Tuesday, March 19, 2019

(179) My Ad in the Program Booklet of the 2019 Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal


AMDG


RISE UP OH MEN OF GOD of the 2019 Men’s Conference; YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

You can do a little today, a little tomorrow, a little the next day
And the accumulation of many little things done over a lifetime
Can add to greatness and sanctity too with God’s help. 
Be a Christ bearer wherever you are; seek His will for your life; trust Him; He will be with you. 
May the world be just a little bit better because of you.
“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness” (christophers.org).
“Don’t just keep the faith; SPREAD IT”.  Participate in the New Evangelization!
People in your own extended family have left the faith.  Do your part to bring 
them back.

RISE UP OH MEN OF GOD.  ARMED WITH THE POWER OF PRAYER, BE EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL LEADERS FOR GOOD IN THE HOME as well as in the parish, on the job, and in the community.
 
Try our Men’s Conference Blog, “Becoming True Men of God” at diosteubmen.blogspot.com.  It has summaries of past Men’s Day of Renewal; resources for promoting it in your parish and K of C Council; plus articles on Men’s spirituality by past speakers and others.  The most recent ones are Blog #156 - a Summary of Mike Aquilina’s 2018 Conference talk on a Cloud of Witnesses and Your Part; #157 – A Prophetic Letter by Ralph Martin on Corruption in the Church; #158 – A Requiem For a Faithful Parish Priest: Msgr. William Myers, Pastor Emeritus of St. Louis Church Gallipolis; and #159 - Interview of Bishop Jeffrey Monforton (Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio) by The Catholic World Report.  The blog has links to other articles by our speakers in the past.  The most important of all is Blog #106 – “INTO THE BREACH: An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men” by Thomas Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix.  Clergy, Religious, and knowledgeable layman are invited to submit articles to me.

Also try a related blog with greater variety, “A Little Bit for God and His People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com.  See #133 Lourdes, the Mystery of the Value of Suffering, Healing, and the World Day of the Sick: #184 St. Bernadette’s Own Account with a photo of her incorrupt body more than a century later; #187 CATHOLIC FAMILYLAND: Play and Pray; Grow in Every Way as a Family……… A National Treasure in the Diocese of Steubenville; #189 WHY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION? What Can You Do During Eucharistic Adoration? Not Boring, Even Exciting; #198 What the Catholic Church Has to Offer Our Separated Brethren; #199 A Homecoming to the Great Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City; #202 The FATIMA STORM: the Great Unknown Light of January 25, 1938......a Prelude to World War II; #205 A Catholic Alternative to Obamacare & Commercial Health Insurance Plans; #210 Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Army Chaplain Major Fr. Charles Joseph Watters Made Parachute Jumps With His Men in Combat During the Vietnam War; #212 on – A Series: Living With Christ During the Liturgical Year Through Images of the Holy Land.  Check out the other titles on both blogs.

Check out these great websites: newemangelization.com with many excellent links and Danny Abramowicz’s crossingthegoal.com are for men’s spirituality; awestruck.tv is an excellent Catholic social network site resembling Facebook, but in addition has common interest groups of people.
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St. Joseph, patron of this Men’s Conference and model of a true man of God, pray for us.
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(178) Press Release to the Secular Newspapers on the 2019 Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

AMDG

           I sent the following introduction and press release to secular newspapers within a 200 mile or 3 hour radius of Caldwell, OH, our Men's Conference site.  Thus I included secular newspapers in Gallipolis, Athens, Marietta, Parkersburg-WV, Zanesville, Cambridge, St. Clairsville, Wheeling, Steubenville, and as very long shots Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. 

The addresses were easy to obtain by googling the internet.  Essentially, I sent the press release by e-mail all at once to the entire list.  My philosophy was if only one or two of the 14 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 published the entire article.  The Steubenville Herald Star picked up the press release in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.  There may have been others.

