Men come 'alive' at conference

Priest says male gathering was a 'bolt of lightning'

Tom Peterson (left), Peter Herbeck, and Brian Patrick listen to a question from
the audience during the "Man Alive" Catholic's men's conference Oct. 27 at the
Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. Photo by Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic.

Here's my story about the recent "Man Alive" Catholic men's conference in Vancouver:

Kyle Neilson hopes men will set their world on fire for God's glory. The director of evangelization spoke to approximately 1,400 men gathered at the first ever "Man Alive" Catholic men's conference Oct. 27 at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts.

"To become men of faith and set the world on fire we need a model, and that model is Christ," Neilson said.

On stage during the conference was an icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which Neilson, who also organized the conference, said served as a visual model for the men.

"Today is going to be an opportunity to look at our lives and consider our mission and the great task the Lord is calling us to," said Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, who celebrated Mass at the event.

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"I think today's conference was like a bolt of lightning in a dark sky," said Msgr. Gregory Smith, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish in West Vancouver and the leader of his parish's men's group, called MEAT (Men Eating And Talking).

"We have a culture that needs renewing and a masculine culture that needs strengthening. I saw those things happening in front of my eyes today."

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.