It is "vital" that men be formed in virtuous masculinity, said organizers of the Fearless Congress, which opened its doors April 17 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The event, as its founder and director, Andrés Villaseñor, explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, "is a masculinity conference for men and women" as well as for "families who want to find their center, who want to unite, and who want to know what their purpose is."
Held at the the Mexican Martyrs Shrine, the Fearless Congress is featuring among its speakers psychologist Jordan Peterson, Mexican actor and producer Eduardo Verástegui, world champion soccer player Carles Puyol, and theology of the body expert Christopher West, among many other well-known personalities.
Instagram post< async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js">
Partners, not enemies
In a statement to ACI Prensa, Zeny Leyva, a Cuban-born wife, mother, and media professional with decades of experience in television in the Dominican Republic, emphasized that "every society needs structure, and the core of that society is the family. If we believe (as our faith teaches) that men are called to exercise leadership within the home, then it cannot be just any kind of leadership: It must be one that is properly guided."
"For a long time — and rightly so — efforts have focused on bringing women's wounds and needs to light. It was necessary. But we have stopped there," she noted. "If we don't also look at the wounds, shortcomings, and needs of men, we will continue to pull taut a rope that is already stretched too thin."
"It's not about competing; it is about understanding one another and returning to the original design: the one in which man and woman are not enemies but partners who complement each other," she emphasized.
Irma Wilde, a business executive with over 15 years of experience in innovation, digital transformation, and technology, told ACI Prensa that "the level of men's emotional development directly impacts the quality of our relationships and our lives."
"Today, there is a clear reality: Women are investing much more in their personal growth, while many men still lack the same emotional tools," she said. "If we want healthier relationships, we both need to grow."
Sofía Medina, a Catholic psychologist who leads the SHELTER apostolate, considers it "vital" that men be formed in virtuous masculinity, for "it is answering the basic question of life: 'For what purpose was I created?' — and also, 'How?'"
"Men and women must understand their essence in order to respond with enthusiasm to God's call. As a Catholic woman, knowing that there are men who strive to be the best version of themselves, with their gaze fixed on Christ, fills me with hope," she stated.
'We need men strong in faith'
Leyva emphasized: "We need men who are strong in faith, because only through God can love endure over time ... a man with authentic faith — not merely of words, but lived out — becomes someone capable of true love: of making sacrifices, of caring, of listening, and of working as a team with his wife."
"He doesn't impose his will but rather leads by example," she said. "That kind of man raises children who are more secure, healthier, and possess clear values."
Men "are not the enemy," she added. "And when it seems like they are, it's often because there are unhealed wounds."
She highlighted that "we have demonstrated that women can lead — of course. But we must also be wise enough to recognize that a healthy society needs healthy men. It is not about ceding ground; it is about building together."
Maturity in men leads to 'healthier relationships'
A man characterized by maturity and commitment, noted Wilde, "transforms the entire environment. There is greater stability, more clarity, and less emotional strain."
Nevertheless, she pointed out that men "continue to be the ones least likely to seek psychological help, something that often translates into difficulties in communicating, sustaining, or committing to deep relationships."
"This is for us, too," she noted regarding the Fearless Congress, pointing out that "if we want healthier relationships, less emotional burden, and a better quality of life, we need men who grow and develop themselves."
'Courage, joy, and a spirit of service'
Medina said that when a man lives out his vocation, "everything begins to fall into place, for he also becomes a source of stability and guidance for his family. A man on this path lives with courage, joy, and a spirit of service."
"Today, more than 70% of unpaid domestic labor continues to fall upon women. When a man gets involved with maturity, that burden becomes balanced, and the dynamic changes completely," she explained.
The conference, she emphasized, "is not just for men," since "we all have a man in our lives whom we are influencing whether we are aware of it or not, so we absolutely must utilize every possible means to educate ourselves and grow. Only in this way will we achieve a better society."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
