Monday, February 19, 2018

(149) Press Release #3: Men Asked to Make a Lenten Sacrifice for Spiritual Renewal

Mike Aquilina

             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 3 at St. Stephen’s Church, 1036 Belford St., Caldwell off of Exit 25 on I-77 (9:00 am to 3:30 pm) would be a big step in that direction.  An excellent program is in place.

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. 

In his morning talk Mike Aquilina, an expert on the early Church, will show how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.  In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can help us to be effective witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective spiritual leaders and witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men.  As Blessed Pope Paul VI observed, “People listen more to witnesses than to teachers”.

Marketing at the parish level 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. 

            All men, including teens, are invited.  Thus this Conference can also be a great father and son shared experience.  In order to not exclude anyone, we will find a way for those who cannot afford the $25 fee to cover expenses.  If that is a serious impediment, first contact your pastor or parish representative or simply show up. 
    
The men are challenged 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.


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.  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. 

(148) Examples: After Mass Pulpit Announcements Supporting the 2018 Men's Conference

AMDG

Mike Aquilina
          It is suggested that the Parish Representative ask the pastor to say a few words promoting the Men’s Conference after Mass and to also go.  We need confessors; his accompanying the men will help parish solidarity and help him to know his men better.  It may be something like the following as a starting point and be adapted according to the style of the pastor and the reality of his parish. 

First Announcement

          The Diocese is sponsoring a Men's Conference on Saturday March 3 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The theme is “Being a cloud of witnesses”.  As Blessed Pope Paul VI put it, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.  Mike Aquilina, an expert on the Early Church, will show how the witness of the martyrs can teach us to be witnesses today in secular America.  Talk up the Conference among your friends.  Use the sign-up sheet in the back of the church and see our parish representative (e.g., John Doe) to register.  Please pray for a fruitful and well attended Conference.

    Final Announcement the Sunday Before the Conference

       The Men's Conference is this coming Saturday March 3 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The men will meet at the Parish Hall at 6:30 am and travel together like a pilgrimage in the parish van for some great fellowship and spiritual reinvigoration, a great sacrifice for Lent.

          Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities. You will return spiritually refreshed and reinvigorated after a day of enjoyable fellowship, traveling together in the parish van.  Talk up the Conference among your friends.  Sign up in the back of the church.  You may register at the door, but call your parish representative (e.g., John Doe) to register as soon as you can. That would make planning so much easier. Please pray for a fruitful and well attended Conference.  
  

(147) An Example of a Promotional Talk By a Layman After Mass on the 2018 Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

AMDG

            The following talk to the congregation after Sunday Mass may serve as a starting point, guide, or example that the parish representative could use in his parish, assuming that the pastor allows it.  With the permission of the pastor, the parish rep or other leader may use it as he sees fit according to his own personal style, adapting it to the parish culture, situation, and time available.  The personal testimony of a leader, who has attended a Men’s Conference, can be most effective.

POSSIBLE PROMOTIONAL TALK ON THE 
2018 DIOCESAN MEN'S DAY OF RENEWAL

    Men, let's face it.  Too many of us are spiritual weaklings.....spiritual wimps!  And that includes me.  We have to do something about it.  Our Men's Conference would be a big help to each one of us.

·       We've got to get into spiritual shape and strengthen our faith and trust in God.  We must learn how to be a witness……the theme of this year's Conference.

·     We've got to become spiritually strong to be effective spiritual leaders of our families, to become better fathers, better husbands, and to be able to put Christ into our jobs and professions.  To establish the kingdom, the Lord wants your help.
  
·       We've got to prepare ourselves for Easter and for eternity.

·   Don’t forget the Four Last Things…….Death, Judgment, Heaven or Hell.  Let the men’s Conference steer you in the right direction.

·     Our Men's Conference will help us in all of these areas.  On top of that we'll have a good time of great fellowship both at the Conference and in the van going there and back.  Last year the men came back spiritually reinvigorated, refreshed, and enthusiastic.  A typical comment was: “I didn't want to go, but they twisted my arm and I'm glad they did.”

·  We'll learn more about our faith too and grow in Christian maturity. We only have a superficial knowledge.  The main speaker is Mike Aquilina, who will show in his morning talk how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.

