Catholic Men For Christ 2026
Saturday February 7th, 2026
St. Louis University High School
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Ben Akers is a highly sought after international Catholic speaker in discipleship, spirituality, and Scripture. He is an Associate Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute and the Chief Mission Officer of the FORMED.org platform, which is a streaming platform providing trustworthy and inspiring Catholic video, audio, and eBook content from more than 60 other partners.
Previously, Dr. Akers served as the director of the Denver Catholic Biblical and Catechetical Schools and was an adjunct for the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. He studied theology in the heart of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy.
He and his wife are blessed with three daughters and two sons and reside in St. Louis.
Keynote Speaker
Paul has the past 30 years serving in various capacities, including president of a non-profit, speaker, mentor, consultant, and author. He has spoked over 2 million people worldwide, helping people know, understand, and live in the true and authentic freedom they were created to live in. He is the author of Rethink Happiness and his most recent best-selling book for men, Holy Grit, was released in 2023. Paul has written two devotionals for men as well. Paul holds a master’s degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. It’s his role as a husband and father that he cherishes the most. Paul and his wife Gretchen have been married for twenty-eight years; they are the proud parents of five – Marie (and her husband Matt, grandson Jude), Jacob, Sarah, Clare, and Addie. He is a former college athlete and an avid lover of the outdoors.
Keynote Speaker
Father Paul Hoesing is a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha and serves as Vice Rector for Formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary was recently name as the next President Rector of Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Raised in rural Nebraska, Fr. Hoesing earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul in 1998, as well as a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2001 and 2003, respectively.
Since his ordination in 2002, Fr. Hoesing has served in parish ministry, taught in Catholic high schools and at the Institute for Priestly Formation, and worked as Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Fr. Hoesing was named Director of the Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 2008 and was elected President of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors in 2013. In 2015, Fr. Hoesing joined the faculty of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary as Dean of Seminarians and Director of Human Formation, before being named Vice Rector in 2019. When the seminary’s academic calendar concludes, he spends the summer directing 8-Day retreats for IPF in June and the 30-Day retreat in July at Broomtree Retreat Center in South Dakota. Broomtree happens to be 25 miles from his family’s farm in Nebraska. Fr. Hoesing is the author of Have I Been With You?, a primer on prayer.
Music
Sean Feltz is a worship leader, song writer, and youth minister in St. Louis, MO. He has planned and led music ministry for many events and retreats for all ages and demographics. Sean began his time in music ministry at the age of 15, serving around the St. Louis area with his friends.
Since then, he has continued to grow, learn, and develop his gifts to better worship the Lord and serve His people. Sean currently serves as the Director of Apostolic Mission at St. Joseph Parish in Imperial, Missouri.
"Again Jesus soke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
-John 8:12
