The Summit
Our Mission
“Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person.”
To engage, equip and encourage Catholic men to lead lives of faith, virtue and responsibility in our fast-moving modern world.
01
Engage
Loneliness, isolation and social disconnection are real problems affecting far too many men in our community. The negative mental health effects of loneliness are well known, and we equally know that strong community activities are vital for deepening social connection. By bringing together Catholic men of different ages and backgrounds, this conference hopes to create a space for genuine connection and authentic friendship to form.
02
Equip
Problems shared are problems halved. Many of the contemporary challenges facing men, from discerning marriage and preparing for family life to recovering from addictions and fostering better habits, are opportunities for growing in knowledge and skills. Rather than fight these battles alone, men can lean on and learn from the experience and expertise of other men who have travelled the same roads.
03
Encourage
Creative courage is the currency of the Christian. As Pope Francis wrote when reflecting on the heroic life of St Joseph, creative courage “emerges especially in the way we deal with difficulties. In the face of difficulty, we can either give up and walk away, or somehow engage with it. At times, difficulties bring out resources we did not even think we had.”
“Virtus is hosting the Ecce Homo conference for these reasons: to engage, equip and encourage Catholic men to find new life in the way of faith, virtue and responsibility.”