The 2017 Men's Conference was held on
Saturday, February 4, 2017

Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted

Bishop, Diocese of Phoenix

Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., July 2, 1973. He was installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix December 20, 2003. Prior to his arrival in Phoenix he served as Bishop of Wichita, Kansas, after being ordained Coadjutor Bishop on April 20, 1999. Before serving in Wichita, he served as the Rector / President of the Pontifical College Josephinum, a Catholic Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Since 1974, Bishop Olmsted has been a member of the Jesus Caritas fraternity of priests, and thus has been deeply influenced by the witness and wisdom of Charles de Foucauld and by the prayers and encouragement of many brother priests.

Read more about Bishop Thomas Olmsted >

Most Reverend Eduardo A. Nevares

Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Phoenix

Most Reverend Eduardo A. Nevares was ordained as the first Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Phoenix on July 19, 2010, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale. He began his priesthood as a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette on July 18, 1981, and was later incardinated into the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, in May 2007.

Prior to his arrival in Phoenix he served as Vice Rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, after serving as the Co-Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, from 2002 until 2008. Before serving in Tyler, he was the Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lufkin, Texas. For 25 years, Bishop Nevares served as a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette before he sought incardination to the Diocese of Tyler.

Read more about Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares >

Deacon James Keating, Ph. D.

Award-winning Author and Director of Theological Formation

Deacon James Keating is an award winning author and Director of Theological Formation in the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska. In 1993 Dr. James Keating was appointed by the Papal Nuncio to be Associate Professor of Moral and Spiritual Theology in the School of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio. He served in this capacity for 13 years until 2006 when he joined the IPF at Creighton.

Read more about Deacon James Keating >

Fr. John Riccardo

Fr. John was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. He currently serves as the pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, Michigan. With Pope Francis he believes “Knowing Jesus is the best gift anyone can ever receive; that we have encountered Him is the best thing that has happened in our lives; and making Him known by our deeds and words is our greatest joy.

Patrick Madrid

Host of the 'Patrick Madrid Show' on Immaculate Heart Radio

Patrick Madrid is the president of the Envoy Institute which, from 1996-2011, published the quarterly Catholic journal, Envoy Magazine, and currently conducts the Catholic Apologetics Academy and Catholic Apologetics Summer Camp.

He has authored or edited 24 books on Catholic themes including, How to do Apologetics, Why Be Catholic? Pope Fiction, Search and Rescue, Does the Bible Really Say That? and Envoy for Christ: 25 Years as a Catholic Apologist and the multi-volume Surprised by Truth series. His total book sales exceed a million copies worldwide, including foreign-language editions.

Over the past nearly 30 years, Patrick has published numerous popular articles on Scripture, Church history, patristics, apologetics, and evangelization in various Catholic and Protestant periodicals, and he has contributed scholarly articles on apologetics in the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

Read more about Patrick Madrid >

Fr. Paul Sullivan

Director of Vocations and Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish

Fr. Paul Sullivan was or ordained a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix in 2007. Since then he has served in as a parochial vicar, director of a retreat center, high school chaplain and pastor. He currently serves as Director of Vocations for the diocese and as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Phoenix.

Fr. Sullivan grew up in New York blessed by the love of a faithful father and mother and seven siblings. He attended SUNY Albany for college where he earned a degree in accounting. After 3 years of work as a CPA, he entered Saint Meinrad Seminary for philosophy and theology studies prior to ordination. He has also completed the spiritual direction training through the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Terry Kennedy, Emcee

Terrence Edward Kennedy (on June 4, 1956 in Euclid, Ohio) is a former All-Star Major League Baseball catcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1978-80), San Diego Padres (1981-86), Baltimore Orioles (1987-88) and San Francisco Giants (1989-91). Kennedy batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of former major league player, manager, and general manager Bob Kennedy.

In a 14-year career, Kennedy hit .264 with 113 home runs and 628 RBI in 1491 games. Kennedy tied Johnny Bench's NL mark of 40 doubles in a season in 1982. That same year Kennedy won the Silver Bat Award. He appeared in 4 All-Star games (1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987). He also played in 2 World Series with the Padres in 1984 and the Giants in 1989 (Earthquake Series). Terry and his father Bob became the first father and son duo to drive in runs in a World Series when Terry drove in 2 against the Tigers in 1984 in his first at bat.

After his playing days, Kennedy managed, coached, and instructed in the minor leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Kennedy was voted Manager-of-the-Year twice including Baseball America Manager-of-the-Year in 1998 when he led the Iowa Cubs to a first place finish. Currently, he is a Major League scout for the Chicago Cubs.

He played college baseball at Florida State University and was a two-time All-American and Sporting News College Player of the Year in 1976. Kennedy was inducted into the FSU Athletics hall of Fame in 1982.

Terry and his wife Teresa are parishioners of St. Timothy’s in Mesa, AZ. They have three children, Suzanna, Sarah, and Bart; and seven granddaughters.

Chris Muglia

Husband, Father, Musician, and Web-Designer, Co-Founder of The Catholic Web Company

Chris Muglia is singer/songwriter and speaker who writes music for prayer, worship, liturgy and personal reflection. His powerful presentations include testimony and reflection on the very real and tangible ways God has moved in his life and the lives of others. Although a Baptized Catholic, he did not practice his faith as a child. It wasn't until college that Chris discovered his faith, and became a fully initiated Catholic. In September 2015, Chris released his 6th CD, Be Still. Chris and His wife Sheila, and their 5 children, reside in Phoenix Arizona. 

Chris is available for Parish Missions, Retreats and Events

To book Chris for a mission or event visit www.chrismuglia.com >

8:00 amDoors Open
8:30 amProgram Begins
12 NoonLunch Provided
1:30 pmAfternoon Program Begins
4:00 pmClosing Mass with Bishop Thomas Olmsted and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares

Xavier College Preparatory - Performing Arts Center

Xavier College Preparatory is a Roman Catholic High School for young women. The 1160 students from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds hail from more than 150 different middle schools from across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Address: 4710 North Fifth Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85012 · Get Directions
Phone: 602-639-8999
Website: www.xcp.org