Chiefs’ Placekicker Featured Speaker at Conference

Men should be intentional disciples and play a great role in the faith of their families and parishes, spiritual leaders.

Yet, when gathering, sports most likely dominate the conversation, with such topics as holiness, spirituality and authentic masculine friendships well down the list, if on the menu at all.

Understanding that reality, and borrowing off of a quote from Catholic radio host Father John Riccardo, who once said the greatest poverty in the country is lack of authentic masculine friendship, the Men of the Immaculata Conference will have as its theme “Behold the Men,” based on the 2022 MOTI painting by artist Norman Faucheux.

Conference chairman Scott Smith said the sixth annual conference scheduled March 5 at St. George Church in Baton Rouge, will focus on authentic masculinity, how to be a good Christian among “your friends and not friends.”

“We want men to be motivated and to feel more emboldened,” said Smith. “We want this to be the leaven that boosts their participation in the parish and the family.”

The conference will even have an added kick this year with Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker as the featured speaker. Smith said Butker is a devout Catholic as well as an altar server.

“We always wanted to get one of our athletes to come,” Smith said, adding Butker will discuss his own conversion story while at Georgia Tech as well as what it means to be a Christian witness at school and to friends, which leads to a “great fruit.”

Following Butker will be author Dr. Brant Pitre, whose latest book is “Introduction to the Spiritual Life: Walking the Path of Prayer with Jesus.”

“Whenever (Pitre) comes that is always a highlight,” Smith said.

Rounding out the list of main speakers is Father Todd Lloyd, pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Lakeland. Smith said Father Lloyd will speak on the virtue of religion. 

Smith said men have a religious nature and if not practicing that virtue then the need will be filled with other things, such as sports. He said Father Lloyd will discuss how the virtue of religion needs to be practiced and increased, and that “our conversion” improves through practice.

Chef John Folse will once again prepare lunch and deliver his annual talk, which is always lively and humorous but also laced with a strong spiritual message.

Included during the day is Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca and Vocations Director Father Josh Johnson leading the rosary.

“What we always want is men to become more intentional disciples,” Smith said. “All of the problems we face as a society can be resolved if men will just take on the cross of Christ,” Smith said. “If men become more Christ like there will not be any more problems. We are in a very desperate situation with the state of marriage and if men are more Christ like marriages will heal.”

“Men can learn how to be better men for each other,” he added. “Man’s primary responsibility is in his home. So marriage goes, so goes society.”

Smith said his hope is for those in attendance to hear what they are supposed to hear and “we don’t get in their way.” Then, he added, “We have done an adequate job of bringing it together.”

“We always hope we will just be viable, flexible tools in the hands of the  Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother,” Smith said. “(The conference) has always been a fruit of the Holy Spirit.”

Smith said the popular “swag” bags will include a rosary made with a third class relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos. 

For more information or to register, visit menoftheimmaculata.com.