“Beth Sergent – Editor Gallipolis Daily Tribune - Pomeroy Daily Sentinel - Point Pleasant Daily   Register” <bsergent@aimmediamidwest.com>, 
“Gallipolis Daily Tribune” <gdtnews@aimmediamidwest.com>, 

“Carrie Gloeckner Editor Meigs Independent Press” <meigsindypress@gmail.com>,
“Carrie Gloeckner Editor Gallia Hometown Herald” <galliaherald@gmail.com>,
“Jackie Denuit - Community Editor Jackson Times Journal” <jdenuit@timesjournal.com>,
“Steubenville Herald Star Executive Editor” <rgallabrese@heraldstaronline.com>, “City Editor” <jpowers@heraldstaronline.com>, “Janice Kiaski – Editor Community Page” <jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com>,
“Wheeling Intelligencer” <myer@news-register.net>,
“St. Clairsville Times Leader Managing Editor” <bkapral@timesleaderonline.com>, “Area Editor” <timesleader@timesleaderonline.com>, “Lifestyles Editor” <sdunder@timesleaderonline.com>, 
“Jennifer Compston-Strough - Managing Editor” <jcompston@timesleaderonline.com>,

“Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian Publisher – “Ray Booth - Managing Editor” <rbooth@daily-jeff.com>, “? Dan Davis – Reporter” <ddavis@daily-jeff.com>,

“Zanesville Times Recorder - Managing Editor” <psjames@nncogannett.com>, “Local Desk Editor” <tshipley@nncogannett.com>,
“Marietta Times News Editor” <kyork@mariettatimes.com>,
“Columbus Dispatch” <storyideas@dispatch.com>, “Danny Goodwin - News Editor” <dgoodwin@dispatch.com>, “Danae King – Religion Reporter” <dking@dispatch.com>,
“? Cleveland Plain Dealer Metro Editor” <kturner@plaind.com>, “? Deputy Managing Editor” <dkannber@plaind.com>,
“Cincinnati Enquirer Community Editors”  <jkey@communitypress.com>,
“Athens Messenger” <jhiggins@athensmessenger.com>,
“Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jerry Micco - Assistant Managing Editor NewsSlide” <jmicco@post-gazette.com>, <localnews@post-gazette.com>,
“Parkersburg News & Sentinel”  <editorial@newsandsentinel.com>,  “Executive Editor - Christina   Myer” <cmyer@newsandsentinel.com>,  “Paul LaPann – Managing Editor” <plapann@newsandsentinel.com>,  “Jesse Mancini – City Editor”  <jmancini@newsandsentinel.com>,
“Joanie Nash” <jnash@ogdennews.com>,

March 18, 2019
            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 your News, Events, or Religion sections.  The Men's Conference described in the press release 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 press release also gives a taste of the speaker's message, which challenges the men to recognize that inevitable suffering can be very productive and can help us to become saints.
                
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, Mark Nehrbas, are attached as well as the Conference brochure and other information.

Thank you for your consideration and God bless. 

                                                     PRESS RELEASE

Mark Nehrbas, the main speaker.

CANCER SURVIVOR TO SHOW HOW SUFFERING CAN MAKE YOU A SAINT AT 2019 MEN’S DAY
Sooner or later every person will have to suffer.  That’s the human condition.  Will we be able to confront it when it’s our turn?  At this year’s Men’s Conference at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell on March 23 (9 am to 4 pm) we have Mark Nehrbas, who has given talks all over the country and will speak from his own personal experience.  He has fought a six year battle against an aggressive form of stomach cancer.  He went to Lourdes and was healed!  Nehrbas will give his testimony of what he went through.  He will give tips on how to cope with suffering when our time comes.  He will show how suffering can make us saints.  By uniting our cross with the Lord’s cross and offering it up to God as a dynamic prayer for our intentions, suffering can be very productive.  It will be a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual invigoration.  Fathers are encouraged to bring their teen aged sons for a shared experience.
            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 and a Steubenville native likes to point out, “The children love Mom, but tend to follow Dad.” 

