Fifth annual Catholic men’s conference set for Oct. 16

By Sean Gallagher

The fifth annual Indiana Catholic Men’s Conference on Oct. 16 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis will feature speakers who will challenge participants to achieve greatness and not settle for mediocrity.

One of the conference speakers will be Curtis Martin, the president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, an organization that sends Catholic young adult missionaries to college campuses across the country, including Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

In an upcoming interview for Catholic Radio Indy 89.1 FM’s “Faith in Action” show, Martin said that while men “still desire greatness,” we live in a culture “where we’re told we’re supposed to be mediocre. Just go with the flow. Buy a nice chair. Buy a nice television. Eat some peanuts and pretzels, and watch the game.

“We’re not supposed to be spectators,” Martin said. “We’re supposed to be participants. There’s nothing wrong with watching a little television and having a comfortable chair. But if you allow television and comfort to govern your life and to identify you, you’re missing the point. You were not made for mediocrity. You were made for greatness.”

Martin, a co-author of Boys to Men: The Transforming Power of Virtue, said men can achieve greatness by correcting the problems that plague society.

“Nobody else is going to fix it,” he said. “It’s going to be the men who believe in God, and believe that we’re here for a reason, who will change the world. It’s always been the case.”

Joining Martin as speakers at the conference will be Father Larry Richards, a priest of the Diocese of Erie, Pa., who spoke at the men’s conference in 2007.

Father Richards is the author of Be a Man!: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be, published in 2009 by Ignatius Press. In the book, the priest challenges men to become the heroes they long to be by living with courage, compassion and integrity.

Retired National Hockey League (NHL) referee Kerry Fraser will also speak at the men’s conference. During 20 years in the NHL, Fraser refereed more than 1,900 regular season games and more than 260 Stanley Cup playoff games. He also was an official at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

A member of the board of Catholic Athletes for Christ, Fraser now is a frequent speaker on the faith.

The 2010 Indiana Catholic Men’s Conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. In addition to the speakers, the conference will include Mass and the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation.

For those who register before Oct. 1, the cost of the conference is $45 per person or $40 per person for groups of 10 or more. The registration cost increases to $50 on Oct. 6.

Student registration is $25 per person. Seminarians and priests can attend the conference free of charge.

Lunch is guaranteed for all who register before the day of the event.

“If you’re thinking about coming, bring a friend,” said Martin of the conference. “If you’re not thinking about coming, change your mind and then bring a friend. We’d really love to see you there.”

(To listen to the complete interview with Curtis Martin, log on to www.catholicradioindy.org. For more information about the 2010 Indiana Catholic Men’s Conference or to register, log on to www.indianacatholicmen.com or call 317-924-3982 or 317-888-0873.) †