AMDG
I sent the following
introduction and press release to the Catholic newspapers within a 200 mile or 3
hour radius of Caldwell, OH, our Men's Conference site. Thus I included the diocesan newspapers of
Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Parma (Byzantine), Pittsburgh, Wheeling-Charleston
WV, and Steubenville Ohio. Any press
release should be sent a month prior to the Conference because Catholic
newspapers are published only once a week or every other week. Thus deadlines are easily missed.
The addresses were easy to obtain by googling
the internet. I sent the press release by e-mail all at once to the entire
list. My philosophy was that the e-mail addresses one or two of the 9 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.
“Youngstown Catholic
Exponent” <exponent@youngstowndiocese.org>,
“Cleveland Catholic
Universe Bulletin Editor – Carol Kovach”
<ckovach@dioceseofcleveland.org>,
“Cincinnati Catholic
Telegraph” <cteditorial@catholiccincinnati.org>,
“Columbus Catholic Times Editor Doug Bean” <dbean@columbuscatholic.org>,
“Columbus Catholic Times News Editor” <dgarick@columbuscatholic.org>,
“Pittsburgh Catholic News Editor”
<pzezza@pittsburghcatholic.org>,
“Parma Byzantine Eparchy Horizons Editor - Laura
Ieraci” <viscom@parma.org>,
“Pittsburgh Eparchy Byzantine Catholic World”
<archpitt@aol.com>, <bcw@archpitt.org>,
“West Virginia Catholic Spirit Director of Public
Information & Marketing Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston - Tina High”
<thigh@dwc.org>, “Colleen Rowan – Editor” <crowan@dwc.org>, <tbishop@dwc.org>,
 |
| Mike Aquilina, an expert on the early Church, is the main speaker. |
February 27, 2018
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 press release.
For those who do not attend, the press release also gives a taste of the speaker's message, which challenges 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. Too many men are relegating that
responsibility to the women.
Feel
free to edit and condense it as you see fit.
If space is lacking, please at least consider the short announcement below
for your Events section or Church Calendar.
You may contact me at 740-245-9404.
Photos of the main speaker, Mike
Aquilina, is attached as well as the Conference brochure and other information.
Thank
you for your consideration and God bless.
PRESS RELEASE
Expert on the Early Church
to Speak at Men’s Conference
March 3 in Caldwell, Ohio
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 March 3 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at
St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of 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 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. 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. 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. 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.
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 at the bottom of the home page of 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. There’s also a recent
article on another blog, “A Little Bit for God and His
People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com. One may also contact paulrsebastian@yahoo.com
or call 740-245-9404. Attached are the
Conference brochure and photos.
A great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual reinvigoration
is expected. But most of all, the organizers hope 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.
***************************************************************************************************************
St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us and for
the success of the Men's Conference.
***************************************************************************************************************
AS A
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EVENTS SECTION OR CHURCH CALENDAR
Diocesan
Men's Day of Renewal Saturday, March 3 from 9 am – 3:30 pm at St.
Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 of I-77. Mike Aquilina, nationally known expert on the early Church, prolific
author, and speaker show how the witness of the early Christians can teach the
participants how to be effective witnesses in the home, in the parish, on the
job, and in the community. The home page of diosteub.org gives a link to
the brochure, additional information, and the Conference Blog.
 |
| Mike Aquilina, an expert on the early Church, is the main speaker. |
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