This demonstrates the importance of the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal to be held on Saturday March 23 from 9 am to 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 of I-77The 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 Holy Hour, the Penance Service, and Mass presided by Bishop Monforton, the featured speaker is Mark Nehrbas.  As director of Christian Outreach at the Franciscan University of Steubenville for 13 years, he directed and developed the Summer Conferences to national prominence, now attracting 50,000 participants each year in Steubenville and at different branches.  A dynamic speaker, he has given talks at conferences all over the country. 

The morning talk, “Victory of the Cross in My Battle With Cancer will be his personal testimony of what he went through since 2012, a six year journey…….the anxiety, the fear, the pain, and the frustration over two separate bouts of an aggressive form of stomach cancer……two major surgeries, countless days with painful chemo, repeated doses of radiation. Through all this, his prayer life became more intense; his faith and trust in God deepened.  Mark Nehrbas tried every path except one.  Providentially and unexpectantly, a generous friend, a Knight of Malta, offered to sponsor him and his wife, Carol for a pilgrimage to the great Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.  Before leaving in May of last year, his doctor indicated that his cancer had come back and would have to resume aggressive treatments after the pilgrimage.  At the time Nehrbas was unaware that his tumor marker count shot up to over 300.  He was reexamined upon his return and the tumor count was normal with no trace of cancer!  The Muslim doctor was baffled!  Mark knew that it’s a miracle!

In the afternoon talk, “Victory Over Suffering: Lessons Learned From the Cross”.  Mark Nehrbas will explore the mystery of suffering, why God permits it, how he confronted it, how he grew from it, the lessons he learned, how it can be very productive, and how it can make you a saint.  The most important of all is that sooner or later every one of us will have to suffer.  We can choose to be miserable or we can choose to unite our suffering with the cross and offer it all up as a dynamic prayer for the conversion of sinners as Mary requested at Fatima, for our Church in deep crisis, for the souls in Purgatory, for the world, and for our loved ones.  Such Redemptive Suffering by many people can ultimately save the world.

The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity” with St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, as the Conference’s patron.  Through the power of faith men must 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. 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 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 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.  There’s also a recent article on another blog, “A Little Bit for God and His People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com (#217).  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. 

AS A SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EVENTS SECTION OR CHURCH CALENDAR

Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal Saturday, March 23 from 9 am – 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell (off of Exit 28 on I-77 a half hour north of Marietta).  The theme is “The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity”.  The main speaker is Mark Nehrbas, former director of Franciscan University conferences and noted speaker himself, will give a testimony regarding his victorious six year battle with stomach cancer and miraculous healing at Lourdes.  More important, he will teach us the lessons he learned from his suffering, how to confront it, and how it can you a saint when it’s your turn to suffer as part of the human condition.


Mark & Carol Nehrbas at Lourdes, France where he was healed.

(177) Press Release to Catholic Newspapers on the 2019 Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal


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.
 
            A blurb was published in the Community of God's Love Bulletin at https://coglove.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019.0217WEB.pdf

“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>, 

March 18, 2019

            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 recognize that inevitable suffering can be very productive and can help us to become saints.

            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, Mark Nehrbas, are attached as well as the Conference brochure and other information.

Thank you for your consideration and God bless.

