“Inspiring men, by the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, to IGNITE their Catholic faith in everyday life."

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2026 SPEAKERS

Fr Larry Richards

A gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master, and author, Fr. Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life’s most profound questions. He speaks from his experience which includes: being a pastor of an inner-city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor, and evangelist. Fr. Larry Richards has directed thousands of retreats, parish missions, and conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks, presentations, and books always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds, and lives of millions of listeners, and readers worldwide.

Father Larry Richards was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, he attended the college seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health in 1983. Father Larry Richards continued his studies at the major seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1987. He also studied Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Larry Richards has served as a pastor since 2002. He is currently the pastor of St. Luke and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parishes.

Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ.

Father Larry’s first book, “Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You To Be,” was published by Ignatius Press in October of 2009, and was the #1 best seller by Ignatius Press, having sold over 160,000 copies. In “Be a Man!” he recounts his struggles to learn true manhood, as well as the inspiring stories of others he has served in his decades as a priest. He tells men how to focus on the right goal, how to live as a beloved son of God, of the need to acknowledge one’s faults and to live according to the Holy Spirit, to be a man of true love and of wisdom, to appreciate properly the differences between men and women, to pursue holiness, and to make a difference in the world. Not preachy, but direct, Father Larry challenges men to be strong, without putting on a mask of false strength or machismo. He calls men to admit their weaknesses and limitations, while urging them to find strength in faith and genuine love to overcome their sins and faults.

Brandon Powell

In his talks, Brandon engages his audience with a dynamic and passionate approach. He speaks from the heart but also draws from the deep riches of scripture and Catholic teaching in a way that helps the audience know the powerful and personal way that the teachings of God through the Church and through Scripture apply to the messy, everyday challenges of life. Brandon's goal is that every person will be challenged and empowered to be the man or woman God is calling them to be. 

What would make an evangelical preacher leave behind everything to become Catholic? In 2019, after seventeen years of ministry in an evangelical denomination, God brought Brandon and his family into the Catholic faith. The journey required unexpected sacrifices but also included many surprising blessings. During the last several years of his ministry, God brought Brandon along a search for the truth.

While the nature of authority and the sacraments were keys to his conversion, ultimately, it was a search for truth and the realization that what you believe matters that God used to bring him and his family into the Catholic Church in 2019. There are a lot of elements (some funny, some difficult) to this story that Brandon loves to share as part of his ministry. As a speaker, Brandon does not shy away from the messy brokenness of real life. As Christians, we do have the privilege of living in a world just as messy and broken as the one in which Jesus ministered to thousands of years ago. It can be difficult, at times, to see how the truth of God, revealed through the Catholic Church, matters in the real life struggles of marriage, finances, relationships, trauma, and other deeply painful encounters we have in this life. In fact, it is Brandon's passion to help people answer the question of "Why does this matter?" through the exploration of scripture and the teachings of the Church. 

Prior to 2019, Brandon was an ordained pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in political science and philosophy. He received his master's degree in ministry with a concentration in leadership from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. For over twenty years, Brandon has been preaching, leading Bible Studies, and leading ministries. Since becoming Catholic, he has been a repeat guest on Guadalupe Radio Network, leading parish missions, and teaching in a local parish. He currently works for a Catholic parish in Texas and is also the host of a podcast and a published author. 

A Message from Bishop Douglas Lucia

"As a local church, we welcome the jubilee year of 2025 while continuing to enjoy the grace of the Eucharistic revival. Like these great events, I am confident that our annual Catholic men’s conference will, yet again, prove to be a source of grace for those who attend and draw inspiration from the Sacraments, speakers, and the fellowship of believers. 

I am hoping for better weather this year when we gather again at Bishop Ludden High School on March 29, where we will welcome Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, Bear Woznick, and Ben Steele. This day promises to be a day which will help us to Know the Lord and inspire and challenge us to be a missionary church.  Please be sure to register early and invite others to join you for this important day." 

Feedback from previous conferences:

LOCATION: Bishop Ludden/Grimes Jr/Sr High School. 815 Fay Rd, Syracuse, NY 13219

2026 IGNITE CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE AGENDA