The Catholic Week
Fathers searching for an opportunity to connect with their teenage sons have the opportunity at this year’s “Called to Lead” men’s conference.
The Archdiocese of Mobile-sponsored conference will return this Lent, with sessions in both Montgomery and Mobile. This year’s conference takes place Wednesday, March 4 at St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Montgomery and Thursday, March 5 at St. Pius X Parish in Mobile. Doors open at 5 p.m. both nights, with a meal served at 5:30 p.m. It will finish by 9 p.m.
According to Archdiocese of Mobile Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life Pat Arensberg, the conference will provide a bonding moment for father-and-son.
“So often our conversations with our children are ‘Have you cleaned your room’ or ‘have you done your homework,” Arensberg said. “This is an evening where we’re hanging out together. A lot of times we dads don’t know how to relate to our teenage sons. We’re looking for those points of connection.”
Arensberg stressed teenage son. “This is an adult men’s conference. You judge for yourself the maturity of your son, but I would not hesitate to bring my junior or senior in high school.”
This year’s featured speaker at both events is Fr. Patrick Driscoll, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Mobile.
Before becoming pastor at St. Dominic Parish in 2018, Fr. Driscoll was pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Montgomery. He will lead reflections on encyclicals written by Pope Benedict XVI – “Deus Caritas Est – God is Love” and “Spe salvi – Saved in Hope.”
“(Fr. Driscoll) is an amazing spiritual man,” Arensberg said. “He’s going to have the guided reflections. And then, whenever a Word is proclaimed, a necessary component of that is silence. (We need to) let that resonate. The approach at the men’s conference is there’s time to let that (message) sink it.”
— Preregistration for the conference is strongly encouraged. To register, visit mobarchconferences.org.
Called to Lead
Montgomery: March 4, St. Bede the Venerable Parish
Mobile: Thursday, March 5 St. Pius X Parish
Time: Doors open at 5 p.m.
Cost: $30 adults, $10 young adults. Includes supper.
Tickets: Available at mobarchconferences.org