                                                     PRESS RELEASE

Mark Nehrbas, the main speaker.
CANCER SURVIVOR TO SHOW HOW SUFFERING CAN MAKE YOU A SAINT AT 2019 MEN’S DAY

          Sooner or later every person will have to suffer.  That’s the human condition.  Will we be able to confront it when it’s our turn? 
At this year’s Men’s Conference at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell on March 23 (9 am to 4 pm) we have Mark Nehrbas, who has given talks all over the country and will speak from his own personal experience.  He has fought a six year battle against an aggressive form of stomach cancer.  He went to Lourdes and was healed!  Nehrbas will give his testimony of what he went through.  He will give tips on how to cope with suffering when our time comes.  He will show how suffering can make us saints.  By uniting our cross with the Lord’s cross and offering it up to God as a dynamic prayer for our intentions, suffering can be very productive.  It will be a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual invigoration.  Fathers are encouraged to bring their teen aged sons for a shared experience.
            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.”
       This demonstrates the importance of the Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal to be held on Saturday March 23 from 9 am to 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 of I-77The 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 Holy Hour, the Penance Service, and Mass presided by Bishop Monforton, the featured speaker is Mark Nehrbas.  As director of Christian Outreach at the Franciscan University of Steubenville for 13 years, he directed and developed the Summer Conferences to national prominence, now attracting 50,000 participants each year in Steubenville and at different branches.  A dynamic speaker, he has given talks at conferences all over the country.

The morning talk, “Victory of the Cross in My Battle With Cancer will be his personal testimony of what he went through since 2012, a six year journey…….the anxiety, the fear, the pain, and the frustration over two separate bouts of an aggressive form of stomach cancer……two major surgeries, countless days with painful chemo, repeated doses of radiation. Through all this, his prayer life became more intense; his faith and trust in God deepened.  Mark Nehrbas tried every path except one.  Providentially and unexpectantly, a generous friend, a Knight of Malta, offered to sponsor him and his wife, Carol for a pilgrimage to the great Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.  Before leaving in May of last year, his doctor indicated that his cancer had come back and would have to resume aggressive treatments after the pilgrimage.  At the time Nehrbas was unaware that his tumor marker count shot up to over 300.  He was reexamined upon his return and the tumor count was normal with no trace of cancer!  The Muslim doctor was baffled!  Mark knew that it’s a miracle!

In the afternoon talk, “Victory Over Suffering: Lessons Learned From the Cross”.  Mark Nehrbas will explore the mystery of suffering, why God permits it, how he confronted it, how he grew from it, the lessons he learned, how it can be very productive, and how it can make you a saint.  The most important of all is that sooner or later every one of us will have to suffer.  We can choose to be miserable or we can choose to unite our suffering with the cross and offer it all up as a dynamic prayer for the conversion of sinners as Mary requested at Fatima, for our Church in deep crisis, for the souls in Purgatory, for the world, and for our loved ones.  Such Redemptive Suffering by many people can ultimately save the world.

The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversitywith St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, as the Conference’s patron.  Through the power of faith men must 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. 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 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 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.  There’s also a recent article on another blog, “A Little Bit for God and His People” at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com (#217).  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. 
           
AS A SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EVENTS SECTION OR CHURCH CALENDAR

Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal Saturday, March 23 from 9 am – 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell (off of Exit 28 on I-77 a half hour north of Marietta).  The theme is “The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity”.  The main speaker is Mark Nehrbas, former director of Franciscan University conferences and noted speaker himself, will give a testimony regarding his victorious six year battle with stomach cancer and miraculous healing at Lourdes.  More important, he will teach us the lessons he learned from his suffering, how to confront it, and how it can you a saint when it’s your turn to suffer as part of the human condition.

Mark & Carol Nehrbas at Lourdes where he was healed.
 

Monday, March 18, 2019

(176) Invitation to College Students to Attend the 2019 Men's Conference


AMDG

**************************************************************************************************************
St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us & for the success of the Men's Conference.
**************************************************************************************************************
Franciscan University Campus Ministry (Up to Date 2016)
“Fr. Shawn Roberson – University Chaplain” <sroberson@franciscan.edu>,
“Robert Palladino – Director of Chapel Ministries” <rpalladino@franciscan.edu>,
"? Fr. Dominic Foster TOR - Director of Evangelization" <dfoster@franciscan.edu>,
“Pam Salatino – Coordinator of Chapel Ministries Administration” <psalatino@franciscan.edu>,
“David Schmiesing” <dschmiesing@franciscan.edu>,
“Fr. Nathan Malavolti T.O.R. - Chief Evangelization Officer” <NMalavolti@franciscan.edu>,
“Robert Siemens - Director of the Office of Evangelization <RSiemens@franciscan.edu>,


Mark Nehrbas, the principle speaker.
March 15, 2019

Dear Franciscan University Campus Ministers:

          If the Men 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.  Set the men on fire and we renew the parish, the diocese and ultimately the Country, thus transforming Society.  That's what we're trying to accomplish with the Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal.           

