Men's Conference roster announced

Msgr. Thomas Sullivan and Angelo Guadagno, who co-chair the Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference, have announced the speaking program for the 19th annual conference, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, at Assumption College. The conference is the nation’s oldest event of its type.
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.
“We are thrilled by the invitation of Assumption College to host the conference a third time,” said Msgr. Sullivan. “Once more, the college officials are rolling out the red carpet.”
“We have a superb slate of speakers again this year, six in fact,” Mr. Guadagno said of this year’s expanded program. “There is something for everyone and I know that our participants will not be disappointed in them, especially given the variety of their topics.”
“Living, Dying and the Power of Presence,” will be the topic addressed by Kevin Dunn a Toronto-based film-maker who is bringing the moral issues of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, as well as abortion, to the world’s attention through contemporary media.
Dunn’s message is described by many as life-affirming, hopeful and heart-warming. He says that we can all “save lives” through our love of God and neighbor in humble service. He has created a number of films; his most recent is Fatal Flaws, on physician-assisted suicide. It has been viewed by many in the Worcester Diocese over the past year.
The title of Francesco Cesareo’s talk is “A Wounded Church.” Cesareo is the president of Assumption College and also the chairman of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People based in Washington, D.C. His address, in these difficult times, will speak to what the board has accomplished since the notable Dallas Charter of 2002.
The board has worked with leaders in every American diocese to protect young people from misconduct.
President Cesareo’s talk will be very timely in view of the upcoming meetings planned, in February, by Pope Francis, and by the bishops of the United States.
A staff apologist at Catholic Answers, Trent Horn will demonstrate that in defending our faith today we need to focus on the right questions and the right attitudes. Having given more than 500 presentations to audiences around the world, this author of five books on apologetics will have as his title, “The Beginner’s Guide to Defending Your Faith.”
Horn is heard regularly on Catholic radio and television throughout the United States.
Father Warren Savage, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield, will offer the talk prior to the hearing of confessions, “Do ‘Good People’ Need the Sacrament of Reconciliation?” He says, “We do.”
Father Savage is the Catholic chaplain at Westfield State University, a lecturer at Our Lady of the Elms College, and serves on numerous spiritual committees in his diocese. He believes that Catholics need the sacrament of reconciliation to rediscover the deep truth that we are “in need of God’s tender mercy and forgiveness.”
“With the Strength of Angels,” is the theme of author, poet, catechist and songwriter, Mike Aquilina. He has authored more than 50 books on spirituality and has worked closely with such notables at Scott Hahn (who will be a speaker at Worcester’s 2020 Catholic Men’s Conference), John Michael Talbot, and rock and roll artist, Dion. His talk will focus on the power of angels, given to people today, as it was given to the ancient patriarchs, Abraham, Jacob and Moses.
Rounding out the program will be Eric Mahl, a member of the formation team of the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. “Transformation into Love” is the theme. Mahl played Division One football at Kent State University and was signed by the Cleveland Browns. Turning down the offer of the NFL, he lived for three years as a hermit to deepen his faith. He then entered the inner-city and has been working with the homeless and those living on the streets for many years.
Singer and composer, Ryan Tremblay, and his wife, Elizabeth, who were major presenters at the Men’s Conference last year, will lead all the music at this year’s conference.
Bishop McManus will be the principal concelebrant 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 a thousand, go to confession.”
Through March 25 ticket prices for adult men are $45. They increase to $60 on March 26. 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 in those parishes which have them; 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,” Msgr. Sullivan said. “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.