By John Spinelli and Monitor team reports
A warrior for Christ does not reflect the anger of the world, but God’s mercy, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., told nearly 500 men of all ages gathered for the 2026 Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Conference.
Held in Mary, Mother of God Church and parish center, Middletown, the Feb. 28 day-long event featured Mass with the Bishop, a series of speakers and time for prayer and worship.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2026 Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Conference
Preaching on the conference theme, “Be Warriors for Christ,” Bishop O’Connell emphasized that any man can fight an enemy, but to be a Christian is to love one’s enemy.
He said, “Jesus is not asking you to be passive. He is asking you to be powerful: powerful enough to forgive, powerful enough to bless those who curse you, powerful enough to break the cycle of hatred in a world addicted to revenge.”
The Bishop challenged those in attendance: “You have come because something in your heart knows that God is calling you to more. You have come because you desire to be spiritual warriors for Christ in a world that desperately needs courageous, faithful, humble men of God.
“Men, the world tells you to follow your impulses,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Christ tells you to follow his commandments.”
“The world tells you to do what feels good. Christ tells you to do what is right. The world tells you to be self-made. Christ tells you to be God-made.”
Defenders of Home and Faith
Keynote speaker Doug Barry encouraged the men to listen for God in the still small voice that Elijah talks about in 1 Kings.
“Maybe sometimes you’re asking God, ‘where are you, Lord?’” Barry said. “My prayer regularly is ‘Lord, please do not turn your face from me. I need to know what you call me to do.”
A part of the United States Grace Force, founder of Radix Catholic men’s group and host of EWTN’s Battle Ready, Barry has spent the past 30-plus years encouraging men to assume their role as defenders of their home and of the faith. But he wasn’t always so enthusiastic.
Describing his younger self as a “clock in, clock out Catholic,” his attitude changed around 20 years old, when an aunt brought Our Lady of Fatima to his attention, and “it changed my life, knocked me over. From there, I started to pray the Rosary more.”
He invited the attendees to pray the Hail Mary with him, noting “‘Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.’ Because the battle goes on until that moment, gentlemen.”
“We are to be providers, protectors, defenders – spiritually and naturally,” he said. “What did the Blessed Mother say in Fatima in 1917? ‘If you want to avert war and bring peace to the world, pray the Rosary every day.’”
Barry gifted each of his children a Rosary that he has prayed with, encouraging the men to “start establishing these beautiful generational blessing pieces.”
“Let’s make sure that we do the best we can in this world, so that when we die, we’re pointing in the right direction,” he said, “and being men that are unafraid to stand up in the face of evil and say, ‘not on my watch.’”
Lessons from a coach
In his address, Rutgers University Coach Greg Schiano spoke of life lessons he has learned and of struggles with his faith.
“One of the most important values in this life is your family,” he told the men. “Love is not a feeling, it’s action.”
He said his athletic program is built on biblical principles: trust in God, perseverance when times are challenging, and having a love to sacrifice for one another.
He said that before each game, he reminds his players, “There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down one’s life,” referring to Christ’s death on the Cross.
“Are you willing to sacrifice for your teammates?” he asked those in attendance.
A challenge for young men
Father Glenn Suduno, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal who serves as an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Newark, also works with young adults at Holy Family Farm, a nonprofit charity farm and spiritual program in upstate New York. He warned against the power of changing technology and the internet, especially for young men.
“Many younger people today are isolated and seeking answers from AI instead of humans,” he said. Some young people have committed suicide after communicating with AI instead of family or friends.
He said spiritual warfare now is greater than it was when he was younger, but he offered ways men could grow in holiness as a solution – through Marian devotion, discipline and community.
“We are [the] most wonderful religion in the world; what’s stopping you from being the most wonderful man?” he asked.
Making a difference
This year, the George Rose Champion of Faith Award was granted to Noel Terranova, Catholic Men for Jesus Christ’s director of operations. Terranova has served on the conference committee for more than 20 years. Mr. Rose was a former conference organizer. He died in 2023.
Father Jeff Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish and chaplain of Catholic Men for Jesus Christ, said he was encouraged to see so many younger men in attendance.
“Their presence is a powerful sign of hope for the Church and a reminder that the Lord continues to call men of every generation to holiness, leadership, and courageous faith,” he said.
Matt Schneider, a parishioner at St. James in Red Bank, said it was “powerful to see men come together to discuss issues we all face and relate to each other. It has helped me in my life.”