I am a member of the Steering Committee for organizing the Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal.  Having taught at Franciscan when it was in a rather tumultuous transition from a secularized Catholic College into a Christ centered university (1980-83) and now having my daughter Naomi as a recent graduate in Nursing.  My son Joseph was also a student there, I have a special love for Franciscan and would love to share a great opportunity for your students and faculty.   

          In that same spirit we thought that it would be great if a delegation of students, staff, and professors from Franciscan University could attend our
Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal on Saturday March 23 at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell (9 am to 3:30 pm) off of Exit 25 on I-77 about 1½ hours away.  Students from Franciscan University would be great witnesses and it would be a great experience for them.  If we can attract a good number of men, we will be able to provide more nationally known speakers in future years.  

Mark Nehrbas is really a product of Franciscan University.  He has served the Lord by working on the campus of Franciscan University of Steubenville for 32 years until his retirement in August of 2017.  He was administrator for FIRE, a Catholic ministry that provided evangelistic rallies in cities across the United States, Canada, the Philippines, England and Ireland.  Nehrbas served as Director of Development raising over ten million dollars for student financial aid, buildings, and special projects.  As Director of Christian Outreach for 13 years, Mark led the summer conference operation at the University, overseeing the growth of conference participants from under 25,000 to over 41,000 per year.  Mark is a dynamic speaker and given talks at local, regional, and national conferences as well as in Jamaica.

          It is essential that the men take the spiritual lead in the family and in the parish.  Too often the women are the pillars of the parish.  According to our past speaker, Fr. Larry Richards, the probability that the children will remain faithful to the Church in later life is about 40% if the mother takes the spiritual lead.  However, if the father does his job as spiritual leader, that probability of later faithfulness doubles to about 80%!!!!  According to Danny Abramowicz, the children love Mom, but tend to follow Dad. The great majority of your male students are the future fathers and husbands in the Church.  Franciscan University has been doing a great job of forming their students; the Men's Conference would be great supplement and a great experience.
          The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity” with St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, as the Conference’s patron.
The Conference will open with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.  The featured speaker is Mark Nehrbas, a speaker at many conferences.  The morning talk, “Victory of the Cross in My Battle With Cancer, will include his testimony of his six year battle with an aggressive form of stomach cancer and his healing at Lourdes, France.  In the afternoon talk, “Victory Over Suffering: Lessons Learned From the Cross”.  Mark Nehrbas will explore the mystery of suffering, why God permits it, how he confronted it, how he grew from it, the lessons he learned, how it can be very productive, how it can make one a saint, and tips on how to cope when it’s your turn to suffer.  Sooner or later every one of us must suffer.
The crux of his talk is redemptive suffering, a concept which Protestants and most Catholics do not understand.  Doctors recognize that patients who spiritualize their suffering do better.  Uniting our cross with the Lord’s cross and offering it up as a dynamic prayer for our country, our Church, and our loved ones makes suffering productive and gives it purpose.

The goal of the Men's Day of Renewal is to focus on the spiritual development of the participants.  The includes helping the men to take the right path before having to face the four last things.......Death, Judgment, Heaven or 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, especially if there's a rosary and discussion about the day's events along the way.  During the middle ages, pilgrims would travel for days by foot or horseback.

