Men of the Immaculata Conference Scheduled Feb. 20

A sprinkling of national speakers with local favorites are on the offering for the 5th annual Men of the Immaculata Men’s Conference, scheduled Feb. 20 at St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.

The theme for the increasingly popular event is “St. Joseph: Pillar of Families, Protector of the Church and Terror of Demons.” Scott Smith, chairman of this year’s conference, said the theme was chosen before Pope Francis recently declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph, who is the patron saint of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

“How can we not be excited?” Smith said. “It’s just providence. With that message, the wind is at our backs.”

Father Reuben Dykes, pastor at Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, will speak on the Terror of Demons. Father Dykes has previously produced a series of successful videos on demons and spiritual welfare.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, known worldwide as the “Dynamic Deacon,” will talk about Pillar of Families. Deacon Harold is a television host and author who travels the country offering a no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the Catholic faith 

Best-selling author Dr. Allen Hunt will speak on Protector of the Church. Hunt, an Atlanta resident, is a former Methodist pastor who is a convert to Catholicism.

Chef John Folse will not only provide lunch but offer his reflections, traditionally one of the highlights of the day. 

Father Joshua Johnson, pastor at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, will lead the men in the rosary.

“Each of those guys will be emphasizing and pumping up the St. Joseph consecration going forward,” Smith said. “I’m excited by how it is all coming together.”

Concern grew this past year that as the coronavirus pandemic spread the 2021 conference might be in jeopardy. Smith said similar men’s conferences in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, both of which were developed following the model of the Men of the Immaculata, have already been canceled.

“We have been able to keep ours going because St. George has been so welcoming to us,” Smith said. “The generosity of (pastor) Father Paul Yi, (parochial vicar) Father Paul Gros and (administrator) Martin Hernandez have made this possible. They could have killed it at several points. We are very grateful to them.”

The conference will still be held in the church but COVID-19 protocols dictate that only 300 men will be allowed to attend in person. Smith said projecting the conference onto a screen in the gym was considered but the decision was made to keep it in a sacred place.

But Smith was quick to point out that “limitations can increase opportunities.”

He said an APP was developed that is available on Google Play and the APP store allowing people to buy a virtual ticket and view the entire conference live. Catholic Life Television will also be livestreaming the event.  

Additionally, the conference will be live streamed at what is being dubbed the “Bayou Men of the Immaculata Conference” at the St. Philomena Church in Labadieville Community Center. St. Philomena pastor Father Eddie Martin is organizing the “Bayou” event.

Smith said a men’s group in Bossier City is also attempting to live stream the event.

He said the speakers are also going to have discussion questions to facilitate at each local event. 

“We’re hoping to get several of these satellite conferences,” Smith said. 

“Even though we are in quarantine, even though we are in this pandemic, we can still evangelize.”

“I think this will be a particularly and poignant year because of all that we had to deal with (in the past year),” Smith said. “And all of the turmoil and political acrimony going on in our country.”

He said that “speaking for myself I  have not had a large scale fellowship with other men since the last men’s conference,” noting that Knights of Columbus councils and other men’s groups have not been allowed to meet. 

Social distancing and masking protocols will be in place, Smith said. Lunches will be packaged so the men can sit either outside or inside, and a “COVID safe” breakfast will be available.

Confession will be heard, with about 20 priests available.

Tickets for the in-person conference are $60 and incudes a “swag” that will have a copy of the book “Consecration to St. Joseph.”

Virtual tickets are $40, which includes the swag bag, and $20 without the bag. 

Hunt’s address will kick off the event at 8:15 a.m. Father Dykes will speak at 9:30 a.m. and Bishop Michael G. Duca is scheduled to celebrate Mass at 10:50 a.m. Father Martin will celebrate Mass at St. Philomena also at 10:50 a.m.

Folse is scheduled to offer his reflections at 11:45 a.m., followed by lunch. Father Johnson will lead the rosary at 12:40 p.m. and Deacon Sivers address will begin at 1:20 p.m.

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