SPRINGFIELD — “Why Are You Catholic?,” the first of what is planned as an annual conference in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, will be held Saturday, March 21, at the MassMutual Center.

Sponsored by Catholic Life Conference, a nonprofit working in coordination with the diocese, the day-long event will feature Scripture scholar and theologian Scott Hahn, who will speak both in the morning and afternoon on the Eucharist and its central role in Catholic belief, as well as other break-out session presenters sharing their faith stories around conversion to Catholicism, abortion and sexual orientation and chastity.

There will be a separate faith formation program for youth, centered around the Eucharist and facilitated by the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Saint Benedict Center, a Public Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Worcester, where the Latin Tridentine Mass is offered daily at the center.

Participants may gather to recite the rosary prior to the start of the program and Bishop Mitchell Rozanski will conclude the program with the celebration of Mass.

“As a committee we were motivated to give a little something to everyone that attends this conference,” said April Helenek, president of the nonprofit and a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Greenfield, who met with Rozanski and has worked with diocesan and parish committee members in organizing the event.

“If you are far along in your journey and need a little more theology and insight into Catholic teachings we have something for you.”

She added, “If you are coming back, converting to the church or are lukewarm in your faith journey and you need a little boost or reminder of how to pray again or get a refresher on what the church teaches regarding tough subject matters we have something for you, too.”

“We have a beautiful Church with loving compassionate teachings and we wanted to display just that at this conference," Helenek said.

“We hope that by covering a wide range of subject matters and by using all different types and styles of speakers we will be able to reach as many people as possible wherever they are in their faith journey.”

Helenek added organizers poised the theme of the conference as a question to allow participants do answer it “for themselves.”

“There are so many reasons why one is Catholic," said Helenek, a married mother of six whose husband has also been a conference organizer.

“For me it is the teachings of the church that have withstood the test of time as well as the Eucharist that breathes life into me when I receive communion. But for someone else it could be the power we have as a whole community of believers. For someone else it is the honor we give to the Mother of God. For someone else it is the saints they relate to personally.”

“The list,” she said, "goes on and on and that is why we hope to have all of these things and more at the conference so that when each attendee finishes out the day they may add one more reason to the list of answers when asked the question, ‘Why are you Catholic?,’ and maybe say to themselves with more confidence, ‘Now this is why I am a Catholic,' and as a result giving them food for the journey ahead.”

It has been estimated that the Catholic Church, the largest single religious institution, has experienced the largest ratio of loss in terms of Catholics leaving the Church in comparison to converts in recent years due to a number of challenges.

These include the clerical sex abuse of minors and its cover-up and division within the Church under Pope Francis around issues like sexual morality, inclusiveness and who can be ordained to the priesthood, and the Church has engaged in what is called the “new evangelism” to strengthen the faithful in what are the Church teachings and reconnect with those who have left.

Helenek said all the break-out speakers as well as the Rev. Michael Pierz, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Agawam and conference committee spiritual advisor, will give a “15-minute sampler each on why they are Catholic" at the start of the program to allow participants to confirm they want to attend the session they registered for in advance or to switch to another session.

Hahn, Father Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, will also present a break-out session around the topic of family.

A Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986 in part because of its teachings around the Eucharist and salvation, Hahn, who earned a doctorate in theology from Marquette University in 1995, is author of numerous books including “The First Society: The Sacrament of Matrimony and the Restoration of the Social Order” and “Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei.”

Hahn, who speaks frequently on the Catholic faith and how its theology is rooted in Scripture, has six children with his wife, Kimberly, who holds a master of arts in theological studies and has also authored a number of books including “Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults” and “Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage.”

Breakout sessions in the morning will offer participants the choice of hearing further from Hahn about conversion and family; Trish Short, one of the singers in EWTN’s “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song,” who will talk on her pro-life journey and later perform her “The Chaplet in Song,” as well as Hudson Byblow, whose CD, “In Pursuit of My Identity: Homosexuality, Transgenderism and My Life,” is available from the Augustine Institute founded originally under Archbishop Charles Chaput and now merged with Lighthouse Catholic Media.

The duo Popple will offer a musical entertainment sessions for youth.

The morning program begins at 8:30 after the saying of the rosary at 8:15.

Lunch will be offered between noon and 2 p.m. and from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. the schedule includes Hahn’s keynote address, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, confession and Mass.

The deadline for registration, which can be done online or call (413) 768-0698, is March 10.

Cost for the event is $50; students, and children, $15, and free for toddlers.