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Catholic Men’s Conference 2026
February 28 @ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
| $40
Date: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: St. John’s University, Collegeville
Theme: Walking Together as Brothers: A Call to Authentic Accompaniment
Keynote speaker: Craig Gould, M.A., Program Director, Notre Dame Vision
Keynote 1: “His Power, Our Weakness”
St Paul exhorts us that when we embrace our weakness, it is then that Christ’s power is made known. But what does it mean as men, to embrace weakness? And how exactly is Christ present in our limitations?
Keynote 2: “Secular Call of the Lay Priesthood”
The common priesthood of all believers was not only identified but celebrated through our shared baptismal identity from the Second Vatican Council. What does that mean for the missional charge of men, in particular in spaces beyond the Church? How does a man live as a priest, bringing Christ to the secular spaces of our lives?
Workshops presented by:
- Fr. Tom Knoblach, Ph.D. [Topic – sharing in Christ’s suffering]
- Fr. Matthew Crane, J.C.L. [Topic – Cannon Law and social media]
- Deacon Rick Scheierl, M.Div. [Topic – discerning the vocation of a deacon]
- Fr. Robert Altier [Topic – spiritual warfare and the family]
- Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A. [Topic – financial wellbeing and mental wellness]
- Timothy Schmidt [Topic – defending family and friends through the power of prayer]
- Kent Schmitz, M.A. [Topic – practical ways to accompany Gen Z and Alpha in their faith life]
- Jason Prigge, M.A. [Topic – the epidemic of lonliness]
- Philip Shefveland, M.A. [Topic – theological and practical principles to evangelization]
- REC Ministry – Ralph Van Beck [Topic – short history of the Residents Encountering Christ program with testimony from a couple whose lives have turned from ashes to hope]
Cost: $40 or $35/each for groups of 5, includes morning refreshments and lunch
Cost for young adults ages 15 – 22: $10, due to a generous donation by Timothy Schmidt at New Century Real Estate; includes morning refreshments and lunch
Registration deadline: Feb. 12, 2026, pre-registration required Walk-ins Welcome
Registration Link: Catholic Men’s Conference – 2026 Diocese of St. Cloud – Fill out form
Schedule:
8:30 – Rosary
9:00 – 10:00 Mass with Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C. – Abbey Church
10:00 – 10:25 Check In & Fellowship
10:35 – 10:40 Welcome
10:40 – 11:30 Keynote, Craig Gould, M.A.
11:40 – 12:20 Workshop Session 1
12:30 – 1:10 Workshop Session 2
1:15 – 2:20 Lunch
1:15 – 2:20 Reconciliation – Abbey Church
2:30 – 3:10 Workshop Session 3
3:20 – 4:10 Keynote, Craig Gould, M.A.
4:15 – Closing Prayer