·    In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can teach us to be witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities. As Blessed Pope Paul VI put it, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family of six children, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men. 

·    Perhaps the women can help by using their feminine mystique to encourage (not nag - tongue in cheek) their men to attend. 

·       Please mark on your calendar Saturday, March 3.  We'll meet in the parish parking lot at 6:30 am.  Please register with me as soon as you can.  That really helps in organizing and planning.  Of course, better late than never at the door.  Thank you so much.
**************************************************************************************************************
St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us and for the success of the Men's Conference.
*****************************************************************************

(146) Role of the Deacon in Promoting the 2018 Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

AMDG
Dear faithful Deacon:

            First of all, thank you so much for giving the rest of your life to God, His Church, and to us.  Your work is so important in assisting the pastor with administering the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony, serving at Mass and thus making it special, giving homilies, ministering to the sick, counseling, teaching, parish administration, overseeing parish groups, etc., while keeping up with  the indispensable Liturgy of the Hours.   No longer does the American Church have the luxury of having two or more priests in almost every parish.  Through your most noble vocation, over your career you will have brought the Lord’s mercy to hundreds if not thousands of souls and help them along the narrow and often difficult road to salvation.  May God reward you richly and use all of the trials, crosses, and frustrations of your crucial job to make you a saint.  Again my deepest gratitude.

            May I ask your help in promoting it along with the parish representative and other laymen.  Or you can be the parish representative yourself as at St. Paul’s and Christ the King in Athens.  Please permit me to impose upon your time with the following write-up of mine on the importance of the Conference and resources for promoting it.  By now your parish should have received at least one poster and a packet of brochures for each one of your parishes.  If not please contact Roger Huck by e-mail at huck4816@roadrunner.com or call him at home 740- 984-2234 or his cell at 740-336-9128.


ROLE OF THE DEACON IN PROMOTING THE 2018 DIOCESAN MEN’S CONFERENCE
















          It is the role of the father to assume spiritual leadership in the family, but in many if not most cases, the mother assumes that role.  As Danny Abramowicz, 2012 Conference speaker and former All-Pro wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, says, “The men have dropped the ball”.  If the father takes the spiritual lead, the probability that the children will remain faithful to the Church in later life doubles or triples.   The Church in American may be losing a generation of youth.  The men must become the pillars of the parish, not only the women.  The men must step up.  Thus it is crucial to reach the men and the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal plays an important part because the enthusiasm generated is contagious as the men witness to each other.  Setting the men on fire means stronger families which in turn means the renewal of the parish.   

          The Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal will be held on Saturday March 3 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The Conference will open with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.  The featured speaker is Mike Aquilina, nationally known expert on the early Church, author of over 50 books, and speaker.  His morning talk is titled “The Strength of Heaven”, which will show how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.  In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can teach us to be witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities.  




















                                                        Mike Aquilina
Aquilina is the executive vice president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Catholic research center, based in Steubenville.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family of six children, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men.

          This background puts Mike Aquilina in a position to speak on the theme of this year’s Diocese of Steubenville Men’s Conference, “Being a Cloud of Witnesses”.   That is through the power of faith rise up to be the spiritual leaders of their families, to do their part in renewing their parishes, be servant leaders in the community, and to make a difference for Christ by applying the social teachings of the Church to their professions. 
Bishop Monforton will preside at the Mass and give the homily.  Confession with a Penance Service is also offered and you are asked to be one of the confessors.  A bag lunch will be served.  This is a hard sell for many men, but the Lord will help us.  If we can mobilize an average of 10 men from every parish in the diocese, this event would be a smashing success! 

          The Ideal. We have found that when the pastor enthusiastically backs the Men’s Conference, participation of the men significantly increases.  The ideal is for the pastor to accompany his men.  This is a great opportunity to become closer to the men and know them better.  This helps parish solidarity as the men also get to know each other better.  For those in the southern end of the diocese, the distance might be great, but that makes the Conference a Lenten sacrifice and gives it a pilgrimage flavor with enjoyable fellowship, discussion about points brought out, and prayer such as the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

          For example, Fr. Walter Heinz, pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Pomeroy was an imposing figure.  According to one of the men of the parish, he simply told the guys: “It’s all paid for and we’re going”.  They did.  It was hard to tell him, no.  He heard confessions while there and returned in time for his Saturday evening Mass. 

