Men of the Immaculata Conference Sends Men Out as Missionary Disciples

This year’s Men of the Immaculata Conference challenged men to accompany people broken by sin and spread the Gospel message in a country in which many reject God. 

The theme of this year’s March 8 conference, which was attended by more than 1,100 men, was held at St. George Church in Baton Rouge, was “Ite Missa Est.” The phrase, translated from Latin, means “Go, It Is Sent.”

Father Miles Wash talked about the Holy Face of Jesus.

Father Walsh noted that Messianic Jewish rabbi Jonathan Cahn prophesizes about how Old Testament insights are being fulfilled. Father Walsh highlighted Cahn’s book, “Return of the Gods.”

“In this book he examines how we got to where we, as a culture, in many ways have lost sight of God; a culture than in many ways has rejected the God of the Bible; a culture which has in so many ways become overtly hostile to Christian faith and belief.
Above, right photo: The highlight of the Men of the Immaculata Conference was Eucharistic Adoration. Photo by Trey Weaver | Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Above Photo: Father Miles Walsh gave a compelling talk on the Holy Face of Jesus. Photos by Debbie Shelley
“How, for example, did we as once a Christian nation become a society in which for many people, it would seem, that God does not even exist?”

Father Walsh emphasized, “Our country has been in danger of falling prey to this ideology. In many quarters this has taken hold. We cannot just sit back and leave it to others to break through the crowd.”

In January 2024 things were “looking bleak” to Father Walsh. His good friend, Father Mark Beard, had died about five months earlier, plans for his trips to the Holy Land were disrupted due to the conflict there, and a negatively charged presidential election campaign had ensued.

The Holy Spirit directed him to the message of the Holy Face of Jesus.

Carmelite nun Sister Marie St. Pierre (1816-1848) introduced the devotion of the Holy Face of Jesus. When she was 27 years old, the Lord spoke to her through “inner locutions,” or private revelations. This lasted until her death at the age of 32. In these locutions, Sister Marie saw the wounded face of Jesus as it appeared on the cloth Veronica used to wipe Christ’s face during his Passion. 

 Father Patrick Hough SJ urged men to base their identity in God. Photo by Debbie ShelleySister Marie further introduced the Act of Reparation to the Holy Face of Jesus, also known as the Golden Arrow. This devotion focuses on making reparation for sins committed against the first three commandments, particularly atheism, blasphemy, and profaning Sundays.   

Father Walsh stressed that by recognizing Jesus in the suffering and needy, and serving them with love and reverence, one will eventually see the glorified Jesus and God in heaven. 

Father Walsh led the men in reciting the prayer.

Father Patrick Hugh SJ urged men to root their identity in God.

He advised the men not to equate their self-worth in what they could do or their “output.” 

“God loves us. Without us having to do anything he just totally created us. This is important because when you wake up in the morning you have to say to yourself, what's my identity?” said Father Hough. 

He said it should be based on Scriptures, such as “I am blessed,” “I am a temple of God,” “I am loved,” “I am forgiven,” “I am chosen.” 

Father Hough shared his riveting story of suffering alongside Christ through his passion during Holy Week in 2019. 

Father Hough was having dinner with his mother and a friend at Times Square when his provincial called him and told him he had been accused of sexually abusing a minor. Father Hough was shocked and denied the allegations. He was removed from public ministry.

“I stepped into the middle of Times Square, crouched over (dressed in priestly garments) and sobbed uncontrollably,” said Father Hough.

Father Hough’s mother was the first person to support him.

“It was that night that my development in my relationship with Mary the Immaculate Conception, my devotion strengthened, because I saw in her what the Blessed Mother must have done with her son; how you accompany someone through this terrible thing when you can do nothing to fix it.”

 More than 1,100 men attended this years’ Men of the Immaculata Conference. Photo by Trey WeaverFather Hough also had help from the saints and the Lord’s reaffirming message: “Everything is going to work out,” and “I love you.” 

In 2023 Father Hough was vindicated when the judge dismissed his case due to information obtained from witnesses and because the accuser acknowledged he misidentified Father Hough. 

Father Hough returned to public ministry and is retreat director at Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Couteau. He said the bedrock of suffering made him “a way better Jesuit through those four horrible years” and God blessed his ministry.

He advised the men to forgive their enemies.

“I knew from the beginning that if I didn’t forgive (my accuser), the devil was going to enter my heart and destroy it. The devil loves to get into your heart and isolate you and get you down a dark alley and beat you up.”

Father Hough referred to Jesus’ words on the cross: “Father forgive them; they know not what they do.”

 Bishop Michael G. Duca and clergy of the diocese celebrated Mass at the conference. Photo by Debbie ShelleyFollowing Mass, celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca, and lunch, attendees spent time before the Eucharistic Lord in Adoration.

Jeff Cavins, author and podcaster challenged the men to proclaim the “kerygma” or Gospel message to others.

“God needs ‘real men’ who love God deeply and are courageous and willing to share the good news of Jesus Christ in a very natural, beautiful way,” said Cavins.

“The men and women that we are interfacing with in society today are broken,” he added. “They are living in private hells. When they go home what happens behind closed doors and takes place is the disagreements and addictions that are being fed are rampant, whether it’s drinking, drugs, pornography, anger unleashed on a family every night. You don’t know what these people are going through, but they are desperately looking for the Gospel.”
 Jeff Cavins speaks to the men about spreading the Gospel message in natural ways. Photo by Trey Weaver mm

Although people may “consume” a lot of Catholic content, they can deceive themselves into being hearers of the words but not doers.

“We find ourselves being fans of Jesus, but not followers, not in the game,” said Cavins.

He urged the men to seek opportunities to share the Gospel. The message should have four components: God loves you and has a plan for your life, sin has broken this plan, Jesus loved you so much he died for your sins, and he’s asking you to radically re-orientate your life.

“I believe every man can share Christ with someone any day, any time, if they weave it into a conversation in a natural way, as God opens it up,” said Cavins.