Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the conference. We hope you find them helpful as you make your way around our website and register for the University of Dallas Ministry Conference. If you have a question that is not answered below, please feel free to contact us.
The University of Dallas Ministry Conference is a three-day event sponsored by the Diocese of Dallas and the University of Dallas, which includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions in three languages, an exhibition hall, musical performances by well-known and up-and-coming Catholic artists, various prayer services, and Mass.
The 2019 conference will be held Thursday, October 10 – Saturday, October 12, 2019.
While UDMC is especially recommended for Catholic school teachers, parish administration, and anyone involved in lay ecclesial or volunteer ministry within the Church, it is open and applicable to the life of anyone who wishes to attend. This is because the session topics are various, from Catholic school resources to adult faith formation topics to marriage and family life issues, just to name a few. Therefore, every individual can cater their UDMC experience to personally grow in faith.
The Dallas Ministry Conference has grown over the past few years. In 2014, the event brought together nearly 5,300 attendees, exhibitors, volunteers, and speakers. For the 2019 conference, we hope to continue growing.
The theme of the University of Dallas Ministry Conference is "Walking Together in Faith."
The University of Dallas Ministry Conference is presented by the University of Dallas and co-sponsored by the Diocese of Dallas. However, there are opportunities for other companies to sponsor this three-day event. For a full list of sponsors, click here. For information on sponsoring, click here.
EARLY REGISTRATION RATES:
Dallas Diocesan attendee rate: $68.00 (on or before Sept. 24, 2019)
Non-Diocesan attendee rate: $85.00 (on or before Sept. 24, 2019)
REGULAR REGISTRATION RATES:
Dallas Diocesan attendee rate: $78.00 (from Sept. 25– Oct. 5, 2019)
Non-Diocesan attendee rate: $95.00 (from Sept. 25– Oct. 5, 2019)
All on-site registration is $100.00 (after Oct. 1, 2019 only onsite registration will be available)
Sunday, October 6, 2019 for online registration. After that point, we will have onsite registration starting the first day of the conference.
After the conference, reports will be generated and made available to the group leaders so that they can see who actually attended from their group. Then group leaders can assign continuing education credit as they see fit.
We offer our attendees the option to pay by check or cash as well. Please select the "Pay by Check" option while registering. An invoice with payment details will be sent to you inside of a confirmation email upon registration.
Yes, registration will be available on-site for $100.
Yes! The conference is structured such that your registration fee covers any and all sessions, musical performances, prayer services, and the exhibit hall. You are free to come and go as you please; the price of ticket includes all three days' activities, but you may, of course, attend only one or two of the days. Just remember that your name tag is your ticket into the various happenings at the conference and must be worn at all times while at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
As in years past, a person's name badge is the official entrance ticket for the conference. All name badges will require pick up at the conference check-in/registration booths on the first day of attendance. Each member of groups will have to pick up their own name badge. Please print and bring your confirmation email with your barcode with you. If you have questions regarding this, please contact us.
Anyone can register for the University of Dallas Ministry Conference by completing the online registration form. It is not necessary to register with a parish or school group. That being said, we do require that you tell us your parish and diocese in the registration form so that we have more complete data on our participants.
The best way to know if your parish is attending the 2019 conference is to contact your parish directly. Some parishes may be willing to add parish members to their group, but since there is no group discount this year, you can register on your own, and simply designate your parish on your registration.
Yes, this type of modification can be made so that the groups can utilize all of the tickets they purchased. Simply contact us and we will be happy to make this modification for you. Or your group contact can make this modification by re-visiting the registration and entering their confirmation number. Unfortunately, no pre-conference modifications will be accepted after September 23, 2019. Modifications can be made at the conference for a $5 charge by visiting the check-in/registration booths.
Unfortunately, no full refunds are available. However, refunds will be processed, less a $15 per person processing fee, if they are received in writing by September 23, 2019. Absolutely no refunds will be awarded after that date.
The 2019 University of Dallas Ministry Conference will be held at the Irving Convention Center. The registration for UDMC will take place in the Lobby.
UDMC is not responsible for lost or stolen items at the conference. However, if you lost something at the conference, first visit the UDMC Information Booth or the Registration Booths. We will have a lost and found there for anyone with the conference who has found something to turn in. If we do not have your item, we will also refer you to the Irving Convention Center, which has their own lost and found. Please be prepared to provide a description of the lost item and an ID if necessary. If you realize you have lost something after the conference, contact us and we will be happy to check what was found for you.
Information to follow.
Please click here for information.
For the best directions to the Irving Convention Center, please click here. This page provides a lot of information on travel options to and from the airport.
This year, the official hotel for the Dallas Ministry Conference will be: The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
The Irving Convention Center has their own food service company that will be providing the food options for the 2019 conference. These will include both hot meals and quick-eats, such as salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Several stations will be provided throughout the facility to ensure lines remain short. You can also leave the convention center and visit any number of restaurants near the convention center.
No, all food must be purchased separately from your registration fee. All in-house meal options are provided by the Irving Convention Center.
Unfortunately, no outside food is allowed in the convention center.
Yes, there are several restaurants near the convention center, within walking distance.
A topic track is a particular theme which several sessions fit into. For example, any talk that will focus on catechetics will be in the Catechetical Formation track. This year's tracks include: Catechetical Formation; Catholic Management & Leadership; Catholic Schools; Community Pastoral Care; Diaconal Ministry; General Faith Formation; Justice & Service Ministry; Liturgical Art & Architecture; Liturgy, Sacraments & Music Ministry (includes RCIA); Marriage & Family Life; Technology & Media; and Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry. This system is devised in order to help the conference participants understand better what topic area the talks fit within so that the participants can attend talks that are relevant for them.
You are definitely welcome to attend sessions in any language throughout the conference. We simply request that you note this on your registration form.
Unfortunately there is no way to pre-register for a session. If you desire to attend a specific session, the best way to ensure a seat is to arrive early. Many of the most popular speakers/topics will be located in larger rooms. That will help to ensure that more people are able to attend their session of choice.
If a session is full, we encourage you to find another session nearby that interests you. We encourage you to pick a first and second choice for each session time slot so that you can be prepared if this situation were to happen.
Yes! This year, some of the UDMC sessions will be recorded and available for purchase following the conference. More details to follow.
We encourage you to click here to find out more about the exhibiting companies at the 2019 conference. More companies are added every week, so please check back regularly for the most updated list.
Each exhibitor is responsible for notifying any drawing winners that they may select. Check with each exhibitor for details.
The University of Dallas and the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, co-sponsors of the University of Dallas Ministry Conference, announced that to better reflect their partnership, the conference will henceforth be known as the Dallas Ministry Conference. The 10th annual conference will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2016, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas.
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