More than 1,000 men proclaim their faith at Catholic conference

Published: 2004-04-05

WORCESTER, Mass. (CNS) -- As a young man, astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. had everything he ever wanted. Duke, the lunar module pilot of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, became one of only 12 men to set foot on the moon. He returned home to his wife and two children and embarked upon a successful business venture. "By any measure of success in the world, I'd made it ... but I didn't have peace," he told participants March 27 at the fourth annual Worcester Diocesan Men's Conference at the Centrum Centre. "Amazing Grace" was the theme of the conference. Duke said he gave no credit to God for his achievements. Years later, with his marriage and family life in turmoil, he said he began to seek Christ. His conversion occurred with a decision he made during a Bible study weekend in 1978 to invite Jesus into his life. "As an astronaut, it was hard to humble myself before God," he said. However, such humility came with rewards, including a renewed and improved relationship with his family. About 1,100 men and teens attended the daylong Catholic men's conference, which featured several keynote lectures, lunchtime confessions and a catered lunch sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

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