       The diocesan website at diosteub.org has a link to the brochure and Additional Information.  Hover over the "ABOUT" Menu at the top of the home page.  Then hover on "Men's Ministry" and click on "Men's Day of Renewal".  The link to our brochure and "Additional Information" are on the bottom left under documents.  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.  Attached are the conference brochure and other resources.

          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, which life on earth is all about.  The annual Men's Day of Renewal fulfills a great need.
         
        Often the enthusiasm generated at a men's conference is contagious and there could be a spillover onto campus since the students see fellow participants moved by the beauty and power of the faith.  Non-Catholics are also welcome.  This is all a part of the New Evangelization......to fire up the apathetic Catholic who doesn't do much beyond attending Sunday Mass, the minimalist; to touch the drifting Catholic and the fallen away through the publicity and inviting them to attend.  Your students and their youth would stand out and be most effective witnesses for the faith and it would be a great experience for them.  The experience of seeing so many men enthusiastically participating and lifting up their voices in song is uplifting.  In the past the men have returned spiritually refreshed, reinvigorated, and enthusiastic.

        You could appoint a student committee to mobilize students and professors with one on one selling, organize a van pool, and register the men.  Filling out the attached registration form in advance and giving it with payment of $25 to a representative would speed things up at the door.  A sign-up sheet would also be helpful.  This would also facilitate follow up on the undecided and for organizing a car or van pool.  A few days before the event, send a count to “Roger Huck” <huck4816@roadrunner.com>.  If sufficient time, please send the registration form to Roger Huck; %Men’s Day of Renewal, P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715.   That would help our planning. 

          A layman could briefly talk about the Conference at the end of Mass.  This would be a great supplement to any promotion that you care to make in the bulletin, from the pulpit, etc.  I know that there are almost two weeks and only one week-end left before the Conference, which is not much time.  I'm sorry about not being earlier, but it is still very doable. 

         Hopefully, students and professors will return on fire which would make your university parish more dynamic.  Thank you so much and God bless.


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 brings 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.
*********************************************************************************
St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, pray for us and for the success of the Men's Conference.


A STARTING POINT FOR A SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT

Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal Saturday, March 23 from 9 am – 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity”.  The main speaker is Mark Nehrbas, former director of Franciscan University conferences and noted speaker himself, will give a testimony regarding  his victorious six year battle with stomach cancer and miraculous healing at Lourdes.  More important, he will teach us the lessons he learned from his suffering, how to confront it, and how it can make us saints when it’s your turn to suffer as part of the human condition.  The $25 Registration could be a belated Christmas gift for the men in your extended family.  Contact Name of Parish Representative (phone no. & e-mail) (e.g., John Doe (245-9404 or jdoe@gmail.com) to register.  Enjoy the fellowship by going in the parish van, which leaves at 6:30 am from the Parish Hall.        

(175) Invitation to West Virginia Parishes to Attend the 2019 Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

AMDG

March 14, 2019

Dear Father:

          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.
          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 America 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 Steubenville 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 23 from 9 am to 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversitywith St. Joseph, model of a true man of God, as the Conference’s patron.
The Conference will open with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.  The featured speaker is Mark Nehrbas, a speaker at many conferences.  The morning talk, “Victory of the Cross in My Battle With Cancer, will include his testimony of his six year battle with an aggressive form of stomach cancer and his healing at Lourdes, France.  In the afternoon talk, “Victory Over Suffering: Lessons Learned From the Cross”.  Mark Nehrbas will explore the mystery of suffering, why God permits it, how he confronted it, how he grew from it, the lessons he learned, how it can be very productive, how it can make one  a saint, and tips on how to cope when it’s your turn to suffer.  Sooner or later every one of us must suffer.
The crux of his talk is redemptive suffering, a concept which Protestants and most Catholics do not understand.  Doctors recognize that patients who spiritualize their suffering do better.  Uniting our cross with the Lord’s cross and offering it up as a dynamic prayer for our country, our Church, and our loved ones makes suffering productive and gives it purpose.


