Anita Draper
Catholic Herald staff

Teachers, catechists, school staff and clergy are invited to learn about Artificial Intelligence’s impact on Catholics on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Diocese of Superior’s 63rd Annual Fall Conference.

An annual gathering for educators and faith formation leaders at St. Joseph, Rice Lake, the conference includes Mass with Bishop James P. Powers, vendors, two keynote addresses, lunch and breakout sessions.

This year’s keynote speaker is John Brahier, director of Educational Engagement for Longbeard, the creator of Catholic chatbot app Magisterium AI.

With a background that includes teaching math and theology, directing high school ministry and serving as associate superintendent for Catholic Culture in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Brahier has educational experience at both the local and diocesan level. He and his wife, Annie, live with their four children in the Detroit area.

“The issues we’re dealing with are mostly the takeover of AI in people’s lives,” summarized Peggy Schoenfuss, Chancellor of the Diocese of Superior and Superintendent of Catholic Schools. In general, everyone is “depending on it too much,” so Brahier will address “the moral obligation we have as a church to help people know the risks of using it.”

Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by Mass celebrated by Bishop James P. Powers at 9 a.m. Brahier’s talks are at 10:20 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Tyler Kircher, associate director of Youth Discipleship, has been working with Brahier in preparation for the conference.

“John will be covering a few topics in his two keynotes,” Kircher said. “First he’ll be addressing defining what AI is, what the church says about it … reasons for us to be excited and apprehensive about AI, and some of our own human uniqueness. In his second keynote, he’ll be addressing hallmarks of a church in the AI era and utilizing AI as a tool to support various parish efforts in the name of evangelization.”

Breakout sessions are scheduled for 1:20 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and cover a range of topics – teen and family ministry; faith in art and science; the science of reading; basics of Eucharist and confession; fostering women’s religious vocations and more.

Brahier will also lead two AI-related sessions, one of which is exclusively for clergy.

“He’ll be speaking with clergy on ways to preach and teach about AI so it’s more pertinent for them, and we’ll be hopefully receiving much of that conversation from our priests and deacons through their teaching us,” Kircher said.

Schoenfuss views misinformation as one of the key issues related to AI.

“As you’ve seen in the media, the Vatican has released several comments about AI-generated videos of Pope Leo,” she commented. “We have a moral obligation to help people question what they see or hear, as it might be AI generated and not true.”

In her role as superintendent, she’s also studying the impact of AI on education.

“The schools are taking this year to review how students and teachers are using it and evaluating what steps or policies may need to be implemented because of it,” she explained.

Cost to attend Fall Conference is $60 per person and includes an 11:30 a.m. lunch of grilled chicken, potatoes and salad. The conference concludes at 3:30 p.m.

Questions can be directed to 715-234-5044. Register at catholicdos.org/fall-educators-conference.

John Brahier