Philadelphia Catholic schools product Rich Gannon, CBS-TV commentator and the National Football League's Most Valuable Player in 2002, and Marcus Grodi, EWTN host, will headline an impressive lineup of speakers for the first Men's Spirituality Conference to be held March 7, 2009 at Cardinal O'Hara High School.

Gannon is an alumnus of Saint Cecilia Parish School, in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia, and later starred at quarterback for Saint Joseph's Prep and the University of Delaware before beginning his 18-year NFL career. Gannon resides in the Minneapolis, MN suburbs and is an active leader in his Roman Catholic parish. He will speak on the topic of "The Catholic Faith in My Life's Journey." Grodi, host of the EWTN program "Journey Home," will address "Men and Conversion" and "Spiritual Leadership in the Home." The Conference theme is, "Let us strengthen one another" from Saint Paul's letter to the Romans (14:19).

Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate the conference's Closing Mass at 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 7, 2009
8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cardinal O'Hara High School
Sproul Road, Springfield, PA

"The Conference will provide all Catholic men of the Archdiocese with a unique opportunity to come together to address their spritual needs and share with other men the challenges they face at home, in the parish and the workplace," said Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, who heads a 20-member Conference planning committee. In addition to Gannon and Grodi, other speakers and topics include:


-- Jim Rogers and son Rev. Christopher Rogers: "Fathers and Sons, Embracing God's Call"
-- Damon Owens: "Be Not Conformed to the World"
-- Rev. Joseph Cummins, C.M.: "Evangelizing the Word of God" (Spanish)
-- Business Executive Eustace Mita: "Spirituality and the Workplace."
-- Rev. Msgr. Hugh Shields, Andres Carillo: "Spirituality in the Home and at Work" (Spanish)

Don Saleski, the former Philadelphia Flyers star, and Rev. Ralph Chieffo, pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Media, will precede the closing mass with a session on "Establishing a Faith Sharing Group in Your Parish."

Online advance registration ($25 donation, including lunch) at www.archphila.org/evangelization or contact 215-587-5639 for information.

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Contact
Kevin Mulligan
Associate Director for Communications
215-587-3747