2018 Worcester Catholic Men's Conference set for March 17

The longest running diocesan men’s conference promises to inspire, educate and entertain more than 1,000 men this year with a lineup of speakers that includes a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan and Angelo Guadagno, who co-chair the Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference, have announced that the 18th annual conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, at Assumption College.
“We have a superb slate of speakers again this year,” said Mr. Guadagno. “There is something for everyone and I know that our participants will not be disappointed in them, especially given the variety of their topics.”
“Faith, Family and Football,” will be the theme of Elvis Grbac, retired NFL quarterback, who played for the San Francisco Forty-Niners, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, following a record-setting career with the University of Michigan. He won a ring for Super Bowl XXIX with San Francisco’s victory. Grbac will share stories from his time in the NFL, family life, and the lessons learned along the way, and will offer an inspiring perspective on the pursuit of the American dream. He speaks with candor about the challenges he’s faced in life and how he overcame them through faith, hard work and perseverance.
The title of Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s talk is “Keeping Your Kids Catholic.” Says D’Ambrosio, “Many are understandably concerned about the faith of today’s youth, whether they are still in the nest or are now adults.  They ask, ‘What can be done to keep them Catholic?  Or to leading them back if they’ve already strayed?’” His talk discusses what everyone in the family can do to build a faith foundation for children.
D’Ambrosio initially set his sights on stardom, playing bass guitar in several popular rock bands. A deep encounter with Christ caused a change of course leading to a doctorate in theology from The Catholic University of America, under the guidance of Avery Cardinal Dulles. He is a New York Times best-selling author, with his book on Mel Gibson’s film, “The Guide to the Passion,” selling more than a million copies in its first three months.
Father David Cavanagh returns to the conference after several years to offer a talk prior to the hearing of confessions: “Personal Confession: A Key to Evangelization.” He says, “Our Lord unambiguously reveals the ‘good news,’ the love that is greater than sin, when he states: ‘I have come to call sinners.’ Only persons who are personally forgiven their sins can actually ‘know’ this good news personally, by experience.”
Father Cavanagh played hockey at Phillips Andover Academy and Harvard College. Throughout the years of his priesthood he has primarily served in pastoral assignments in Opus Dei. From 1989 to 1997 he was the chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, he is the chaplain to the Opus Dei student residence in Cambridge.
“Know God and Live a Life of No Regrets,” is the theme of mid-westerner Robert Rogers. In 2003, he experienced a tragedy of biblical proportions. After eight years as a father, nearly 12 years as a husband, and 13 years as an electrical engineer, his life completely changed one night on the family’s way home from a wedding in Wichita, Kansas.
Rogers has shared his compelling message across the country over 1,100 times, to more than a quarter of a million people personally, and on all the major television networks. 
Singer and composer Ryan Tremblay will musically address the conference in a program called, “My Life with You.” He will share his personal Catholic experience with powerful drumming, heart-felt songs and hilarious stories about his love of the people and sacraments of the Catholic Church. And he’ll be accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, as they share the story of what it was like to meet Pope Francis following their wedding.
The speaking program and exhibitions will take place in the Plourde Center at Assumption College. Lunch will be served in the Laska Gym and the site for confessions will be in the Hagan Campus Center. These buildings abut one another.
“We are thrilled by the invitation of Assumption College to host the conference a second time,” said Msgr. Sullivan. “Once more, officials of the college are rolling out the red carpet.”
Bishop McManus will be the principal celebrant and homilist for the Conference Mass at 4 p.m.
Many diocesan and religious priests will participate by hearing confessions at mid-day. The sacrament of reconciliation has become a conference staple.  Since so many participants go to confession, the committee hopes that more priests than ever will come.
“We can use as many priests as will come,” said Msgr. Sullivan, “since so many of the men, nearly 1,000, go to confession.”
Through Feb. 28 ticket prices for adult men are $45. They increase to $60 on March 1. Ticket prices for students are $30 prior to the conference and at the door.  Tickets can be purchased online on the conference website at www.firstmensconf.org; by sending a check to Catholic Men’s Conference, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609; by contacting parish contact persons, or by calling Sara Smillie at 508-929-4345.
“In addition to reaching out to men of all ages, a special effort is being made to invite teens and young adults and there is a concerted effort in our Catholic high schools to attract students to the conference,” said Msgr. Sullivan. “We want to continue to strengthen the conference by welcoming young men who are so important for the Church’s future.  Each year the conference seeks a younger audience,” he added.