(9) Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal Offering Motel at a Reduced Rate

        The Steering Committee, recognizing that some of the men will have to travel as much as four or five hours (e.g., Ironton and across the river in Kentucky) to attend the Men's Conference at St. John's in Bellaire on Saturday March 10, is offering a special rate for the nights of March 9 & 10 at the Hampton Inn if one makes reservations by February 24. Details and directions are in the brochure which can be obtained in the back of the church or on the home page of the diocesan web site, www.diosteub.org. In this way, the men can make it a week-end retreat with Stations of the Cross and prayer on Friday night plus prayer (Eucharistic Adoration if sufficient interest) and rosary early the next morning. Wives could come along and spend the day in the very large St. Clairsville Mall nearby.  Pittsburgh is about 1 1/2 hours away.

         Danny Abramowicz, born and raised in Steubenville, was the 1969 All Pro Wide Receiver of the New Orleans Saints and former Offensive Coordinator (top assistant coach to Mike Ditka) of the same team, is the featured speaker in both the morning and afternoon sessions. A Penance Service and Mass is included. Helping men to get into good spiritual shape is the mission of Danny Abramowicz in his program “Crossing the Goal” on EWTN Catholic television and in very dynamic talks around the country. He will share some of his experiences in his life in football to the very serious game of life. An interesting article/interview from the Cleveland Pain Dealer with photos regarding his career can be found on the “Becoming a True Man of God” blog (#8) at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com. Promotional resources are also on that blog.

        One or two good men are urgently needed in each parish to help to promote the Men's Conference with one on one selling of the event 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, there would be 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.

         Each parish representative is asked to make his availability and contact information known to the Chair of the Steering Committee, Steve Ishmael at 740-635-2102, 740-296-9927, or swi167@comcast.net. The parish representative may collect the registration forms and send them to Ishmael at P.O. Box 167; Lansing, OH 43934 by February 15 and pay only $20 instead of $25. This may also be done individually. Make the check payable to the Diocese of Steubenville and write “Men's Day of Renewal” on the memo line of the check.

         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. All of this is the motivation for the Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal.