Record turnout at 2012 Men’s Conference
By Dan Rouse
     “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This verse from Proverbs 27:17 is the underlining theme for the annual Archdiocesan men’s conference. This year’s conference was Saturday, March 31st at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids and there was plenty of “sharpening” from keynote speaker Fr. Larry Richards.
     "Gentlemen, becoming the man God intended you to be takes sacrifice. It means dying to self everyday.” Fr. Richards told the men. “That even means handing the remote over to your wife and letting her watch whatever she wants!”
     He also talked about the importance of putting God first, family second and everything else third. “I don’t know of any man who on his death bed would say, `I really wish I wouldn’t have prayed so much and told my wife and kids that I loved them every single day.”
Over 500 men filled the Xavier gym for the 16th annual conference. “Our official count was 494,” according to conference Lay Director, Kevin Biermann. “If you count the team, priests and breakout session leaders, then we had well over that number.”
     About 350 men attended last year’s conference. Beirmann believes the increased number had a lot to do with the keynote speaker, Fr. Larry Richards. “We gave out copies of his first book, Be A Man! to the men at last year’s conference.” he said, “Combine that with the fact that Fr. Larry is a very popular speaker and that really added to our numbers.”
Fr. Larry Richards told the men that he used to teach at an all boys Catholic High School where there was a large focus on athletics. “They were state champions in many sports and would practice for hours a day.” But he said, when it came to spiritual maters, some of the boys lacked the same dedication, discipline and determination. “I said to them, `So, you’re state champions. That’s wonderful gentlemen, but what are you doing to prepare yourself for heaven?”
     He said the boys responded by saying that they might go to Mass for an hour a week if they had nothing better to do and try to be good persons. “That’s not good enough!” he told the boys, “To be good at anything, you have to put in hour after hour everyday whether you feel like it or not! That includes your faith life!” He concluded by challenging the boys (and the men at the conference), “Would you rather be great on earth only, or great in God’s eyes?”
About half of the men attending the conference were there for the first time, many of the others had attended at least a few other conferences. There were over 60 high school or college age students who attended as well.
     Bret Kimm, attends St. John’s parish in Mt. Vernon and has been to the conference seven times. This year he was attending with his adult son, Curt, for the second time. “It has been great to grow in our faith together. Curt recently went to a CEW, so we have been able to share that experience too.”
     Curt Kimm is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hiawatha . He attended the conference years ago with his dad and was looking forward to hearing Fr. Larry speak. “He has a lot of enthusiasm for what he believes. I’ve gotten a lot out of his talks.”
Steve Supple, St. Mathias Parish in Cascade, attended for the first time this year. “I saw it advertised in The Witness and thought it would be something good to do for Lent. I have thoroughly enjoyed the conference!”
     Dana Holland, St. Henry’s Parish in Marshalltown, attended for the first time too. “I’ve been impressed with how the conference has been run. “I’ve read about Fr. Larry and wanted to do something special for Lent.”
     Kevin Duncan, also from St. Henry’s, said he was asked by Holland to attend. “I belong to a Friday morning men’s Bible Study and many guys from our group are here. It has been very thought provoking and inspirational.”
     The conference concluded with Palm Sunday Liturgy with presider and homilist Archbishop Jerome Hanus.
     Next year’s conference is Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids.

Belief Statement:

We believe God has a plan for each of us.  Catholic Men's Fellowship exists to support and encourage men to discern and live out God's plan.