October 8, 2025

Diocesan Men’s Conference inspires faith

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

CHICOPEE – More than 200 men attended the Springfield Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference at Bellamy Middle School in Chicopee, Saturday, Oct. 4. The day included inspiring talks, eucharistic adoration, confession, and Mass celebrated by Bishop William D. Byrne.

The men’s conference returned during the Jubilee Year of Hope after a long hiatus.

“It’s great to be back especially since the pandemic. We haven’t been able gather together in a long time,” said Joe Austin, the director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship. Austin and his team organized the conference and are also planning the Women’s Conference, scheduled for Nov. 15.

“I really think it’s about men finding fraternity and seeing fraternity and seeing that there are other guys just like them all over the place coming together talking about God, talking about Jesus, learning more about their faith, having encounters with their faith, but especially growing in that fellowship,” Austin said.

There was a range in ages with some teenagers accompanying their fathers. Artie Boyle, the author of “Six Months to Live: Three Guys on the Ultimate Quest for a Miracle,” spoke on his miraculous healing from cancer after visiting the shrine of Medjugorje in Croatia. The hockey dad of 13 from Hingham has been sharing his story with audiences all over, proclaiming how Christ not only healed him, but changed his life.

“I was lucky enough to be the beneficiary of what I consider a miracle. I was supposed to be dead at 44. I’m still here at 70. God has been good,” said Boyle, whose son Brian played in the NHL for the New York Rangers, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the LA Kings.

“I had many things happen to me before Medjugorje and in Medjugorje that I knew were of God. When I was touched in the mission church in Roxbury by the finger of God, I believe, creating a membrane protecting my pancreas from the tumor, that kind of woke me up. That doesn’t just happen. Then in Medjugorje, things happened that were inexplicable other than the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Sam Todzia, of Red Barn Ministries, was the master of ceremonies. The father of seven was there with his wife Kristin and their youngest, 8-month old John Bosco.

“I think that an opportunity to build up the men in the church is just so important. They’re called to be the spiritual leaders of their home and so any chance we can get to gather them together, to have fellowship and brotherhood it’s just a wonderful opportunity. I am thrilled to be part of this,” he said.

Todzia echoed the message of Sister Deirdre Byrne, the superior of her order, Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Washington, D.C. Sister Dede, as she is known, is the sister of Bishop Byrne. She retired with the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army. She is double-board certified in family medicine and general surgery, serving as an Army surgeon in Afghanistan.

“The father is the head of the family, no ifs, ands or buts. For them to be spiritual leaders they have to start on their knees and pray,” Sister Byrne old IObserve. “You start on your knees to fall more in love with Christ. When you fall more in love with Christ, the first commandment is you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and love others the way you love yourself. Those are the two greatest commandments. So as the leader of the family, the father needs to love the Lord first, and then to love his spouse and his children the way he would love himself,” she said.

Father Justin Bolger, OP, a Dominican friar of the province of St. Joseph, played and sang at the conference. He was ordained in 2020 and is the chaplain of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. He is also a member of the Hillbilly Thomists, a band of friars who play country and blue grass. The band performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

“You put God first, other things fall into place. So Jesus Christ is our leader. We must follow the leader. When you do, it falls into place. But when you follow other things first and put Jesus somewhere else in your life, things get out of whack and life is hard,” Father Bolger said.

Father David Aufiero, the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in South Hadley and director of recruiting for the Office of Vocations, was the chaplain of the Men’s Conference.

“The point for any big conference is you do the big conference and then smaller sessions,” said Father Aufiero adding that he prays men will share their experiences with their family and friends.

“Artie Boyle when he started speaking, he had this amazing story of how God influenced him and healed him miraculously of cancer. When he spoke, he sounded like any man, any jock if you will, who loves sports, just any regular guy. He had this remarkable story that he wanted to share with as many people as he could. That’s the grace we are encountering today,” said Father Aufiero.

Dr. Peter Kreeft, a renowned Catholic philosopher, author and professor at Boston College, spoke on suffering.

The day included eucharistic adoration, a procession and Mass, celebrated by Bishop Byrne.

“I think that this men’s conference is going to be a real blessing to our diocese. It brings men together, to help firm them in their faith and friendship, not just with each other, but with God. It only grows. It will make them better fathers, better sons, better husbands, and build up our church in a way by being good strong men,” the bishop said.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.