This article was originally submitted to the Steubenville Catholic Register.
For the sixth consecutive
year, the Diocese of Steubenville is sponsoring a Men's Day of Renewal on
Saturday, March 7 from 9 am to 3:30 pm (optional Chaplet of Divine Mercy at
8:30 am) at St. Bernard’s Church in Beverly on State Route 339 northwest of Marietta. The patron of the Conference is St. Joseph, a
model of a true man of God, to whom we depend upon for its success.
To complement
the Mass presided by Bishop Montforton and Penance Service the featured speaker
is Allen Hunt, a popular and dynamic speaker around the country. He was the pastor of a mega-church in Alpharetta,
Georgia outside of Atlanta. Under his
leadership, Mount Pisgah Church doubled in size to serve more
than 15,000 people each week, one of the largest Methodist congregations in the
world. Dr. Hunt helped to develop
comprehensive ministries with children and students as well as a Christian
School with over 1200 students, a pregnancy resource center, a Counseling
Center, and ministries for the poor and homeless.
Thus Allen Hunt is in a
unique position to speak on the theme of the Steubenville Diocese Men’s
Conference: “This Old House: Ever Dynamic, Ever New”. This theme promises to give all participants,
especially cradle Catholics, a renewed appreciation of the beauty and splendor
of the faith, motivating the men to learn and become more committed. Today with the zeal of a St. Paul, this new
Catholic evangelist works night and day to share his discovery of the faith and
to spread it. He does this through talks
all over the country, writing, and partnering with Matthew Kelly at the Dynamic
Catholic Institute. See www.dynamiccatholic.com. He will talk on “The Four Signs of a Dynamic
Catholic” in the morning session. That is prayer, study, generosity, and evangelization. His
afternoon talk will focus on his journey to the true faith and how God
revolutionizes our lives with His real presence in the Eucharist and its
remarkable power for each of us.
Prior to full-time ministry, Allen Hunt worked for
an international leader in the textile, apparel, and retail industries. He also was a management consultant with Kurt
Salmon Associates. Dr. Hunt earned a
Ph.D. in New Testament and Ancient Christian Origins from Yale University.
Dr. Allen Hunt is also a best-selling author of
“Confessions
of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic
Church”; “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody”; and “Nine Words: A Bible Study to Help
You Become the Best-Version-of-Yourself”.
Since St. Bernard's Beverly is in the geographic
center of our far flung diocese, the Steering Committee is hopeful that the men
of Steubenville in the north and the men of Ironton and Chesapeake in the south
will be able to participate. Nevertheless, this mini-pilgrimage is still 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.
A great gift or stocking stuffer would be the $25
registration for the men in your life.......husband, father, son, grandson, boy
friend, etc. A bag lunch is
provided.
One may register with Roger
Huck; Men’s Day of Renewal; P.O. Box 54; Beverly, OH 45715. Fill out the Registration Form in the
brochure in your parish or simply send your name, address, phone, e-mail
address, and parish with a $25 check made out to the Diocese of Steubenville. More information from the Chairperson, Chuck Schneider
- Chair Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal” 740-338-9091, 740-782-1877, or cjschn1964@yahoo.com. Ads
and donations to underwrite the Conference and keep the registration at a low
price are greatly appreciated. Keep
posted on the Men’s Conference and articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.