The theme of this year’s conference, “Finding Hope and Healing in a Broken World,” featured Fr. Dan Reehil, pastor, exorcist, and popular radio host and podcaster; and Dr. Dillon Caswell, top-selling author and elite performance expert. Davis Watts of Spirit FM served as conference emcee.

The day began with the Rosary led by Al Larson from Resurrection Catholic Church in Riverview. Over 70 early attendees joined this time of prayer.  

This was followed by daily Mass celebrated by Bishop Gregory Parkes. In his homily, Bishop Parkes welcomed the attendees and noted that their presence is witness to their faith and desire to grow in holiness and virtue. He reflected on the day’s Gospel and said, “Jesus doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks us for honesty and for trust in Him. Bring what you have and give it to Him.” Bishop Parkes also reminded the men that the conference is not just a day of inspiration but rather nourishment for the road ahead.  

Following Mass, Father Chuck Dornquast, pastor of St. Lawrence, led a period of adoration during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Father Dornquast thanked Jesus for seeing those present in their need, their hunger and their poverty, and for loving them in those places. He prayed to Jesus and asked that the men would receive the grace to be seen by Christ and come to know themselves as He knows them. Father Dornquast then encouraged the men to reflect in silence on their hunger and brokenness and to allow Jesus to see them.  

The Blessed Sacrament was then processed to an “adoration room” located in Higgins Hall where Jesus remained available for visitation throughout the day. Priests from throughout the diocese also volunteered their time to hear confessions during the conference.  

The first presentation of the day was given by Father Dan Reehil. His talk focused on the brokenness of today’s world and the role of Satan in it. He dubbed Satan “the original influencer.” Father Reehil used current events to illustrate his message and explained that evil works undercover, but God allows evil to be revealed so the truth can be distinguished. He encouraged the men to turn to the cross in times of difficulty and showed a special cross in his possession that contains a relic of the True Cross inside it. The hall was certainly blessed by that presence. 

He concluded by saying, “The question for today is not will we be strong enough, but who will we trust when strength disappears?” 

He answered that Christ alone remains, truth remains, the light remains, and this is the significance of Jesus call to “Remain in me.”  

Father Reehil also spoke about the vocation of men, emphasizing sacrifice. He encouraged the men to pray the Rosary with their families for protection from evil and provided guidance on making a good Confession and the importance of doing penance. He concluded his talk with a challenge and reminder that the goal of their lives as men is to help lead their families to heaven.  

Following Father Reehil’s talk, Keith Bentley, a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater, shared a powerful personal witness testimony. He spoke of deep childhood wounds left by an unknown birth father and a stepfather that resulted in self-doubt, trust issues, and misdirected anger throughout his adult life. He revealed that by the grace of God, a loving mother and second stepfather, and his love for his wife and children, he began to embrace the Catholic faith – into which he was unknowingly baptized at birth. This discovery led him to a journey of healing through offering forgiveness to those who hurt him and asking forgiveness from those who he hurt. Keith said he now carries a special gift and a vocation to bring hope to young men who have had similar life experiences.  

The afternoon session commenced with a talk by Dr. Dillon Caswell. He began his talk with a story about a time he almost gave up hope while trying to hang a simple banner for his workplace. With the help of a stranger – perhaps divine intervention – he succeeded. That banner attracted the attention of a young woman named Brandi, who later invited him to join her at Mass. This led to his conversion to the Catholic faith and eventually marrying Brandi. The word on the banner that caught her attention was “Hope”.  

Dr. Caswell likened our faith journey to a captain guiding a boat. He said that we need the virtues of faith and hope to navigate the waters, and that doubt caused by what he called “nopes” unsettles the waters and can sink the boat. He observed that some people are so beaten down by challenges, shortcomings, excuses, etc. that they lose all faith and live in constant doubt. He explained that faith orders the waters, and hope is our trust that the destination is real and its promises are true. Dr. Caswell concluded by talking about obedience, correlating it to the power that propels the boat toward the destination. He reminded everyone that when they are obedient to God’s will, they help heal a broken world.

The final talks of the day consisted of three concurrent breakout sessions designed to give the men practical tools and guidance for finding hope and healing and covered the following themes: “Rouse the Warriors to Arms: Leading Your Family to Heaven”, “Ordering the Waters: Replacing Nope With Hope”, and “UNBOUND: Healing Through Deliverance Prayer"

The conference ended with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament back into the main hall, and Benediction presided by Deacon Frank Averill of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater.

Over 100 meals were delivered to families in need throughout Hillsborough County as part of the ticket price paid by the men in attendance, sharing the blessings of the day with those less fortunate.  

Next year’s conference will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2027. All men of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg are invited to attend.

For more information about the Suncoast Catholic Ministries, click here.