James Wahlberg to speak at men’s conference

James Wahlberg, brother of actors Donnie and Mark Wahlberg, will be speaking at the 2024 Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference on March 16.

Like his brothers, Mr. Wahlberg recovered from his tough upbringing on the streets of Dorchester to become a film writer, director and producer. As he tells his story, this was a long and arduous trek, from being homeless and a ward of the state at age 12, through years of struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs and incarceration, his future at times seemed almost hopeless.

After one particular arrest, he was facing a life sentence. The victim, a Boston police officer, spoke up for him at sentencing granting him a lesser sentence. Nonetheless, this would have Mr. Wahlberg locked up until he was 30 years old - ancient it seemed to him. So, he figured he better play the role of model prisoner to get out earlier. When the prison chaplain, Father Jim Fratus befriended him, Mr. Wahlberg figured he’d hustle this priest out of phone privileges and cigarettes. But as it turned out, the priest hustled him.

Mr. Wahlberg was also at MCI Concord, a medium security prison, when Mother Teresa of Kolkata visited. Her words and her simple actions changed his life forever. Of meeting St. Teresa, he said “It was the absolute most defining moment in my life, it’s the moment that everything changed for me.”
He ended up receiving the sacrament of confirmation while still an inmate, and began to learn about, and embrace, his Catholic faith. Mr. Wahlberg’s story is one of redemption.

Mr. Wahlberg and his wife, Bernarda (Bennie), live in South Florida and have three children: Daniel, Jeff and Kyra. He currently serves as the executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Foundation, which was created to improve the quality of life for inner-city kids.

The annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference will be held at the DCU Center on March 16. The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with registration, followed by the rosary at 8 a.m., music at 8:30 a.m. and the welcoming and prayer at 8:45 a.m. In addition to Mr. Wahlberg, other speakers include Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Michael Nicholson and Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan.
The conference also offers the opportunity for men to go to confession at the lunch break, to solemnly reflect in the all-day adoration chapel, and to visit more than 50 vendors who will be there. The day concludes with a 4 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop McManus.
 
Tickets are $50 for adults through March 4, and $60 after that date or at the door. Student tickets are always $30. Lunch is included with tickets. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit catholicmenworc.com.