We cannot expect the already busy and overworked pastor to constantly promote the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal.  We are grateful that many promote the Conference as bulletin blurbs, the brochure as a bulletin insert, including a prayer for its success in the Offertory Petitions at daily and Sunday Mass, give plugs from the pulpit after Sunday Mass, etc.  The pastor cannot do it alone; he needs the help of the laity.  However there is much the pastor can do with little effort on his part.

Useful Resources. You can utilize our Conference Blog at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.  The 2018 series of resources began with Blog #136 – Overview; and continued with 137) Ad Form; 138) Diocesan Press Release #1; 139) Possible Short Bulletin Announcements; 140) Promotion Ideas; 141) Functions & Crucial Importance of the Parish Rep; 142) Sign Up Sheet; 143) Sample Bulletin Insert; 144) Diocesan Press Release #2; 145) Backing of the Pastor; 146) Role of the Deacon; 147) Example of an After Mass Talk By a Layman; 148) Possible Pastor Announcements; 149) Diocesan Press Release #3; 125) Catholic Newspaper Press Release; 126) Secular Newspaper Press Release; 127) Appeal to the Diocesan Councils of the Knights of Columbus; 128) Invitation to Parishes in West Virginia; 129) Invitation to Veterans; 130) Invitation to College Students; 131) My Ad in the 2017 Program Booklet; 132) Highlights of the 2017 Men's Conference.  Numbers 125 to 132 are from last year.  I'll update them in the next few days.  

The bottom of the home page of the diocesan website at www.diosteub.org has has a link to the brochure and Additional Information.  You should have received by now a poster and a packet of brochures for each of your parishes.  If not, please inform me.  For your convenience you will find attached  1) the Conference brochure with a 2) registration forms, 3) Additional Information, 4) Sample Bulletin Announcements, 5) Promotion Ideas, and 6) Functions of the Parish Representative.

There are also interesting articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com , along with summaries of past talks, and other information.  After the Conference and throughout the year, articles will be added to help the men keep in good spiritual shape.  Clergy, Religious, and knowledgeable layman are invited to submit articles. 
 
Many if not most men will hardly notice the brochure as a bulletin insert, poster, bulletin blurbs, etc. although they are indeed important and helpful.  What they can’t miss is the one-on-one personal selling by their peers, i.e., talking it up.  The most effective form of advertising or promotion is word of mouth.  Most effective is the witness of men who have gone to a previous Conference.  What is needed is a little “arm twisting” figuratively.  And of course there’s Facebook, Twitter, texting, and the old fashioned phone calling.

The Parish Representative is crucial.  As in any organization, the executive must delegate as much as possible.  The key is to ask one or two good men to be parish representatives.  If one of them is a knight, he could have access to the local council of the Knights of Columbus.  The main job of the parish rep is to promote the Conference, mainly by one-on-one personal selling, register the men, and organize them to go together in the parish van, car pool or bus.  He also helps the pastor to utilize the resources mentioned in the previous paragraph as submitting blurbs and an insert for the Sunday bulletin.  The parish rep can try to talk to each man in the parish before and after Mass or Stations of the Cross or other devotions, during fish fries, at parish or Knights of Columbus meetings, and other activities.  Please send the names, e-mail address, and phone number of the chosen parish representative(s) to both “Don Coen - Chair Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal” donandmargcoen@yahoo.com and to me at paulrsebastian@yahoo.com.

The deacon may be the parish representative as in the case of St. Paul’s and Christ the King in Athens.  Or the deacon may supervise the promotional efforts of two or three laymen.

Men may register individually or the parish representative may collect the registration forms with payment and send them to Roger Huck; %Men’s Day of Renewal, P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715.  This would save considerable time waiting at the door on the morning of the Conference.  Checks for the Registration cost of $25.00 per person are to be made payable to the Diocese of Steubenville with “Men's Day of Renewal” written on the memo line of the check.   If any man would like to go, but can’t afford it, we’ll find a way.

