A remarkable Catholic ministry conference in Texas has gotten some attention not just for its focus, but for its size.

From The Dallas Morning News:

In its 2,000-year history, the Roman Catholic Church rarely has been accused of failing to think big – and certainly not this weekend.

The church brought a flock of thousands to the Dallas Convention Center for the University of Dallas Ministry Conference, which began Friday.

“It’s an exciting time for the church in Texas,” said Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl as he waited in the center’s lobby before delivering the event’s keynote address.

Standing with him was Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell. Together with his counterpart in Fort Worth, Farrell had organized what he called “probably the largest gathering of Catholics in the state of Texas.”

About 4,400 people had registered for the conference by Friday, compared with about 400 who attended last year – thanks largely to a strategy for which the church is famous: centralization.

Previously, the dioceses had held a handful of smaller events for their various offices throughout the year. Those were eliminated this year, making the expanded ministry conference the only show in town.

“Before, it was done in a very haphazard way,” said Farrell. “I wanted to raise the standard.”

The bishops raised expectations as well. Organizers hope that 10,000 people will attend the conference by 2012, making Dallas one of the premier Catholic convention sites in the country.

Such ambition may not be misplaced. The Dallas Diocese has seen its numbers explode in the last 20 years, largely due to immigration and newcomers from the East Coast, according to Farrell.

“Just think that in 1990 there were only 200,000 Catholics in Dallas, and today there are 1.2 million,” he said a few minutes before disappearing into a packed exhibit hall.

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