Conference 2008       February 9, 2008

"ANSWER THE CALL"   -   A Great Gathering of Men      VIEW PHOTOS

Speakers:

Father John M. Capuci was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1990. During his time in that Archdiocese, Fr. Capuci has been involved with youth ministry, marriage preparation, parish ministry, and Catholic high school chaplain. He was assigned to the Diocese of New Orleans as the director of The Center of Jesus the Lord, New Orleans, Louisiana, a Spiritual Retreat Center, and focus of ministry to the poor of New Orleans. Fr. John is a dynamic, popular conference speaker, retreat director throughout the United States. He has authored a book entitled "Opening the Gates of Praise”. Fr. John captures his audiences with his own love of God and his powerful teachings on the transforming truth of Jesus' love.

Bishop Richard Lennon will speak to us and celebrate the closing mass. The Most Reverend Richard Gerard Lennon was installed as the 10th Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio on 15 May 2006 . His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Lennon to the leadership position of over nearly 800,000 Catholics in eight counties of Northeast Ohio on 4 April 2006 . A native of the Boston area, the 60 year old Bishop Lennon was born in Arlington , Massachusetts , graduated from Catholic High School and attended Boston College before entering St. John’s Seminary in Brighton , Massachusetts where he received an M.A. in Church History and a M.Th in Sacramental Theology. Bishop Lennon was ordained to the priesthood in May 1973 and served in the Archdiocese of Boston as a parish priest, Fire Department Chaplain, an Assistant for Canonical Affairs, and Rector of St. John’s Seminary. Ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston on 14 September 2001 , Bishop Lennon also was called upon to serve as Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese from December 2002 to July 2003 when the Vatican appointed a new Archbishop to lead in Boston . Among the special recognitions Bishop Lennon has received; he was named a Domestic Prelate in April 1998, installed as a Knight of Malta and as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher in June 2001.

Father Sal Ruggeri is the administrator of St. Felicitas parish in Euclid. He was born on July 30, 1966 to Salvatore and Annette Ruggeri. He grew up in Mayfield Heights and attended Mayfield High School before studying at Indiana University in Bloomington where he earned a B.S. in Accounting. After college he worked for almost 6 years as a CPA in public accounting and as an accounting manager before entering the seminary in 1993. Fr. Sal was ordained on May 29, 1999 and spent his first 5 years as a priest at St. Hilary in Fairlawn. Beginning in June of 2004, he spent three+ years at St. Basil in Brecksville. In November 2007 he accepted the position at St. Felicitas. He has 2 sisters and 6 nieces and nephews, and let’s not forget his dog Murphy. Hobbies include reading, traveling, perfecting his Italian, and a true passion for cooking. Father Sal will share some of his life story with us of rejecting the faith of his parents as he graduated from high school and embracing atheism. It is a story of how several people and events opened his mind and heart to listen to God, a God who called him to the priesthood. He responded but not wholeheartedly and struggled with the call often walking away, but others who knew him kept challenging him to continue the journey. It is a story of God's revelation to listen to His call.

Rich Cleveland lives in Colorado Springs. He is Director of Emmans Journey, a Catholic evangelization and discipleship ministry which helps Catholics become enthusiastic about their life in Christ. Rich is the author of six best selling bible study books and popular books on men's ministry.