Mike Aquilina talks about angels

Author and EWTN personality, Mike Aquilina, will speak at the 19th Annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference, scheduled for April 6 at Assumption College. The title of his talk is “With the Strength of Angels.”  
 Mr. Aquilina is the author of more than 50 books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. “The Fathers of the Church” and “The Mass of the Early Christians” are considered standard textbooks in universities and seminaries. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, from Spanish and Hungarian to Polish and Braille.
 “The Grail Code” has appeared in 10 languages since its publication in 2006. He has co-authored works with theologian Scott Hahn, composer John Michael Talbot, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Dion.
His talk will look at the role of the angels in the lives of major figures in Scripture. Aquilina says, “From these scenes the Church has learned devotion to the angels - a power that few men learn to rely on in our times. Yet the angels were the God-given strength of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and many others.”
 “Aquilina is a speaker all the participants can really look forward to hearing, especially since there is such a profound need to learn more about the Scriptures,” said Bob Haran, a parishioner at Our Lady of Providence Parish in Worcester and a conference committee member since the first conference in 2001. Mr. Haran has been training parish contact leaders and working on other logistics since the inception of the Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference.
 Mr. Aquilina has co-hosted 10 series on the Eternal Word Television Network and hosted two documentaries on early Christianity. He is a frequent guest on Catholic radio and appears weekly on Sirius Radio’s “Sonrise Morning Show.”
In 2011 he was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops’ Leadership Institute. He wrote the USCCB’s theological reflections for Catechetical Sunday in 2011 and 2016. Since 2002 he has collaborated closely with the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, which he has served as an executive and trustee. He is past editor of “New Covenant: A Magazine of Catholic Spirituality” (1996-2002) and “The Pittsburgh Catholic” newspaper (1993-1996).
He is also a poet and songwriter, whose work has been recorded by Grammy Award-winning artists Paul Simon and Dion.
 Other speakers for the day include author Kevin Dunn (“Living, Dying and the Power of Presence”); a Springfield diocesan priest, Father Warren Savage (“Do ‘Good People’ Need the Sacrament of Reconciliation?”); Catholic Answers apologist, Trent Horn (“The Beginner’s Guide to Defending Your Faith”); inner-city lay minister, Eric Mahl (“Transformation into Love”); and Francesco Cesareo, chairman of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People, and president of Assumption College (“A Wounded Church”).
 Singers and composers Ryan and Elizabeth Tremblay will lead the music throughout the day.
 The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered at mid-day.  Since so many participants go to confession, the committee hopes that more priests than ever will come. “We can use as many priests as will come,” said Mr. Haran, “since so many of the men, nearly a thousand, go to confession.”
 Bishop McManus will be the principal concelebrant and homilist for the Conference Mass at 4 p.m.
The speaking program and exhibitions will take place in the Plourde Center at Assumption College. Lunch will be served in the Laska Gym and confessions will be heard in the Hagan Campus Center. These buildings abut one another.
Through March 25 tickets for adult men are $45. On March 26 they increase to $60. Tickets for students are $30 prior to the conference and at the door. Tickets can be purchased online on the conference website at www.firstmensconf.org; by sending a check to Catholic Men’s Conference, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609; by contacting your parish contact person; or by calling Sara Smillie at 508-929-4345.