RENTON – Hundreds of men ages 16 and older are expected to gather for inspiration and to deepen their faith at the annual “Iron Sharpens Iron” Catholic men’s conferences this month and next.

The goal is to help them become servant leaders in their parish communities, said Don Meyer, parish captain coordinator for NW Catholic Brothers, which organizes the conferences in English and Spanish.

“I really want to reach out to the men that are wounded, to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and do work for your parish,” Meyer said.

The English-language conference, “Forged by Love,” is set for April 20 at St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Renton. The theme is rooted in the National Eucharistic Revival and “how we encounter the Eucharist,” said Bill Swedberg, a St. Stephen parishioner who is producing the conference. “Young people have an affinity for that type of spirituality,” he added.

The Spanish-language conference, “Agradecimiento y Confianza en Dios” (“Gratitude and Trust in God”),  follows a month later, on May 25 at St. Pius X Church in Mountlake Terrace.

The men’s conference began in 2013. English- and Spanish-speaking tracks were offered on the same date and in the same location, but so many men attended that by 2019 it was decided to hold them on different dates, according to Allan Murray, a member of the conference’s core team. Both conferences start with morning Mass.

The slate of speakers on April 20 includes Seattle Seahawk Abraham “Abe” Lucas, who grew up at St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood and describes himself as a “hard-core Catholic.” Bishop Frank Schuster will celebrate Mass and give the homily and there will be opportunities for Eucharistic adoration and confession. Other speakers include Deacon Jim Johnson of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton, musician Daniel Oberreuter and Father Paul Heric, chaplain of the Saint Thomas More Catholic Student Center at Washington State University, who was Lucas’ college pastor. In the afternoon, Father Heric will lead a session featuring Lucas and Liam Ryan, Lucas’ good friend who was his teammate on the WSU Cougars and the Seahawks.

“This is a really exciting lineup,” Swedberg said. “Different guys with different gifts. I’m intrigued to see how it goes,” he added.

One goal is getting more young men to attend the conference, Meyer said, so tickets for high school and college students are discounted. (See conference details below.)

At the May 25 conference, the keynote speaker will be Franciscans of Mary Father Santiago Martín, founder of the order and of Magnificat.tv. Other speakers include Father Cal Christiansen, pastor of St. Pius X Parish, and Missionaries of the Holy Spirit Father Miguel Marquez, priest administrator at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bothell. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo will celebrate the opening Mass.

Attend the Seattle Men’s Conference

“Forged by Love”

April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Stephen the Martyr Church, 13055 S.E 192nd St., Renton

Cost: $35; $20 for high school/college students; includes hot lunch

More information | Register here

“Agradecimiento y Confianza en Dios”

May 25, 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

St. Pius X Church, 22301 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace

Cost: $60, includes meals

More information