Wanted: Catholic men, ages 16 and up, seeking to fire up their faith!
The Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese will host IGNITE 2019 Catholic Men’s Conference, on Saturday, March 30, 2019, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the SRC Arena and Event Center, Syracuse. This day-long event will feature lunch, free parking, Mass, and three nationally known speakers.
Read more: Faith of hundreds fired up at IGNITE
Scheduled speakers include the following:
• Eric Mahl grew up in the small town of Monroeville, Ohio, where he was a standout athlete. He earned a scholarship to play Division I football at Kent State University and, in 2005, was signed by the Cleveland Browns. After leaving the NFL, he spent three years working in the world, where he continued his intensive focus on discerning his vocation. After this period of discernment, he sold or gave away all his belongings so as to fully give himself to the Lord and live out the message of Divine Mercy. His journey eventually led him to the shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. Eric now lives, works, and prays in service with the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy.
• Chris Padgett is a speaker, musician, and author who has traveled the country for more than a decade spreading the message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. In 1999, Padgett entered the Catholic Church on Easter. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University. He is a published author of “Spirituality You Can Live With,” “Wholly Mary,” and coauthor with his wife of “Holy Marriage, Happy Marriage.” Chris is an impassioned Catholic who percolates with excitement about his faith. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for over 25 years and they have nine children.
• Dr. John Bergsma grew up a Protestant (Dutch Calvinist), and converted to the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Today he is a professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he has been twice voted Faculty of the Year by graduates. He has authored seven books, including “Bible Basics for Catholics” and “New Testament Basics for Catholics.” Dr. Bergsma specializes in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and has published more than 25 articles. He has been a guest on EWTN’s “The Journey Home,” “Franciscan University Presents,” and “Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani Show.”
The cost for this event is $55 online or $75 at the door. To register, go to www.ignitecatholicmen.org. For more information, call Ed Kirk at 315-560-9170 or Rev. Joseph O’Connor at 315-470-1468.
