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.
This was picked up by the Monroe County Catholic Churches Bulletin at http://www.monroecountycatholic.org/assets/2.23.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>,
“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>,
February 27, 2020
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
their role in the New Evangelization and tips on making their homes domestic
churches with Christ at the center.
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, Scott
Hahn, are attached as well as the Conference brochure and other information. If space is limited, the final four
paragraphs may be dropped.
Thank
you for your consideration and God bless.
PRESS RELEASE
Scott Hahn to Speak at Men's Day of Renewal at the Basilica in Marietta, Ohio
 |
| Scott Hahn, the main speaker at the Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal |
For the eleventh consecutive year, the Diocese of
Steubenville is sponsoring a Men's Day of Renewal on Saturday, March 7 from 9
am to 4 pm at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, 506 Fourth St. in
Marietta off of Route 7 or Exit 1 on I-77.
The patron of the Conference is St. Joseph, a model of a true man of
God, whose intercession we count upon for its success.
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.”
To complement the Holy Hour,
the Penance Service, and Mass presided by Bishop Monforton, the featured
speaker is Dr. Scott Hahn.
Dr.
Scott Hahn is Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the
Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since
1990. He is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center, an
apostolate dedicated to teaching Catholics how to read Scripture from the heart
of the Church. Married to Kimberly for forty years, together they have
six children and 18 grandchildren. Two of their sons are seminarians
studying for the priesthood in the Steubenville Diocese. A former
Presbyterian pastor, Scott entered the Catholic Church in 1986. The author or
editor of over 40 popular and academic books, including “Rome Sweet Home”
and “The Lamb’s Supper”, Dr. Hahn has delivered thousands of
talks, nationally and internationally, on a variety of topics related to
Scripture and the Catholic faith.
Dr. Hahn will
give two talks based on the general theme, “The Challenge of Being
Catholic”.
In his first
talk, he will draw on Church teaching and his own experience to show
how ordinary Catholics can effectively share their faith, and
so fulfill the New Evangelization. Every one
of us, as Catholics, is called not only to keep the faith, but also to share it
with others. This talk is geared to help Catholic laymen reach
friends, co-workers, and family members, especially those who are
non-practicing or have drifted away from the Church. He will
also address the question, “why and how can we remain
faithful Catholics” -- in the face of clerical corruption and the
scandals we have witnessed?”
In his second talk, Dr. Hahn
will speak on how to strengthen our marriages and family life, both of
which are in crisis. Drawing from Scripture, and forty years of
experience as a husband and father. Hahn will offer some
practical tips on how to make your home a domestic church --which St. Pope
John Paul II advocated-- particularly with the help of the Holy
Family. He will also share some valuable lessons learned from
his own struggles, drawing from his most recent book, The First
Society: The Sacrament of Matrimony and the Restoration of the Social Order.
The men are encouraged to bring their sons (18 and under free of charge);
so this can also be a father and son event, a shared experience. A bag lunch will be provided. Non-Catholics are also welcome. Registration will be taken at the door.
Questions may be addressed to the
Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Don Coen at 740-264-0155, 740-632-1565,
or donandmargcoen@yahoo.com. 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. “A Little Bit for God and His People”
at paulrsebastianphd.blogspot.com has an article on this conference (#244) and
a variety of other subjects.
The goal of
the Men's Day of Renewal is to focus on the spiritual development of the
men of the 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.
For those who must travel a
distance this mini-pilgrimage is a
Lenten sacrifice of early rising and a long trip with great fellowship in a van
or bus as the men pray together, discuss the talks and other events of the
Conference, and deepen friendships. This
is an opportunity for the pastor to know his men better and build parish
community
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. In the
past the men have returned spiritually refreshed, reinvigorated, and
enthusiastic.
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 7 from 9 am – 4 pm at the Basilica
of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta (506 Fourth St.). The theme is “The Challenge of Being Catholic”. The main speaker is Scott
Hahn, internationally renowned speaker and author, will give tips on how each
man can participate in the New Evangelization and how to make his home a
Domestic Church as proposed by St. Pope John Paul II. The registration fee is $25, but for the
first time boys 18 years old and under are admitted free of charge.
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