          Once the Conference is over, the clergy and religious of the diocese are invited to submit for the Conference Blog at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com articles or copies of homilies that are particularly appropriate for men’s spirituality. 

Saturday, February 17, 2018

(145) Backing of the Pastor Critical to the Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

Dear faithful Pastor:

            First of all, thank you so much for giving your life to the God, His Church, and to us.  Your work is so important and crucial in being another Christ in bringing us Mass, the sacraments, counseling us, teaching us, overseeing parish groups, and managing the parish, an enterprise just as challenging as running a business enterprise or other organization.  Your duties in running one or two or even three parishes often with a school and other services can be overwhelming while keeping up with the indispensable Liturgy of the Hours.  Through your most noble vocation over your career you will have brought the Lord’s mercy to hundreds if not thousands of souls and help them along the narrow and often difficult road to salvation.  May God reward you richly and use all of the trials, crosses, and frustrations of your crucial job to make you a saint.  Again my deepest gratitude.

            May I ask your help in promoting it through a parish representative and other laymen.  A deacon or associate pastor can also help.  We realize that you cannot do it alone with all of your many responsibilities.  Please permit me to impose upon your time with the following write-up of mine on the importance of the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal and resources for promoting it.  By now you should have received at least one poster and packet of brochures for each one of your parishes.  If not please contact Roger Huck by e-mail at huck4816@roadrunner.com or call him at home 740- 984-2234 or his cell at 740-336-9128.


BACKING OF THE PASTOR CRITICAL TO THE MEN’S CONFERENCE



          It is the role of the father to assume spiritual leadership in the family, but in many if not most cases, the mother assumes that role.  As Danny Abramowicz, 2012 Conference speaker and former All-Pro wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, says, “The men have dropped the ball”.  If the father takes the spiritual lead, the probability that the children will remain faithful to the Church in later life doubles or triples.   The Church in American may be losing a generation of youth.  The men must become the pillars of the parish, not only the women.  The men must step up.  Thus it is crucial to reach the men and the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal plays an important part because the enthusiasm generated is contagious as the men witness to each other.  Setting the men on fire means stronger families which in turn means the renewal of the parish.   

          The Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal will be held on Saturday March 3 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The Conference will open with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.  The featured speaker is Mike Aquilina, nationally known expert on the early Church, author of over 50 books, and speaker.  His morning talk is titled “The Strength of Heaven”, which will show how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.  In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can teach us to be witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities. 

Mike Aquilina
Aquilina is the executive vice president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Catholic research center, based in Steubenville.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family of six children, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men.
This background puts Mike Aquilina in a position to speak on the theme of this year’s Diocese of Steubenville Men’s Conference, “Being a Cloud of Witnesses”.   That is through the power of faith rise up to be the spiritual leaders of their families, to do their part in renewing their parishes, be servant leaders in the community, and to make a difference for Christ by applying the social teachings of the Church to their professions. 
Bishop Monforton will preside at the Mass and give the homily.  Confession with a Penance Service is also offered and you are asked to be one of the confessors.  A bag lunch will be served.  This is a hard sell for many men, but the Lord will help us.  If we can mobilize an average of 10 men from every parish in the diocese, this event would be a smashing success! 
The Ideal. We have found that when the pastor enthusiastically backs the Men’s Conference, participation of the men significantly increases.  The ideal is for the pastor to accompany his men.  This is a great opportunity to become closer to the men and know them better.  This helps parish solidarity as the men also get to know each other better.  For those in the southern end of the diocese, the distance might be great, but that makes the Conference a Lenten sacrifice and gives it a pilgrimage flavor with enjoyable fellowship, discussion about points brought out, and prayer such as the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

          For example, Fr. Walter Heinz, pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Pomeroy was an imposing figure.  According to one of the men of the parish, he simply told the guys: “It’s all paid for and we’re going”.  They did.  It was hard to tell him, no.  He heard confessions while there and returned in time for his Saturday evening Mass. 

We cannot expect the already busy and overworked pastor to constantly promote the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal.  We are grateful that many promote the Conference as bulletin blurbs, the brochure as a bulletin insert, including a prayer for its success in the Offertory Petitions at daily and Sunday Mass, give plugs from the pulpit after Sunday Mass, etc.  The pastor cannot do it alone; he needs the help of the laity.  However there is much the pastor can do with little effort on his part.

