2025 Men of the Immaculata Conference to Focus on Evangelization

For the past couple of years, the Men of the Immaculata (MOTI) conferences have focused on the Eucharist as the source and summit of the faith. At this year’s conference, the men will be “sent out” to proclaim the Gospel.

The eighth-annual conference will take place Saturday, March 9, at St. George Church in Baton Rouge. The theme of the event, “Go Forth,” is based on the Latin phrase “Ite missa est,” which translates into "Go, it is sent.”  At the end of Mass, a deacon will announce the words to signify the dismissal of the congregation at the end of the service, essentially meaning "the Mass is ended" or "go, you are now sent forth."

“It's really the call for all of us to go out and make disciples. It's not that we keep our faith to ourselves, but we go out and spread the good news, the Gospel, with our lives,” said MOTI board member Mark Hermann.

“Our priests will tell us we’re touching people that they can't touch. These are people that aren't necessarily in our parishes, they may not be in our faith communities. But we need to be witnesses, we need to be the light of Christ. We need to be a good steward of the faith as Catholic men, as leaders, in our house, but also in in the workplace, parish, and society.”

Leading the attendees into encounters with Christ with faith-filled messages will be Jeff Cavins, author, podcaster, public speaker, and Bible teacher; Father Patrick Hough, SJ, retreat director at the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau; Father Miles Walsh, a spiritual mentor and inspiration behind the conferences; and Chef John Folse, who will deliver an inspiring message before a lunch of Cajun cuisine.

Men look forward to the conferences, according to Hermann.

“They're truly excited to experience the faith, are truly excited to experience fellowship with their brothers in the faith. There’s probably as much excitement as the first day of LSU football season,” Herman said.

Bishop Michael G. Duca, a strong supporter of the conference, will celebrate Mass.

Additionally, there will be a Eucharistic procession and rosary, adoration and benediction, ministry resources available in an exhibit area, and the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation during the day.

A MOTI board member and participant since the first conference in 2017, Hermann has seen men of a “variety of demographics” impacted by the event.

“My son (Christopher) came with me to 5-6 conferences until he ended up going to Ave Maria University in Southwest Florida,” Hermann said. “A lot of his love for practicing and living the faith was through coming to these men’s conferences.

“We’re encouraging men to bring other men – fathers, sons, grandfathers, brothers, as well as their small groups, the Knights of Columbus, ACTS brothers, come together.”

This is a discount price for purchases of five or more tickets, noted Hermann.

He has seen the transformation men go through from the start of the day at the conference until the day’s end because of the catechesis and sacraments offered that day.

“We see the guys coming in because it's a great chance to get together and fellowship; and coming out of that, we see a more profound love for their faith and a more profound witness that they experience through all those men getting together.

He added, “I think that's translating into bigger diaconate classes that we're seeing across the diocese. We hope that it also translates into vocations, both in the priesthood, but also in beautiful marriages.”

Another “beautiful thing to see” is 700-800 men singing loudly in St. George, according to Hermann.

Through this local MOTI conference and other men’s conferences, there has been “an explosion” in the growth of men’s ministries across the region and the United States, according to Hermann.

 “We want everyone to come and experience it. We want everyone to really get fired up,” said Hermann. “But what we ask is that you bring it back to your parish and get involved with the Knights of Columbus, your ACTS community, St. Vincent de Paul …”

Since the conferences are held on the first weekend of Lent, Hermann pointed out that attending them are a great way to start the season.

“We’re going to challenge you. We’re going to give you some things to work on. We’re going to give you some spiritual content that are great tools to use,” said Hermann.

For more information and to register, visit catholicmenbr.com.