Mark Nehrbas

          I am a member of St. Louis Church in Gallipolis in southeastern Ohio across the river from you and am a member of the Steering Committee for organizing the Steubenville Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal.  Our parish, Sacred Heart Church in Point Pleasant WV, and Sacred Heart Church in Pomeroy, OH have been sister parishes for many years.  They invite each other to parish functions and some go to daily Mass at the other parish when the home pastor is away.  The pastors worked together beautifully with Penance services and substituted occasionally at a weekend Mass. 

          In that same spirit we thought that it would be great if a group of men from your parish would attend.  Perhaps this joint effort will stimulate more cooperation and pooling of resources among the parishes of the two dioceses on opposite sides of the river.  If we can attract a good number of men from both states, we will be able to provide more nationally known speakers in future years.  Of course, we would not want to interfere with any event of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, but I understand that they have decentralized regional retreats which our men could also attend.  Thus the two are compatible with each other, especially if one conference or the other is more convenient for some of the men.
Mark Nehrbas has served the Lord by working on the campus of Franciscan University of Steubenville for 32 years until his retirement in August of 2017.  He was administrator for FIRE, a Catholic ministry that provided evangelistic rallies in cities across the United States, Canada, the Philippines, England and Ireland.  Nehrbas served as Director of Development raising over ten million dollars for student financial aid, buildings, and special projects.  As Director of Christian Outreach for 13 years, Mark led the summer conference operation at the University, overseeing the growth of conference participants from under 25,000 to over 41,000 per year.  Mark is a dynamic speaker and given talks at local, regional, and national conferences as well as in Jamaica.
          Attached is a 1) the Conference Brochure, 2) Additional Information, 3) Registration Forms, 4) Functions of the Parish Rep, 5) Summary of last year’s talk by Capt. Guy Gruters, former POW.  6) Example of a bulletin insert, 7) Example of an After Mass Talk By a Layman; and 8) Possible Pastor Announcements.

          The backing of the pastor is crucial.  Bulletin blurbs and inserts are not enough.  A plug from the pulpit is helpful.  Being already so busy with many responsibilities, the pastor doesn’t have time to get too involved, but he could appoint a parish representative or a committee to mobilize the men with one on one selling, organize a van pool, and register the men.  Filling out the attached registration form in advance with the $25 payment and giving it to a parish representative would speed things up at the door.  If sufficient time, you may send them to Roger Huck; %Men’s Day of Renewal, P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715.  That would help our planning.  A parish representative would facilitate follow up on the undecided and for organizing a car or van pool.  

The men may bring their teen age sons, godsons, relatives, and friends.  Thus the Conference can also be a father and son event, a shared experience.   Non-Catholics are also welcome.   

          The local Knights of Columbus council can be invaluable in mobilizing their members and the other men in the surrounding parishes.  The spiritual formation of their men is very much within their mission.  A layman could briefly talk about the conference at the end of Mass.  This would be a great supplement to any promotion that you care to make in the bulletin, from the pulpit, etc. 

I know that there is only one week-end left before the Conference, which is not much time.  But I’m hoping that you can send at least a few men.  I'm sorry about not being earlier, but it is still very doable.  I apologize and hope to do better next year.

