Laura K. Brestovansky | The Michigan Catholic
PLYMOUTH — Some 800 men from around southeast Michigan learned how to keep “Tirelessly Running the Race,” the theme of this year’s Archdiocese Men’s Conference, March 9.
This year’s edition of the annual conference took place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth. Fr. John Riccardo, pastor of the parish, gave the keynote address and Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated a pre-conference Mass. His homily geared the conference’s theme to the Year of Faith declared by then-Pope Benedict XVI.
“Fr. John talked about throwing down our nets,” said Tim Marshall, 41, of Southgate, who attended the conference. “We each have a net. What’s holding you back, preventing you from getting deeper into Christ? It was most profound.”
Marshall attended the conference with nine other members of his parish, Christ the Good Shepherd, Livonia. He’s attended every men’s conference since 2005 and said this year’s event was “very inspiring” as usual. “I loved it,” he said.
Other speakers included Paco Gavrilides, a Renewal Ministries missionary and instructor at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Major Seminary. His talk was titled, “The Call to Be Heroes — Together.” “It was all about how we have to yield to the Spirit,” Marshall recalled.
Peter Burak and Joey McCoy of i.d.916 (Intentional Disciples 916) were substitutes for scheduled speaker Sr. Ann Shields. Their ministry is a young-adult outreach of Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor, and they encouraged older attendees to be an inspiration to younger men. “It was very inspiring,” Marshall said. “It really put things in perspective. We need older men to show younger men the way.”
Burak and McCoy’s presentation was possibly the most dramatic. “All of the talks were certainly well received, but Pete and Joey had real encouragement,” said Fr. Sean Wenger, CC, regional director of evangelization for the archdiocese. Fr. Wenger served as emcee at the conference. “After they spoke, we invited anyone under the age of 30 to come up to the altar for a blessing. A very significant percentage, it’s safe to say 20 percent, came up. It’s a lot more than we expected. ”
Another attendee, Erwin Coronel, 39, of Warren, who attends St. Anastasia in Troy, said the two men’s presentation was “outstanding” for their “raw and unrehearsed message.” “They said a lot of the things we know but have never said.”
Rounding out the event was praise and worship music by Adam Plomaritas, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel. The parish’s choir, led by Matt Samelak, provided the music at Mass. Attendees were also able to attend confession thanks to several priests in attendance.
This year’s event was billed as a “mini” conference, rather than an all-day event as in years past. Fr. Wenger said while previous conferences were scheduled in larger facilities, a smaller, half-day event made more sense logistically.
Marshall agreed. “This year was from 8 a.m. till noon, which allowed us to go out and take care of other things we had to do.”
The conference was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Office of Evangelization and Renewal Ministries.
Marshall said events like the men’s conference are important to his faith life, and he makes a point to attend every one he hears about. “The whole thing made us think about our positions as men,” he said. “I liked Fr. Wenger’s prayer: ‘Lord, I will do what you want me to do.’”
Coronel has also attended several men’s conferences and said this year’s event particularly resonated with him. “The point is to live your faith and to make sure those around you do the same. You need to defend the legitimacy of the (Church’s) message. What we see on television and in the movies doesn’t always jibe with what the Church’s message really is.”
As always, Marshall is eagerly awaiting next year’s conference and tries to attend similar events throughout the year. “It’s all about getting fed,” he said.
Laura K. Brestovansky is a freelance writer from Dryden.
