high school, which is kind of one of the worst times of life,” her brother Joe recalled in an interview with Aleteia. “She attracted gymnasiums full of people.”
But as much as she loved to share her hopeful message, the nitty-gritty details could be a real slog.
“I realized the minutiae, the contract work, those little details, were not what she was focused on at the time. So I thought, ‘I bet there are other Christinas,’” he said.
That was in 2006. Sixteen years later, it turned out there were over 400 “other Christinas.” And that thought Joe Condit had became a thriving organization -- Catholic Speakers Organization.
The speakers on the roster include professional athletes, film actors, executives, authors, and so many others. What they all have in common is a deep religious faith and a passion for sharing the Gospel message.
As the first Catholic speakers bureau of its kind, the organization’s early years involved lots of word-of-mouth advertising. Now the internet makes connecting speakers to events light years easier. But either way, Condit’s brainchild continues to fill a real need.
“We make it super easy for organizers, who are often volunteers,” Condit said. Whether for a retreat, conference, small group, or any other gathering, it’s a cinch to find the right speaker for any event.
Now Condit has found a way to give back. “We started a non-profit arm and allocate resources to conferences and churches that need financial help to bring our speakers in.”
That’s because, more than anything, Condit and his team deeply believe in the importance of what their speakers have to share.
“It’s the most important message in the world that any man or woman can hear -- the truth of our Catholic faith,” he said.
