The Columbus Catholic Men’s Conference will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, returning to an in-person format after taking place online in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Called to Be Saints,” with a focus on the Sacred Heart and the Holy Family, will be the theme of the event, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 6 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 26 in Kasich Hall of the Ohio Expo Center (state fairgrounds).
Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; Matthew Leonard; and Curtis Martin will be featured speakers. The program also will include Mass, with Father Stephan Moloney, diocesan administrator, vicar general and pastor of Columbus St. Andrew Church, tentatively scheduled as the celebrant; plus displays by faith-based organizations; an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation; and breakfast and lunch.
Music will be provided by the Neumann Project of Sunbury St. John Neumann Church, and the master of ceremonies will be Matt Palmer, board president of the Columbus Catholic Men’s Ministry.
Sister Miriam James, a former volleyball player for the University of Nevada-Reno, had a radical conversion and joined the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in 1998. Her story has been featured on EWTN’s The Journey Home, SEEK conferences, Steubenville Conferences and other outlets.
She holds a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute and speaks extensively on conversion, authentic love, forgiveness, healing and sports. Her podcast, Abiding Together, can be found on iTunes, and her books, Restore: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation and Loved As I Am, can be found on Amazon. She tweets at @onegroovynun.
Leonard is an international speaker, author, podcaster and founder of the ScienceOfSainthood.com, an online teaching platform focused on transformative prayer and authentic spirituality.
An accomplished filmmaker, he has written, produced, directed and hosted multiple series, which have been translated into almost a dozen languages. He is a former missionary and convert to Catholicism who appears regularly on radio and television programs on EWTN, Relevant Radio and SiriusXM radio and has his own podcast, The Art of Catholic.
He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and lives in Steubenville with his wife, Veronica, and their six children. Learn more about him at MatthewSLeonard.com.
Martin founded the Fellowship of Catholic University Students in 1998. He holds a master’s degree in theology and is the author of the books Made for More and Making Missionary Disciples. He has been part of the panel on EWTN’s Crossing the Goal series, which features conversations related to faith and sports.
He also is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. He and his wife, Michaelann, live in Colorado and have been blessed with nine children and six grandchildren.
Registration is $40 for adults, $25 for students and complimentary for seminarians and members of the clergy. For more information, go to www.catholicmensministry.com and click on the conference link.