Why Men Go?

There’s an image that says it all: one man tapping another on the shoulder. That’s how it begins. Not with a big production, but with a personal invitation—one man encouraging another to take a step toward something better.

So why do men go to Catholic Men’s Conferences?

Because being a Catholic man is a challenge.

Ask a Catholic man how to become holy and he’ll have his own ideas: go to Mass more, say the Rosary more, pray more, be more charitable, act like Christ, read Scripture daily, care for the poor… and do it all with great humility. It’s beautiful. It’s true. But it can also feel overwhelming.

And that’s why we need help.

That’s why men go.

Before we go further, let’s be clear: we’re asking you to invite someone.
Don’t wait until the week of the event. Right now—today—think of a brother, a son, a coworker, or a friend.
Tap them on the shoulder, literally or figuratively, and say: “Come with me.”
This is how most men find their way to the conference. One man invites another. That’s how it spreads.

A Catholic Men’s Conference isn’t just a one-day event. It’s a tool—a proven, powerful tool—for the journey toward holiness. Personally, I was invited to my first men’s conference 17 years ago. I found something unexpected: men like me. Some were devout. Some had drifted. Some hadn’t been to confession in years. Some were looking for a reason to stay. But all of us were there with one shared hope: to grow.

There was no judgment. No pressure. Just brotherhood. And direction. I left that day knowing I needed to add just one new thing to my life of faith. That became the first nudge from my “holiness compass”—a subtle stirring that I now know was the Holy Spirit.

Seventeen years later, I’m still going—and I now direct the Connecticut Catholic Men’s Conference, entering its 18th year.

This year’s conference will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, with the theme:
“Pilgrims of Hope: A Sacred Day for Brotherhood, Witness, and Grace.”

Our speakers will guide us on this sacred path:

• Dr. Ray Guarendi, psychologist and father, brings strength and joy to fatherhood and family life.

• Father Anthony Federico, Hartford’s vocations director, speaks on men’s promise to Christ and the priesthood.

• Michael O’Neill, “The Miracle Hunter,” calls us to rediscover the saints and their active witness in our lives.

• Father Jason Brooks, LC, leader of the Regnum Christi Detroit Healing Ministry, brings a powerful message of healing, helping men experience the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit and live boldly in Christ.

Why do they keep coming?

Because we were made for more than passive faith.
Because holiness is not a theory—it’s a calling.
Because in the heart of every man is a desire to fight for what matters.

And because someone—maybe you—is ready to tap the shoulder of a brother who needs this day.

That’s what Catholic Men’s Conference Day was founded to do: give every man in America a way to find his local conference and experience this grace. Each year on October 17th, we call attention to the movement. Go to www.cmcday.com to find your nearest conference—or to understand what these events offer.

We’re not promoting an event.
We’re inviting men to be apostles.

So—tap a shoulder. Bring a brother. Come and see.

Image caption:
“One man tapping another on the shoulder—because most of us came because someone invited us.”