Useful Resources. You can utilize our Conference Blog at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.  The 2018 series of resources began with Blog #136 – Overview; and continued with 137) Ad Form; 138) Diocesan Press Release #1; 139) Possible Short Bulletin Announcements; 140) Promotion Ideas; 141) Functions & Crucial Importance of the Parish Rep; 142) Sign Up Sheet; 143) Sample Bulletin Insert; 144) Diocesan Press Release #2; 145) Backing of the Pastor; 146) Role of the Deacon; 147) Example of an After Mass Talk By a Layman; 148) Possible Pastor Announcements; 149) Diocesan Press Release #3; 125) Catholic Newspaper Press Release; 126) Secular Newspaper Press Release; 127) Appeal to the Diocesan Councils of the Knights of Columbus; 128) Invitation to Parishes in West Virginia; 129) Invitation to Veterans; 130) Invitation to College Students; 131) My Ad in the 2017 Program Booklet; 132) Highlights of the 2017 Men's Conference.  Numbers 125 to 132 are from last year.  I'll update them in the next few days.   

The bottom of the home page of the diocesan website at www.diosteub.org has a link to the brochure and Additional Information.  You should have received by now a poster and a packet of brochures for each of your parishes.  If not, please inform me.  For your convenience you will find attached  1) the Conference brochure with a 2) registration forms, 3) Additional Information, 4) Sample Bulletin Announcements, 5) Promotion Ideas, and 6) Functions of the Parish Representative.

There are also interesting articles on men’s spirituality at diosteubmen.blogspot.com, along with summaries of past talks, and other information.  After the Conference and throughout the year, articles will be added to help the men keep in good spiritual shape.  Clergy, Religious, and knowledgeable layman are invited to submit articles.
  
Many if not most men will hardly notice the brochure as a bulletin insert, poster, bulletin blurbs, etc. although they are indeed important and helpful.  What they can’t miss is the one-on-one personal selling by their peers, i.e., talking it up.  The most effective form of advertising or promotion is word of mouth.  Most effective is the witness of men who have gone to a previous Conference.  What is needed is a little “arm twisting” figuratively.  And of course there’s Facebook, Twitter, texting, and the old fashioned phone calling.

The Parish Representative is crucial.  As in any organization, the executive must delegate as much as possible.  The key is to ask one or two good men to be parish representatives.  If one of them is a knight, he could have access to the local council of the Knights of Columbus.  The main job of the parish rep is to promote the Conference, mainly by one-on-one personal selling, register the men, and organize them to go together in the parish van, car pool or bus.  He also helps the pastor to utilize the resources mentioned in the previous paragraph as submitting blurbs and an insert for the Sunday bulletin.  The parish rep can try to talk to each man in the parish before and after Mass or Stations of the Cross or other devotions, during fish fries, at parish or Knights of Columbus meetings, and other activities.  Please send the names, e-mail address, and phone number of the chosen parish representative(s) to both “Don Coen - Chair Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal” donandmargcoen@yahoo.com and to me at paulrsebastian@yahoo.com.

The deacon may be the parish representative as in the case of St. Paul’s and Christ the King in Athens.  Or the deacon may supervise the promotional efforts of two or three laymen.

Men may register individually or the parish representative may collect the registration forms with payment and send them to Roger Huck; %Men’s Day of Renewal, P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715.  This would save considerable time waiting at the door on the morning of the Conference.  Checks for the Registration cost of $25.00 per person are to be made payable to the Diocese of Steubenville with “Men's Day of Renewal” written on the memo line of the check.   If any man would like to go, but can’t afford it, we’ll find a way.
Once the Conference is over, the clergy and religious of the diocese are invited to submit for the Conference Blog at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com articles or copies of homilies that are particularly appropriate for men’s spirituality.        




(144) Press Release #2: Urgently Needed......A Few Good Men to Promote the Men's Conference

URGENTLY NEEDED:  A FEW GOOD MEN TO PROMOTE THE MEN'S CONFERENCE

Mike Aquilina
         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 3 at St. Stephen’s Church, 1036 Belford St., 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 Mike Aquilina will show how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.  In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can help us to be effective witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective spiritual leaders and witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men.

