Monday, February 22, 2016

(104) Secular Press Release

           I sent the following introduction and press release to the secular newspapers within a 100 mile or 2 hour radius of Caldwell, OH, our Men's Conference site.  Thus I included Athens, Marietta, Parkersburg-WV, Zanesville, Cambridge, St. Clairsville, Wheeling, Steubenville, and as very long shots Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.  In addition I sent it to the diocesan newspapers of Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Parma (Byzantine), Pittsburgh, and Wheeling-Charleston WV and Steubenville. 
 
Essentially, I sent the press release by e-mail all at once to the entire list. My philosophy was that the e-mail addresses were easy to obtain by googling the internet and the press release could be sent out all at once.  If only one or two of the 19 newspaper pick up the release and print at least part of it, the effort is worthwhile.  Even if the reader does not attend the Conference, at least s/he receives the message behind the Conference.  In 2011 and 2013 the Gallipolis Daily Tribune printed the entire article.


AMDG
February 22, 2016

          As the person responsible for publicity on the Steering Committee for the Steubenville Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal, I am submitting for your consideration the following article for your News, Events, or Religion sections.  The Men's Conference described in the article submission below is open to men of all faiths and it's good for the people of different denominations to know what other churches are doing.  For those who do not attend, the article also gives a taste of the speaker's message, which challenges the men to become better spiritual leaders in the home, the parish, the community, and on the job.  Too many men are relegating that responsibility to their wives.

          Feel free to edit and condense it as you see fit.  If space is lacking, please at least consider the short announcement at the end for your Events section or Church Calendar.  You may contact me at 740-245-9404.  A photo of the main speaker, Matthew Leonard, is attached.

Thank you for your consideration and God bless.

PRESS RELEASE



  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 will be held on Saturday February 27 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off or exit 25 of I-77.  The men are challenged to become true men of God........dynamic Catholic leaders who will change the world, beginning with their families, their parishes, their communities, and the marketplace through their jobs.

          To complement the Mass presided by Bishop Monforton and Reconciliation Service the featured speaker is Matthew Leonard.  Father of five young children, he proclaims the power of prayer as an unusually dynamic and captivating speaker to audiences all over the U. S. and abroad.  He will first speak on the art of being a true Catholic, while giving the men an appreciation of the faith and helping them to become effective witnesses in our secular society.  Later in the day he will show that prayer works; prayer is power and will help the men to learn how to pray more effectively and grow in holiness. “Lord, teach us how to pray”.  Most people really don’t know how to pray.  Matthew Leonard, an expert on the subject, will give pointers.  

Often appearing on radio and television, he has written two books and a number of articles on these subjects.  Matthew Leonard discovered the coherence, the beauty and the splendor of the Catholic faith in 1998.  After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, he became a real estate development executive in Chicago and later a Theology instructor at Ave Maria University in Florida.   Currently he is the Executive Director of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville.

          This background puts Matthew Leonard in an excellent position to speak on the theme of this year’s Steubenville Diocese Men’s Conference, RISE UP OH MEN OF GODwith St. Joseph as its patron.  That is through the power of prayer rise up to be the spiritual leaders of their families, to do their part in renewing their parishes, and to make a difference for Christ by applying the social teachings of the Church to their professions.  Matthew Leonard is the author of “Louder Than Words – the Art of Living as a Catholic” and “Prayer Works – Getting a Grip on Catholic Spirituality”.     

The goal of the Men's Day of Renewal is to focus on the spiritual development of the men of our diocese. Having spiritually strong men of faith and character translates into more solid families, more dynamic parishes, and better communities. This is crucial to the Church, now and in the future. It involves sacrificing most of a Saturday with some travel, but Lent is all about sacrifice and the quest for holiness.  That gives a pilgrimage flavor.  During the middle ages, pilgrims would travel for days by foot or horseback.

          The men will see how the participants are moved by the beauty and power of the faith.   The experience of seeing so many men enthusiastically participating and lifting up their voices in song is uplifting.  There will be a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration and optional Lenten Confession..  The Conference is open to teens so this can also be a father and son event, a shared experience.   Non-Catholics are also welcome.  In the past the men have returned spiritually refreshed, reinvigorated, and enthusiastic.   Registration will be taken at the door.

          There’s more information on the diocesan website, www.diosteub.org and the Conference Blog, “Becoming a True Man of God” at diosteubmen.blogspot.com which is also devoted to articles to keep men in spiritual shape after the Conference.  For a greater variety, go to “A Little Bit for God and His People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com.  One may also contact paulrsebastian@yahoo.com or call 740-245-9404


          It should be a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual reinvigoration. But most of all, the organizers expect that through grace there will be a few more good spiritually strong men for the kingdom of God in the battle against secularism and other evils and problems that our troubled society must confront.......men --not spiritual weaklings and wimps-- who will put Christ into their professions.  Finally, the men will become more knowledgeable, firmer in their faith, and better prepared for a more joyful Easter, not to mention a greater closeness to God and eternity which life on earth is all about.  The Men's Day of Renewal is growing into an annual event in the Diocese of Steubenville, thus fulfilling a great need.
         
AS A SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EVENTS SECTION OR CHURCH CALENDAR

The Steubenville Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal on The Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal will be held on Saturday February 27 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 of I-77.  Matthew Leonard will first speak on the art of being a true Catholic, while giving the men an appreciation of the faith and helping them to become effective witnesses in our secular society.  Later in the day he will show that prayer works; prayer is power.  “Lord, teach us how to pray”.  Most men don’t know how to pray.  Matthew Leonard, an expert on the subject will give pointers.

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