AMDG
MEN’S DAY OF RENEWAL February 27: LENTEN SACRIFICE
& OPPORTUNITY
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| Matthew Leonard with one of his five children |
If the mother
takes the spiritual lead in the family, the probability that the children will
remain faithful to the Church as adults is about 40%. If the father takes the spiritual lead, that
probability doubles to 80%. This is
crucial because we are losing our youth.
As Danny Abramowicz of “Crossing the Goal” on EWTN likes to point out, “The
children love Mom, but tend to follow Dad.”
Thus the participants in the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal on Saturday February
27 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell (9 am to 3:30 pm) off of Exit 25
of I-77 are challenged to RISE UP (the Conference Theme) through the power
of prayer, as true men of God and dynamic Catholic leaders, to change
the world in little or big ways by prayer, example, word, and deed, beginning
with their families, their parishes, their communities, and the marketplace
through their jobs.
Therefore, Matthew
Leonard, Executive Director of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
in Steubenville, will talk on “The Art of Being Catholic” in the
morning session. He will speak on the
subject from the perspective of a convert with an anti-Catholic background who
discovered for himself the truth…….the good, the beauty, and the splendor of
the Catholic Church. Recent converts and
those struggling with the decision to enter the Church can identify with
him. Cradle Catholics will obtain a
deeper appreciation of their Church.
Non-Catholics are welcome.
His afternoon talk is “Prayer
Works”. “Lord, teach us how to pray”. We really don’t know how. He will show that prayer is power and will
help the men to pray more effectively and grow in holiness in. Matthew Leonard, known as a dynamic speaker,
the author of many books and articles, has given talks all over the country plus
numerous radio and television appearances.
The
men are invited to bring their teenage sons and relatives so that this
Conference may also be a Father and Son shared experience. Seeing so many men enthusiastically participating
and moved by the beauty and power of the faith are all uplifting. Most return spiritually refreshed,
reinvigorated, and enthusiastic.
Even though
this year’s Conference is in the geographic center of the diocese, the Steering
Committee appreciates the fact that the men will be sacrificing most of
a valuable Saturday, but that’s what Lent is all about…penance,
self-examination, personal renewal, spiritual growth, etc. The men on the geographic extremes will have
to leave their homes at an early hour and travel up to three hours, but that
gives the Conference a pilgrimage flavor, especially if there's prayer and
discussion of the day's events. Traveling
together in a van would make for great fellowship and would solidify the
parish as the men get to know each other better, more so if the pastor
accompanies them. There was once a time
when pilgrims would travel for days to a shrine on foot or horseback.
Some from far
away may wish to stay overnight in Caldwell at the Microtel Inn at the I-77
exit behind Sunoco and Subway or in a motel in nearby Marietta and make it a
weekend retreat, beginning with Stations of the Cross at 7 pm the day before at
the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, one of the most beautiful churches
in the world. Both Columbus and
Pittsburgh are less than two hours away for a weekend with their wives. Marietta is an attractive tourism center.
The
Conference will begin with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament as a preparation
for the Reconciliation Service and Mass presided by the Bishop Monforton.
Promotional
materials and ideas may be obtained from the Conference blog which promotes
men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com. The diocesan website www.diosteub.org homepage also provides a link
to more detail. There will be
registration at the door.
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