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Catholic News Herald

Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina

022522 mensCHARLOTTE — The 12th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas will take place Saturday, March 5, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road. Attendees can opt to participate in person or view the conference online.

Speakers for this year’s men’s conference, themed “Quo Vadis (Where Are You Going?),” include EWTN television host Dr. Ray Guarendi; author and apologist Tim Staples; author and convert Keith Nester; and professor and author Dr. John Acquaviva.

Guarendi, a clinical psychologist, is noted for his Ave Maria Radio show, “The Doctor Is In,” and his EWTN television series, “Living Right With Dr. Ray.”

He has given more than 3,000 talks around the country on topics such as smart parenting, happier marriages, successful families and a variety of motivational themes, for both personal and professional life.

Staples, a convert to the Catholic faith, is director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers. A former Marine who also spent time in seminary, he is a renowned Catholic evangelist who has written many inspiring books about the faith.

Nester converted to Catholicism in 2017. His book “The Convert’s Guide to Roman Catholicism: Your First Year in the Church” is a realistic look at the transitions, obstacles, joys and challenges converts face during their first year in the Church.

Acquaviva is known in his classes and talks for enthusiastic presentations that relate the concepts from the catechism, the Bible and Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body with topics in the world of sport, health and fitness. He hosts “Faith and Sport” on Radio Maria and “The Fitness Doctor” television program on Time Warner Cable in Union County.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate Mass for conference participants.

The conference runs 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m. with a break for lunch. Tickets cost $40 (in person) or $25 (online), with discounts for Knights of Columbus members and high school or college students.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

For more information

At www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org: Buy tickets or find out more about the 12th annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas