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Conference to urge men to be Catholic heroes
By Julie Filby
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Rocky Mountain Catholic Men’s Conference When: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 13 Where: Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs Register: www.rmcmc.org Cost: $45 adults, $25 students, $20 youths under 18 Questions: 719-866-6496 or email info@rmcmc.org Youth track: 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 12 |
Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, together with Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan and Pueblo Bishop Fernando Isern, invites all men in Colorado to attend the fourth annual Rocky Mountain Catholic Men’s Conference. It will be held Oct. 13 at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs.
“(The conference) offers many excellent presentations on the faith and is a great opportunity to join with many like-minded men in following the Lord,” Archbishop Aquila wrote in an invitation to men of the Denver Archdiocese.
The conference, themed “A Gathering of Heroes” will include speakers, lunch, opportunities for confession and closing Mass celebrated by Archbishop Aquila. New this year there will be a youth track 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday night with speakers and Christian band Jacob and Matthew. Tickets are $10 at the door.
“The conference on Friday evening came at the request of families who wanted to have time together,” said Christian Meert, director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. “It's more a family event than just a youth event … a great experience for dads and sons.”
This year’s lineup of speakers includes: youth ministry veteran Chris Stefanick; clinical psychologist, author and syndicated radio host Ray Guarendi; biblical scholar, author and radio host Thomas Smith; chancellor of the Denver Archdiocese J.D. Flynn; host of “Seize the Day” on the Catholic Channel on Sirius XM Radio Gus Lloyd; and businessman and author Randy Hain.
Lloyd’s talk, “Magnetic Christianity: Using Your God-given Gifts to Build the Kingdom,” will focus on the 11 attributes of what he calls a “Magnetic Christian”: positivity, enthusiasm, friendliness, confidence, humility, honesty, kindness, compassion, approachability, generosity and encouragement.
“When we allow God to work on us in these attributes,” he said, “we become more magnetic Christians and are able to draw others to Christ.”
Lloyd will also touch on Catholic apologetics and the upcoming Year of Faith that kicks off Oct. 11.
Businessman, husband, father and co-founder of Integrated Catholic Life eMagazine, Hain, will share his faith journey from his Baptist roots through 20 years in a “spiritual wilderness.” He and his family joined the Catholic Church in 2006. Hain’s talk will draw on his book: “The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work.”
“I will candidly share lessons I’ve learned about the challenges of saying ‘no’ to God and the energizing power of saying ‘yes,’” Hain told the Denver Catholic Register. “I’ll also discuss misconceptions that exist about integrating our Catholic faith with work and the public square.”
Smith will speak on “Prophets, Priests and Kings.”
“My talk will explore how men can live out these three offices, received at their baptismal anointing, in their marriages, families and world,” he said.
The conference, the only one known to be sponsored by the three Colorado dioceses, aims to unite all Catholic men as brothers in Christ.
“My greatest hope is (men) encounter Jesus Christ … and receive his joy, peace and strength,” Archbishop Aquila wrote. “This, in turn, will help (them) to be Christian witnesses and leaders”—the heroes that their families, Church and the world needs.”
Closing Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Aquila, is open to everyone.
To register, visit www.rmcmc.org. Tickets cost $45 for adults, $25 for students and $20 for youths 18 and under. The Pikes Peak Center is located at 190 S. Cascade Ave. in Colorado Springs. For more information, call 719-866-6496 or email info@rmcmc.org.
Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie.filby@archden.org; www.twitter.com/DCRegisterJulie
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