Useful Resources. You and the parish representatives you appoint can utilize our Conference Blog at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.  The 2019 series of resources begins with Blog #160 – Overview; and continued with 161) Ad Form; 162) Diocesan Press Release #1; 163) Possible Short Bulletin Announcements; 164 Promotion Ideas; 165) Functions & Crucial Importance of the Parish Rep; 166) Sign Up Sheet; 167) Sample Bulletin Insert; 168) Diocesan Press Release #2; 169) Backing of the Pastor; 170) Role of the Deacon; 171) Example of an After Mass Talk By a Layman; 172) Possible Pastor Announcements; 173) Diocesan Press Release #3; 174) Catholic Newspaper Press Release; 175) Secular Newspaper Press Release; 176) Appeal to the Diocesan Councils of the Knights of Columbus; 177) Invitation to Parishes in West Virginia; 178) Invitation to College Students; and 179) My Ad in the 2019 Program Booklet.  Numbers 165 – 179 will be added in the next few days.  They correspond to numbers 141- 155 of 2018 which are similar in principle to the current year.   
The diocesan website at www.diosteub.org has a link to the brochure and Additional Information.  Hover over the “ABOUT” Menu at the top of home page.  Then hover on “Men’s Ministry” and click on “Men’s Day of Renewal”.  The link to our brochure and “Additional Information” are on the bottom left under documents.  You should have received in January 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) Conference Brochure 2) Registration Forms, 3) Additional Information, 4) Sample Bulletin Announcements, 5) Promotion Ideas, 6) Functions of the Parish Representative, and 7) Sample Bulletin Insert.
There are also interesting articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com, along with summaries of past talks, promotional resources, 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 to me for the Conference Blog articles or copies of homilies that are particularly appropriate for men’s spirituality.  For a greater variety, go to “A Little Bit for God and His People” at http://paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com.

The goal of the Men's Day of Renewal is to focus on the spiritual development of the participants.  The includes helping the men to take the right path before having to face the four last things.......Death, Judgment, Heaven or 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.

          True, Caldwell, Ohio is a good distance for some parishes.  It involves sacrificing most of a Saturday with some travel, but Lent is all about sacrifice and the quest for holiness.  During the middle ages, pilgrims would travel for days by foot or horseback.  Organizing the men to go together in a van pool for a 2 – 4 hour trip would give it a pilgrimage flavor, especially if there's a rosary and discussion about the day's events along the way.  It's a great opportunity as well.  It can solidify the parish as the men get to know each other better through great fellowship, especially if the pastor accompanies them. 

          Another option is to stay at the Microtel behind the Sunoco of the I-77 exit and make a retreat out of it.  Less than two miles from the St. Stephen’s Church which has a parish program of Stations of the Cross (Mass at Immaculate Conception Church nearby) on Friday at 7 pm preceded and followed by Eucharistic Adoration.   

It should be a great day of enjoyable fellowship and spiritual invigoration.  The last five years the men returned refreshed spiritually, reinvigorated, and enthusiastic.  Expect the same this year.  The men sang with such enthusiasm that the walls reverberated.  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.

          Often the enthusiasm generated at a men's conference is contagious and there is a spillover into parish life since the men see fellow participants moved by the beauty and power of the faith.  Non-Catholics are also welcome.  This is all a part of the new evangelization......to fire up the apathetic Catholic who doesn't do much beyond attending Sunday Mass, the minimalist; to touch the drifting Catholic and the fallen away through the publicity and inviting them to attend.  The experience of seeing so many men enthusiastically participating and lifting up their voices in song is uplifting. 

          Please don't hesitate to call me at 740-245-9404 or e-mail me at paulrsebastian@yahoo.com if I can be of help.  Hopefully, the men will return on fire which would make your parish more dynamic.  Thank you so much and God bless.

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 brings   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.
      *********************************************************************************
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

Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal Saturday, March 23 from 9 am – 4 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell.  The theme is The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity.  The main speaker is Mark Nehrbas, former director of Franciscan University conferences and noted speaker himself, will give a testimony regarding  his victorious six year battle with stomach cancer and miraculous healing at Lourdes.  More important, he will teach us the lessons he learned from his suffering, how to confront it, and how it can make us saints when it’s your turn to suffer as part of the human condition.  The $25 Registration could be a belated Christmas gift for the men in your extended family.  Contact Name of Parish Representative (phone no. & e-mail) (e.g., John Doe (245-9404 or jdoe@gmail.com) to register.  Enjoy the fellowship by going in the parish van, which leaves at 6:30 am from the Parish Hall.