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March 12, 2020Four national speakers engaged and challenged more than 1,100 participants to become better Catholics and better men during the 24 th annual Oklahoma Catholic Men's Conference on Feb. 29 in Norman. The theme for this year's conference was "Remain in Me."
Edward Sri
The first presenter of the day was Edward Sri, a theologian, author and well-known Catholic speaker who appears regularly on EWTN. Sri explained various prayers of the Mass, starting with the sign of the cross.
"The sign of the cross is the first prayer where we call on God's name," he said. "There is great power in the name of Jesus."
He urged men to trace the sign of the cross on their children or grandchildren. He asked the attendees to radiate Jesus to others and not to put "bad images in your mind."
He discussed the consecration of the host and recalled the Last Supper.
"At Christ's Last Supper, there is no lamb," he said. "The lamb is Jesus."
He asked men to turn over their trials and suffering to Jesus.
"All of us will suffer," he said. He said suffering, handled properly, can build character. He further reminded the men to forgive and to love.
"Love means to seek what's best for the other person."
Dave DiNuzzo
Following a break, the attention turned to Dave DiNuzzo. Originally from Kansas, he is a Catholic speaker, author, blogger, evangelist and retreat master.
He pointed out virtue is the opposite of vice.
"Vice cuts us off from Christ," he said.
He used the allegory of a mountain peak and spiritual men trying to reach the peak of the mountain and leaving behind the sins and dirt of the valley.
He expanded on the virtues that help a man reach the top. Those include prudence, justice, fortitude, courage and temperance. He used his own life as an example, and noted he was once trapped in lust before making his own personal journey to the top.
For temperance, he recommended all men adopt moderation in their life and leave behind lust, greed and drunkenness. The speaker said the best way men can build their lives in a positive way was through faith, hope and love.
Going back to his example of the mountain, he reflected on the crucifixion of Christ.
"Remember Jesus was crucified on top of a mountain," he said. "We all will stumble on the way up."
Fr. Leo Patalinghug
Father Leo Patalinghug is the dynamic host of the EWTN program, "Savoring our Faith." He's a renowned chef who achieved a measure of fame by defeating chef Bobby Flay on Flay's Food Network cooking competition program. He is originally from the Philippines and is a martial arts instructor.
The priest regularly used cooking analogies in his talks. Father Leo kept the men's attention with several jokes. Yet, he had a serious message for all.
"When we don't do God's will we are impotent," he said. He also asked that the conference goers be "like a pilgrim," on a search.
"Try going to a different parish," he said. "If you can't do that, try to go to a different Mass or even sit in a different pew."
He mentioned a very vital principle for attendees.
"The Eucharist is the heart of Jesus," he said.
He had other tips as well.
"What are your gifts and how do you share them?" he asked. "We don't have enough Christians sharing their talent."
He gave them one last call.
"God became bread because the devil wants to feed us also," he said. "God wants us feasting on goodness."
Paul George
The last speaker was Paul George of Louisiana. He is another renowned Catholic author and speaker who has inspired thousands in the past 23 years.
George first recognized that he was not the professional basketball player who played this past season for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I sure disappointed the guy at the hotel when I checked in," he said.
One of his guiding principles he recommended at the conference was "to show up." Being there for other people was vital, he said.
"Twenty-five percent of women worship alone," he said. "Ninety percent of young people are more likely to attend church later in life if their father goes to church. Be there and be present."
In addition, he asked men to adopt good habits, including the quality of grit.
He mentioned an experience he had with the Bishop of Honduras. George visited the nation and looked forward to seeing the bishop and helping the poor. When George told the bishop about wanting to help the poor, the bishop surprised him.
"The bishop told me it was the wealthy who needed God more," he said. "The wealthy are more apt to feel they don't need God. Many suffer from spiritual poverty."
He believed that spiritual poverty, or the feeling of not needing God, was hurting Christianity. The best way to find God was to jump in and "experience the life God wants for you."
During the day, Conference Director Ray Haefele asked the men to participate in parish men's ministries during the year and to get more involved. The next men’s conference is Feb. 20.
Steve Gust is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo Cara Koenig/Sooner Catholic.
