(119) Press Release #2: Urgently Needed - A Few Good Men to Promote the 2017 Men's Conference

AMDG

Capt. Guy Gruters

            If the Men of the diocese are in good spiritual shape, the family is renewed.  If the family is renewed, the parish is renewed and so is the diocese.  The men must be spiritual leaders in their families.  The men must step up and be the pillars of the parish.......not only the women.  The men must put Christ into the marketplace and in their jobs. 

A successful and well attended Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal on Saturday March 18 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 on I-77 (9:00 am to 4 pm) would be a big step in that direction.  An excellent program is in place.

In his morning talk Capt. Guy Gruters will reveal how his faith and trust in God carried him through the ordeal as a Prisoner of War in the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” and other camps for five years.  Since bitterness is self-destructing, he will share in the afternoon talk how he learned to show mercy and forgive his brutal captors and deal with people in a business environment.  The participants will discover how they can apply mercy, forgiveness, faith, and trust to their daily lives as sources of strength in difficult times and a means to grow in holiness.  Capt. Gruters is a 4^th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Drawing from his diverse experience and being a father of seven children, he will also touch on “Leadership and Teamwork in the Family, Church, and the Community”.  An excellent and dynamic speaker, Mr. Gruters gives talks all over the country and is the author of the book, “Locked Up With God”.   

Marketing is crucial to the success of this Conference.  The Steering Committee for the Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal has sent posters, brochures, and registration forms to every parish in the diocese and is asking each one to promote the Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal.......announcements in the bulletin and from the pulpit, a bulletin insert, etc.  Parish organizations such as the Knights of Columbus can also be a big help.  But the most important of all is a leader and a couple of good men in each parish to assure that the overall promotion is adequate and to mobilize the other men of the parish to attend.......one on one selling of the Conference and to organize the men to go as a group in the parish van, a van pool, or hiring a bus.  

            That would be great fellowship and would solidify the parish as the men get to know each other better, especially if the pastor accompanies them.  If the distance is great, that would give it a pilgrimage flavor, especially if there's prayer and discussion of the day's events.  Pastors, already overworked, can't do it all, especially the grunt work of promotion.  They urgently need the help of the laity.  Even the women could encourage their men to attend. Promotional resources and detailed information may be obtained from paulrsebastian@yahoo.com or from the Conference Blog at  diosteubmen.blogspot.com, which also has articles on men’s spiritually.  The diocesan website at diosteub.org has a link to the brochure and additional information on its home page. 

            Thus the Steering Committee asks for at least one or two representatives from each parish.   The pastor could appoint a representative or a leader could inform his pastor and volunteer.  In any event each parish representative is asked to make his availability and contact information known to the Chair of the Steering Committee, Don Coen at 740-264-0155, 740-632-1565, or donandmargcoen@yahoo.com.  The parish representative may collect the registration forms and send them to Roger Huck; Men’s Day of Renewal; P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715.    This may also be done individually. Make the $25 check payable to the Diocese of Steubenville and write “Men's Day of Renewal” on the memo line.  One may register at the door, but advance registration makes planning much easier.  Mr. Huck also is accepting ads for the Conference Program booklet.