HARTFORD—The Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, will serve as a keynote speaker at the 2022 Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference on September 24, at Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford. “The Most Holy Eucharist” is the theme of the 15th annual Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference, which has moved indoors again after two years of COVID-19 restrictions.
Bishop Caggiano said he is looking forward to participating in the conference, and he hopes that many men throughout our diocese join him for this day of renewal and spiritual enrichment. “The conference is a great opportunity for spiritual reflection, prayer and fraternity—one man to another offering encouragement as husband, fathers, and individuals who witness to Christ in their own lives. I strongly urge those within driving distance to reserve the time and join us,” he said.
“We’re gearing up for another incredible day of profound teaching, fellowship and awesome worship,” said Men’s conference director Ken Santopietro, who said he expects a large delegation from the diocese to attend the conference. The annual statewide conference is a collaboration between the Archdiocese of Hartford and the dioceses of Bridgeport and Norwich. “This event will serve not only as a Men’s Conference, but as a mini Eucharistic Congress that will serve the spiritual needs of our men who need to be knowledgeable about the Real Presence and advocates of their Catholic faith,” Santopietro said.
Santopietro said the image of our conference’s Eucharistic procession reflects the connection the CCMC has had to the Eucharist. “We knew this image expressed so well the truth Connecticut Catholic men have come to understand—that the Eucharist truly means that “God Is With Us.“ He said in order to drive home the importance of the Eucharist and the real presence to Catholic men, the conference has invited the following speakers to join Bishop Caggiano at the Men’s Conference:
Father Chris Alar, MIC, entered the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, the religious community entrusted with spreading the message and devotion of Divine Mercy, as a postulant in July 2006. Prior to that time, he received a bachelor’s of science in industrial engineering and a master’s of business administration from the University of Michigan. After working as an engineering manager at a large automotive supplier in Detroit, he began his own consulting firm in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2000. Answering the Lord’s call, he attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio, for his philosophy studies, Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., for his theology studies, and he earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. Father Chris wrote and produced the popular “Divine Mercy 101” and “Explaining the Faith” DVD series and is the author of the bestselling books After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You, as well as Understanding Divine Mercy.
Father Wade L.J. Menezes, CPM is a member of the Fathers of Mercy, a missionary preaching Religious Congregation based in Auburn, Kentucky. Ordained a priest during the Great Jubilee Year 2000, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Catholic Thought from the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Toronto, Canada and his dual Master of Arts and Master of Divinity Degrees in Theology from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Father Wade has been a contributing writer for the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, and other publications. He is also host of the EWTN interstitial series “The Crux of the Matter” and “The Wonders of His Mercy”, and “In Defense of the Eucharist.” He is the author of two books: The Four Last Things: A Catechetical Guide to Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell and Overcoming the Evil Within: The Reality of Sin and the Transforming Power of God’s Grace and Mercy. Father Wade is also the host of EWTN Global Catholic Radio’s “Open Line Tuesday.”
Father Larry Richards: A gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master and author, Father Larry Richards, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., was ordained to the priesthood on April 21, 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He has served as Pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, also in Erie, since July 1, 2002. In addition, Father is the spiritual director and founder of DME (Divine Mercy Encounter) Retreat Program in the Diocese of Erie. He is the founder and president of “The Reason For Our Hope Foundation,” a non-profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News.’
Father Larry’s first book, “Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You To Be” was published by Ignatius Press in October of 2009, and was the #1 best seller by Ignatius Press in 2010. Father hosts the EWTN internet radio show called “The Reason For Our Hope” on Mondays and Fridays at 1 pm (EST), and the EWTN radio show called “Father Knows Best” on Mondays and Fridays at 4 am.
(Register online at: www.ctcatholicmen.org/purchase-tickets. For further information phone: 860.484.7950.)
