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Catholic News Herald

Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina
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041520 Mens Conference1CHARLOTTE — Prior to statewide stay-at-home orders and diocesan closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10th annual Catholic Men’s Conference provided area Catholics the opportunity to grow in faith and ask themselves, “What are you looking at?”

The all-day men’s conference March 7 at St. Matthew Church included a keynote address by Father Larry Richards; Mass celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese; Eucharistic Adoration; the opportunity to receive the sacrament of confession; and the praying of the rosary.

“In all it was a tremendous success with over 500 men present including attendees, seminarians, priests, deacons and vendors,” said Jason Murphy, one of the conference organizers. “The confessional lines were full throughout the day and men were present from all across the state and even from South Carolina.”

Murphy noted that during his keynote address, Father Richards “reinforced the importance of men leading their families and be willing to die for them. And if they are not praying and living lives of virtue for their families, then they are in fact killing them and not giving them life.”

“Men need to step away from what society is trying to tell them who they are and be the men Christ is calling them to,” Murphy added.

Chris Cona, a parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, said “a real sense of ‘philos’ (Greek for brotherhood) permeated all the events. In my experience this is almost impossible to experience at such a large event… The lines for confession looked like something from Disney World. Encouraging to see.”

Deacon Gary Schrieber of St. Matthew Church has attended several of the local men’s conferences over the years. “I went to my first conference a few years back at St. Matthew and I loved it.

Since then, I make it a point to attend and to try and bring at least one guest. This year, my (adult) son attended with me again.”

Deacon Schrieber assisted Monsignor Winslow at Mass and also led the men in praying the rosary after lunch.

“It’s good to see so many men in the diocese interested in growing in their faith – just as I am,” he said.

“This conference challenges me in some ways: ‘Am I the best me that I can be? And am I doing what God wants me to be doing?’ It also supports and encourages me in other ways. I am here doing God’s will by the many things that I do and that I’m involved with,” Deacon Schrieber added.

“The most important thing of all is: we are doing this together as a community of men, fathers, brothers and friends,” he explained. “We come together as disciples of Christ and we are not much different from the first disciples. Not perfect, but always looking to be better and to grow. This conference helps in doing just that.”

—  SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter

Mark your calendar

Next year the Catholic Men’s Conference will be held March 20 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. It will feature Bishop Peter Jugis as main celebrant at Mass, Dr. William Thierfelder of Belmont Abbey College as keynote speaker, and Dr. John Aquaviva, professor, author and speaker as master of ceremonies. More information is online at www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org.

041520 Mens conference3Deacon Gary Schrieber leads participants in praying the rosary during the Catholic Men’s Conference at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. The day included Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of confession, Mass and talks.041520 Mens conference3Rev. Msgr. Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, celebrates Mass at the conference, assisted by Deacon Schrieber. (Photos provided by James Sarkis)