PORTLAND — The West Coast Catholic Conference returns to Portland this November for the first time since 2019, gathering three of the best-known voices in the traditional Catholic world to address a question many American Catholics are asking: Can you be fully American and fully Catholic?
Hosted by Our Lady of Fatima Holy Name Society in Vancouver, Wash., "Catholicism in the American Experiment" will be held Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Holiday Inn Portland Airport, 8439 NE Columbia Blvd.
The conference looks at how Catholics can live their faith fully in an increasingly secular culture without retreating from public life or compromising Church teaching. Speakers will examine the American founding, the Church's teaching on the Kingship of Christ, and the practical choices Catholic families face in civic life today.
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, a philosopher and author of more than 20 books, opens the conference Friday evening with the keynote "The Catholic State and the Resurrection of Christendom." On Saturday, attorney Christopher A. Ferrara will present "The Myth of the Christian Founding" and "The Myth of the Phantom Heresy," challenging the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Fr. Jonathan Loop, a former pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, will speak on "Christ the King & Political Prudence," and Kwasniewski will return with "The Kingship of Christ: Font and Apex of the Christian Social Order."
Saturday begins with a Traditional Latin Mass at 8 a.m., followed by a full day of talks, a panel discussion with audience questions, a book signing and a gala banquet. A Golden Ticket Raffle for a pilgrimage for two with Regina Pilgrimages, valued at $11,000, will be drawn at the banquet. All proceeds benefit the Our Lady of Fatima Capital Campaign.
Early-bird registration is $179 for a full pass, $159 for Saturday only and $40 for Friday only, and ends Oct. 31. Saturday passes include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Registration and the full schedule are available at sspxolf.org/2026conference.
Event at a glance
What West Coast Catholic Conference: "Catholicism in the American Experiment"
When Friday, Nov. 13, 6–9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 14, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Where Holiday Inn Portland Airport, 8439 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97220
Speakers Dr. Peter A. Kwasniewski; Christopher A. Ferrara, Esq.; Fr. Jonathan Loop
Highlights Traditional Latin Mass, five talks, speaker panel with audience Q&A, book signing, gala banquet, live raffle drawing
Tickets Early-bird through Oct. 31: Full Pass $179, Saturday $159, Friday $40 (prices rise 20/$10 on Nov. 1)
Register sspxolf.org/2026conference
Host Our Lady of Fatima, Vancouver, Wash.
Speaker bios
Dr. Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D. is a Thomistic philosopher, liturgical scholar, lecturer and composer, and the author of more than 20 books, including The Once and Future Roman Rite and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright. He founded Os Justi Press, and his work also appears on the Pelican+ media platform.
Christopher A. Ferrara, Esq. is founder and president of the American Catholic Lawyers Association and a regular columnist for The Remnant. He is the author of six books and more than 100 articles on political philosophy, theology and liturgy. His legal work centers on the sanctity of life and religious liberty.
Fr. Jonathan Loop is a priest of the Society of St. Pius X and prior of St. Therese's Church and Priory in Nicholville, N.Y. He previously served as prior and philosophy professor in Post Falls, Idaho, and St. Marys, Kan., and as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima. He is a frequent podcast guest on scholasticism, historical theology and the crisis in the Church.
About Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima is a traditional Catholic parish of the Society of St. Pius X in Vancouver, Wash., offering the Traditional Latin Mass, catechism and a homeschool community. The West Coast Catholic Conference benefits the parish's capital campaign. Learn more at sspxolf.org.
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