Scott Hahn to speak at Men’s Conference

The Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with speakers that include author Scott Hahn, Bishop Robert Reed of CatholicTV, and Luis Soto of the Augustine Institute.
Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan and Angelo Guadagno, co-chairmen of the nation’s oldest conference of this type, announced the speakers for the event that will be held at Assumption College on Saturday, March 28.
The planning committee has been inviting parish contact persons for the annual Mass and planning breakfast set for 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant St., Worcester, where Msgr. Sullivan is pastor. If able to come, those men are asked to contact the committee.
The conference’s speaking program and lunch will take place in Assumption’s Plourde Center. Registration and 70 exhibitions will be in the Laska Gym. Confessions will be heard in the adjoining Hagan Campus Center.
“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, especially given the variety of topics.”
Scott Hahn, an exceptionally popular speaker, teacher and author, will offer two talks at the conference. His morning conference talk is titled, “The Road to Emmaus: The Path to Lifelong Conversion.” His afternoon program will be “The Power of the Sacraments.”
Mr. Hahn has delivered numerous talks nationally and internationally on a wide variety of subjects related to Scripture and the Catholic faith. His talks have been effective in helping thousands of Protestants and fallen away Catholics to (re)embrace the Catholic faith.
He is the chairman of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where he has taught since 1990. He is the founder and president of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology.
Mr. Hahn is the bestselling author of numerous books, including: “The Lamb’s Supper,” “Reasons to Believe,” and “Rome Sweet Home” (co-authored with his wife, Kimberly). Some of his newest books are “The First Society,” “The Fourth Cup,” “Romans: A Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture,” “The Creed,” “Evangelizing Catholics,” “Angels and Saints,” and “Joy to the World.”
Bishop Robert Reed, an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston, will make a presentation prior to confessions. His talk is titled, “O God, Just Give Me One More Chance.”
The bishop has long entertained a keen interest in the full use of television and new media for an engaging and truthful sharing of Catholic faith and life. He is the president of The CatholicTV Network.
He holds an advanced degree in television management from Boston University’s College of Communication. He was appointed to direct CatholicTV in May 2005. Its programs are available in more than 13.5 million homes and through live streaming online.
Bishop Reed is also the director of the Radio Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Boston and regularly assists at Corpus Christi-St. Bernard Parish in Newton and St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth. He is the author of “Renewed: Ten Ways to Rediscover the Saints,” “Embrace Your Gifts and Revive Your Catholic Faith” and its companion television series, “RENEWED.”
Rounding out the program will be two presentations by Luis Soto, one in English (1:30 p.m.) and one for Spanish speakers (at 12:30 p.m. in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center). His theme will be “Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Americas.”
“Many people have heard of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but few people know her story,” said Msgr. Sullivan. In his talk, Mr. Soto, a Mexican by birth, shares the little-known history and life-changing importance of Mary’s appearance to a peasant man named Juan Diego, and the miraculous image she left behind.
Mr. Soto is the director of Hispanic content and business development for the Augustine Institute. Before joining the institute, Mr. Soto was director of ministry development at the Catholic Leadership Institute, and before that, was part of the founding team and executive director of Hispanic Ministry and Centro San Juan Diego, the Hispanic Leadership Institute for Pastoral and Family Life of the Archdiocese of Denver.
He developed “One Family Under God,” a model for parish unity and integration among cultures. Recognizing his substantial contributions to the Church and society Pope Benedict XVI gave Mr. Soto the Benemerenti Medal in 2010, one of the most noteworthy distinctions to be bestowed upon a lay Catholic.
Singer and composer, Ryan Tremblay, his wife, Elizabeth, and others will lead 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 nearly 1,000 participants go to confession, the committee hopes that more priests than ever will come.  
Through March 11 ticket prices for adult men are $45. They increase to $60 on March 12. 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 Joan DeMasi 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 Mr. Guadagno. “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.