Thousands of men packed Calihan Hall at the University of Detroit Mercy for the Catholic Men's Conference on Saturday. The event offered the 3,000 men who visited the fifth annual conference throughout the day an opportunity to grow in their personal relationships with God and to make a firmer commitment to living their faith.

A key part of the conference was for participants to commit to their faith and family the way they would to their favorite team or sport, reported the Detroit News.

John Morales, a former Fox sportscaster who has made a movie about Catholic baseball players, was one of a series of speaker at the conference, which ended with a 2:30 p.m. Mass.

The conference attracted men of all ages, including teens. Dominic Zack, 14, told the Detroit News that the event broached topics that he could relate to.

Tom Stephanoff, 21, attended with his father and older brother. "It is always good to refuel the fire," Stephanoff was quoted as saying by the newspaper. "You get excited again about trying to be a good person."