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. 

(143) Suggested Bulletin Insert for More Detail on the 2018 Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

MEN’S DAY OF RENEWAL March 3: LENTEN SACRIFICE & OPPORTUNITY

            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 March 3 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell (9 am to 3:30 pm) off of Exit 25 on I-77 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 Penance Service the featured speaker is Mike Aquilina, an expert on the early Church, particularly the Early Church Fathers and martyrs.  He will show that the witness of the first Christians coincides very well with Church teaching today in a remarkable continuity over the centuries through 267 popes.  Aquilina is an author of over 50 books, particularly on the early Church and how the early Christians lived their faith.  The books have been translated into many languages, even Braille.  He is a nationally known speaker at many conferences, also appearing frequently on Relevant Radio and EWTN in which he has hosted ten television series and two documentaries.  He also has talents as a poet and song writer, even collaborating with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Dion DiMucci.  Aquilina’s extensive journalism experience includes being a past editor of New Covenant magazine and the Pittsburgh Catholic (diocesan newspaper).  Aquilina is the executive vice president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Catholic research center, based in Steubenville.
     
            His morning talk is titled “The Strength of Heaven”, which will show how the angels were effective witnesses and can teach us much to apply to our daily lives.  In the afternoon, he will show how the witness of the martyrs of the early Church can teach us to be witnesses today in secular America.  Mike Aquilina will challenge the men to follow the example of the early Church Fathers and martyrs and be effective witnesses in their homes, in their parishes, on the job, and in their communities. Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.  Drawing from his diverse experience as a journalist, prolific author, conference speaker, and father of a family of six children, Mr. Aquilina can speak to the needs of the men.

            This background puts Mike Aquilina in a position to speak on the theme of this year’s Diocese of Steubenville Men’s Conference, “Being a Cloud of Witnesses”.  That is through the power of faith rise up to be the spiritual leaders of their families, to do their part in renewing their parishes, be servant leaders in the community, and to make a difference for Christ by applying the social teachings of the Church to their professions.  The goal of the Men's Day of Renewal is to focus on the spiritual development of the men of our diocese. That includes being ready to face the four last things........Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.  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 is also critical for nurturing vocations.  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.
                                                                
            Our men will leave together at e.g., 6:30 am and have great fellowship on the way.  They 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 opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration & a Lenten Confession.  The Conference is open to teens so this can also be a father and son event, a shared experience.   In the past the men have returned spiritually refreshed, reinvigorated, and enthusiastic.  Expect the same this year. 

            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.

            It should be a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual invigoration. But most of all, through grace we'll have 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 our diocese, thus fulfilling a great need.  Although one may register at the door, please register with your parish representative, e.g. John Doe (245-9404), as soon as possible.  That would make planning (food, transportation, etc.) easier & minimize waiting at the door.  A sign-up sheet is in back of the church.

SUMMARY OF WHAT THE MEN'S CONFERENCE CAN DO FOR YOU.....BENEFITS

· Get into good spiritual shape and avoid being a spiritual weakling, i.e., a spiritual wimp.
· Have a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual invigoration in the parish van and at the conference, resulting in deeper friendships and parish cohesion.
· Develop ourselves as men of character and spiritual strength as we obtain the graces to conquer ourselves and cope with the problems that our troubled society and economy bring to us.
· Be a more effective spiritual leader of your family as a better husband and father.
· Prepare our hearts for the great feast of Easter and for eternity as we become closer to God.
·  Become knowledgeable about the faith and grow in Christian maturity.  We know so little about Church teaching.
·  Become a more effective soldier of Christ as you do your part in establishing the kingdom, winning the spiritual-culture war against secularism, and put Christ into your profession.
·    Be Ready to face the four last things........Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.
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St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us and for the success of the Men's Conference.
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USE THE SPACE BELOW (2/3 page) FOR THE SPEAKERS & REGISTRATION FORM FROM THE BROCHURE


(i.e., paste the part with the speaker photos & descriptions of Bishop Monforton and Mike Aquilina as well as the registration form.  They may be reproduced either in color or black & white.)