|
|
Organized under the auspices of the archdiocesan Men's Commission in cooperation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the gathering of spiritual fellowship will be held in the Essex County Richard J. Codey Arena (formerly South Mountain Arena) at 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange.
Online registration is recommended at www.rcan.org/menscommission. March 15 is the deadline for mail-in registration. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students ages 14 through 23. Senior citizens, 65 and older, also pay $15 for their tickets. Groups of five or more will pay $20 per person. Priests and Religious will be admitted free of charge. For additional information call (973) 497-4545 or send an e-mail to CatholicMen@rcan.org.
The conference, open to males of high school and older, will be feature English and Spanish segments. The program includes multicultural speakers, exhibits, the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and live music. A continental breakfast and lunch are included. Donations are tax deductible. Archdiocesan Vice Chancellor for Administration Deacon Joseph A. Dwyer Jr., and Jorge L. Repollet, director of cemetery services for Catholic Cemeteries, serve as co-chairmen for the conference.
Abramowicz, a wide receiver who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers during the 1970s, is now host of the EWTN program "Crossing the Goal," which focuses on spiritual growth. Presentations in the English language segments also will include Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., noted author, psychologist, spiritual director and co-founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal; Deacon Ralph Poyo, a youth minister for over two decades and the founder of New Evangelization Ministries; and Dr. Philip Mango, director of Saint Michael's Institute for Psychological Studies and founder of Warrior Brothers that works on leadership and manhood development designed for service to the family, the Church and society. Deacon Poyo will speak on the "Genuine Pursuit of Sexual Purity," while Mango will address the topic "The Real Deal about Men and the Women We Love."
Highlighting the Spanish segment will be a presentation by Bishop Cruz. Other speakers for the Spanish segment include Father Juan Luis Calderon, O.A.R., S.T.L., assistant director of Centro Guadalupe in Union City and the archdiocesan director of the Pastoral Formation Institute, and Omar Jesus Maytorena of Sonora, Mexico, team director of the Catholic Evangelization Ministry in "Bajo la Uncion."
The conference emcee for the English segment will be Gregory Floyd, who has held executive positions in Legatus, Renewal Resources and Couples for Christ. Handling the emcee duties for the Spanish segment is Genry Batista, founding president and director of Radio Immaculada. Batista has been a member of a Catholic youth group, La Comprension, for the past quarter century.
On March 1, the Knights of Columbus Federation raised $965 in seed money to fund the inaugural conference. Father Mariusz Koch, C.F.R., of the Friars of the Renewal, was the guest speaker for the fundraiser.
Dennis Celenza (left) and Dan Tummillo, parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish, Garfield, pass out registration forms for the Catholic Men's Conference. The parish's "men of faith" committee organized a breakfast March 1 to support the March 28 conference. Celenza and Tummillo are members of Knights of Columbus Council 12413.
