Catholic Men’s Conference: 3 Takeaways

Sister Points to the Saints: Sister Mary Michael Fox, who in 2023 became the first female speaker in the event’s history – and it’s highest rated – delivered again, moving the men to respond with laughs and applause throughout her talk.

She built on her first presentation with a talk titled: “You Can’t. God Can. So Let Him!” The sister, who works with men in recovery in Nashville, where she serves the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, moved back and forth between tough talk and softness of heart in addressing the full room.

She issued a challenge as well – “Are you ready to be the Holy Spirit’s next poster child?” she asked in a direct reference to the saints.

The other speakers – Ennie Hickman, Tim Carney and Paul George – also succeeded in energizing the men and the room.

New Venue a Hit: The conference welcomed a record crowd of 1,000-plus in attendance at the Oklahoma City Convention Center downtown.

The bigger facility offered more room for attendance in the main room, as well as more space for vendors and shoppers amid the wide hallways.

Conference organizers were pleased, too, announcing the 2026 event – the 30th annual – will return to the facility on March 14, 2026.

Quotable: “With our big move to the OKC Convention Center for our 29th annual “In the Father's Footsteps” Catholic Men's Conference, the day could not have gone better,” said conference director Ray Haefele. “The facility performed very well, the food was great and all four speakers loved the venue and setup in the main conference room.

“It truly was a day the Lord had made! The presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident in the speakers, the men and the team.”

Photo: (Above) Conference attendees prayed over keynote speaker Sr. Mary Michael Fox, O.P. at the Oklahoma Catholic Men’s Conference March 8 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The 30th annual conference will be March 14, 2026, returning to the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Photos Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.