CHARLOTTE — In a day filled with fellowship, friendship, companionship and prayer, more than 250 men attended the 15th annual Men’s Conference of the Carolinas Feb. 8 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The conference’s theme, “Who Do You Serve?”, reflected its purpose of uniting body, soul and mind into a cohesive whole in the daily life of Catholic men.
In his welcoming remarks, Bishop Michael Martin invited men to come together to take an active role in building the Kingdom of God in this world.
“I am very happy to see so many men coming to strengthen their faith in the company of others,” Bishop Martin said. “God has given us what we need to be creators with Him. We are co-creators with Him. Imagine that power! Are we ready to build this new heaven with Him?” he asked.
Bishop Martin warmly greeted Bishop Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, who celebrated Mass for the attendees, and they shared a few moments that got the crowd laughing.
Bishop Fabre-Jeune focused most of his homily message on young men, who, he said, need all our attention. He invited two young people, who carried an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the entrance procession for Mass, to accompany him and asked them questions during his homily.
Noting ministry assignments that took him to many countries over his years of priestly ministry, the bishop emphasized the universality of the Catholic Church. When someone judges you for being different, he said, don’t respond the same way, don’t judge them.
“What are you going to say?” he asked. “Don’t use your own words! Use the words of Scripture: Say that you love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself.”
After the conference opened with welcoming words and prayer, John Frankman, a military captain and activist who converted to the Catholic faith, took the stage. Frankman holds a master’s degree in systematic theology, a discipline of Christian theology that provides an ordered, rational and coherent explanation of the doctrines of the Christian faith.
He was followed by John Edwards, who shared his personal testimony of conversion to the Catholic faith in 2013. Edwards, originally from Alabama, served in the U.S. Navy and as a police officer in Birmingham. He and his wife Coni created a non-denominational church serving over 500 people before his conversion.
After lunch, E-Knock, a Catholic speaker and rapper, performed. Fawaz Yasi (the artist’s real name) is a Syrian Christian from northern Iraq who emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 5. Passionate about family farming, the Church, youth ministry and rap music, he released his latest album, “Book of E-Knock,” on iTunes under the Top Christian and Gospel category.
The one-day conference also offered Eucharistic Adoration, the rosary, and a blessing in the afternoon.
Attendee Freddy García, a member of the Knights of Columbus in Hickory, was thankful for the inspiration and motivation he received during the conference. “Bishop Martin’s message impacted me,” García said. “I had never before thought that God had placed me in this world to work in His vineyard as a man, and to be a co-creator of life with Him.”
— César Hurtado
