NACPA Annual Convocation 

Call for 2025 Breakout Session Speakers

Convocation Overview

NACPA's annual convocation allows members to learn from experts in HR and the world of HR in the Church; from those who have succeeded in creating a better and more prosperous environment, through the field of HR, within their communities. During the three-day meeting, delegates attend a spirited Opening Ceremony, uplifting prayer services, and networking opportunities. They will hear from outstanding Plenary speakers; select 4 compelling breakout sessions, from a choice of 12; participate in a hot topic round table (out of 3), welcoming forums, as well as post-session and speaker chats, and will be able to meet face-to-face with vendors specific to the fields of HR and HR within the Catholic Church.

Our Attendees

• All who work in HR-related fields for the Church
• Chancellors / CEOs / Religious Community Directors
• Finance Directors / Managers
• Human Resource Associates
• Human Resource Directors
• Pastors
• Parish Managers / Business Managers
• Principals / Heads of School
• Religious Community HR Directors & Associates / Business / Finance Managers 

Call for Speakers

Share your specific Church HR knowledge and experience with NACPA members and attendees.

NACPA 2025 will focus on Compassion for others and the self. While we encourage proposals of any nature that would be of sincere interest and benefit to those who have human resources responsibilities within the Catholic Church, our members have singled out the following timely and important topics as specific needs:

• AI in the Workplace
• Pay Equity
• Managing Payroll (especially when moving employees from exempt to non-exempt and salary to hourly)
• Addressing the challenges of managing today's employees (who hold a variety of sensibilities surrounding the stress of the world/workplace, who also have varying/new expectations of reasonable work structure and/or work-loads)
• Navigating new laws from a Catholic Worldview
• DOL Updates
• DEI in the world of the Church
• Team Building
• Continuing Managing Remote Staff

Speaker Registration $675 (available Sep 1) All speakers are expected to register for NACPA 2025 themselves and are responsible for booking their own hotel arrangements when the room block is released in the fall. If your session is chosen, you will be sent a Speaker Code in order to register at this special rate.

The breakout speaker schedule for NACPA 2025 will run from Monday, April 28, at 11 AM, local time - Tuesday, April 29, at 3 PM. All breakout sessions for 2025 will run a total of 1 HR and 30 Minutes, the final 15 - 20 minutes of that time can be used for Q&A/discussion if needed.

Click for Full Speaker Information and to submit a
2025 Breakout Sesson Submission

Convocation Recertification

NACPA Convocation is a wonderful opportunity for Church HR Professionals to gain recertification credit hours from both HRCI and SHRM! Below were the credit hours an attendee could submit from attending NACPA 2024. 

NACPA 2024 was approved for 11 recertification credit hours of which 6.25 are business credit hours toward aPHR®, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). Full Registration Attendees will receive the activity ID after the program concludes. For more information about certification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.

NACPA 2024 was recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits(PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This program was approved for 11 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit https://www.shrm.org.

Attendees receive the activity ID after the program concludes.

Exhibitors & Sponsors 

Our annual convocation is the perfect place to make a true connection with our members. NACPA is proud to be able to offer this annual event, not only as a space for members to learn, commune and connect with each other, but as a space where our members can meet with vendors who offer exemplary solutions for their specific Church Human Resources needs.

As a close-knit community, our members rely on each other for advice and referrals when choosing new vendors. When you attend NACPA convocation, you not only have the opportunity to create a bond with our attending members, your organization will also be represented, via attendee experiences and recommendations throughout the year, as other members come in need of your services.

Included in the exhibit fee is a 6’ x 30” skirted table, two chairs, full participation in non-breakout session event offerings, for two representatives; including the opening reception, opening liturgy, morning prayer, two plenary sessions, Monday evening happy hour, two continental breakfasts, and the closing social and Awards Banquet Tuesday night.

Registration will open Sun April 14 at 1 PM. Exhibits can be assembled on April 14 from 1 PM - 4 PM and can be dismantled after lunch on Tue April 16 (not provided as many off-campus options), though we invite all exhibitors to attend the Social (6:30) and Banquet that evening at 7 PM.

Sample Convocation Schedule

Terms and Conditions on Exhibiting 

Convocation Sponsorship Information

PAST CONVOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

 Convocation 2024 - Kansas City, MO - April 14-16, 2024

Convocation 2024 Full Program

Gratitude for a Joyous NACPA 2024!

Our time in Kansas City was informative, spirited and rejuvenating! We are so pleased that it brought together 140 attendees, from 36 states, Washington, DC and Vancouver, Canada who came to us from as far as Alaska, Maine and Florida! Together, our community represented 15 archdioceses, 38 dioceses, 25 parishes, 11 religious communities, and representatives from several Catholic Charities, Catholic Cemeteries, and schools across the nation. Throughout our event we were graciously supported by our 27 exhibiting vendors and sponsors and their 50 on-site representatives.

At our beautiful Opening Liturgy, we were welcomed by Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. of Kansas City-St. Joseph at Visitation Church.

We heard from two stellar Plenary Speakers who stirred both our bodies and souls, and attendees chose from 12 excellent breakout sessions lead by our expert speakers. For the first time, we provided morning mass on both Monday and Tuesday, as well as morning prayer. We had a marvelous Opening Social, accompanied by the jazzy Brant Jester Trio. We hosted 3 book-signings and delighted in our Monday evening Thank you Kansas City Happy Hour, sponsored by Mutual of America, where we sampled local beer and spirits. Our time together was topped like icing on a cake with a spectacular performance by St. Monica's Choir at our Closing Social followed by a delicious Banquet Awards Dinner where we celebrated each other and toasted our tremendous and deserving awardees. On Tuesday night we had our first ever on-site Karaoke After Party - where we let loose and were treated to great music and remarkable displays of talent (in signing, dancing, and comedic timing), it was a jubilant evening that imbodied the absolute good vibes and comradery of our entire week.

Our sincere gratitude to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph of Missouri and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and everyone on their teams for their hard work this year on behalf of all of NACPA. We also offer our great thanks to each of you for making the time to participate, especially to those who lent their time and talents as one of our expert speakers. This year's program was packed with timely information, unique to the field of Church HR, and it wouldn't have been possible without the passion and commitment of our NACPA members. Your efforts highlight what is the most treasured resource of NACPA membership; your generosity of shared expertise and knowledge.

Convocation 2023 ~ April 30 - May 2, 2023

NACPA 2023 Full Program

Convocation 2022 ~ May 1-3, 2022

 NACPA 2022 Full Program

NACPA 2022 Closing Awards Banquet Slide Show

Convocation 2021 ~ April 26-28, 2021

We wish to thank the Archdiocese of Baltimore, our Speakers and Sponsors for a beautiful and fulfilling convocation!

#NACPA2021 kicked off our 50th anniversary — it was indeed an occasion for celebration and charting a course for the next 50. 

2021 Session Package Available
through September 15th

50th Anniversary Giving Campaign

NACPA 2021 Program

2021 Virtual Exhibit Hall

(Please note the SHRM number within the program is incorrect)

 Convocation 2020