The following comes from a story dated Feb. 28 in Catholic San Francisco.
For the second year, the marriage and family office of the archdiocese of San Francisco will welcome fathers and sons to the Bay Area Catholic Men’s Conference, March 2, St. Bartholomew Parish. The 2018 event “was a great success and 2019 will be even better,” said office director Ed Hopfner in information promoting the event. Auxiliary Bishop Robert Christian will be principal celebrant and homilist of the day’s Mass.
More than 100 men attended the talks last year, Hopfner said, and hopes even more will attend this year.
The day will help those attending “to be better Catholics, better fathers and husbands, better leaders at home and in the parish,” Hopfner told Catholic San Francisco. “Men have both trials and opportunities that are different from those women face – this is an opportunity to learn how to better respond to them.”
Other than sports events, men are short on gathering together, Hopfner said. “This is a chance to be with other like-minded Catholic men: To learn, to grow in their faith, to be challenged and challenge others. If the enthusiasm we saw at the last conference is any indication, there is a great need for this kind of event.”
Speakers include Ralph Desimone, a husband and father from Oakland who “with his wife Brigitte has presented retreats for married and engaged couples for 38 years, coached married couples and trained marriage preparation presenters for 20 years,” information about the day said.
Join us! Other speakers include Fr. Justin Kielhorn LC and Deacon Ralph Poyo! You’ll get to hear from men in all of our vocations: a member of the lay faithful, a deacon, a priest and a bishop!
Legionnaire of Christ is among the worst Orders in the Church for abusing children and adults. Their founder was a very disturbed and dangerous person. [edited]
Harold,
I thought the Legionnaire of Christ had been disbanded?
Sadly no! The LCs are still very active. Pope Benedict XVI, God Bless him, insisted the LCs change their charter.
I know this priest as do some of my young adult children. He is a fine priest, as are many in the Legion. Yes, the founder of their order was terrible. But, it’s unjust to suspect all of them. The Church is providing oversight. If someone were to not attend Saturday’s conference because of one speaker (who they don’t know) that would be an example of poor discernment. “Harold,” Fr. Justin is putting his complete name out there, as am I. We have nothing to hide.