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. 

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