(113) Press Release #1: Former POW in Vietnam Featured in 2017 Diocesan Men's Day of Renewal

AMDG

Capt. Guy Gruters

            For the eighth consecutive year, the Diocese of Steubenville is sponsoring a Men's Day of Renewal on Saturday, March 18 from 9 am to 3:30 pm (optional Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 8:30 am) at St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell off of Exit 25 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.

            To complement the Mass presided by Bishop Monforton and Penance Service the featured speaker is Capt. Guy Gruters (USAF).  After graduation from the Air Force Academy with a B.S. in Engineering Science, Capt. Gruters flew more than 400 combat missions in Vietnam and received over 30 combat medals and awards.  He was shot down twice and captured the second time in 1967.  After leaving the Air Force, he captained DC-9s and Boeing 727s for Eastern Airlines until retiring in 1991.  Later Capt. Gruters was an account rep. for IBM and President of PC Software Systems. 

In his morning talk Guy Gruters will reveal how his faith and trust in God carried him through the ordeal as a Prisoner of War in the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” and other camps for five years.  Since bitterness is self-destructing, he will share in the afternoon talk how he learned to show mercy and forgive his brutal captors and deal with people in a business environment.  The participants will discover how they can apply mercy, forgiveness, faith, and trust to their daily lives as sources of strength in difficult times and a means to grow in holiness.  Capt. Gruters is a 4^th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Drawing from his diverse experience and being a father of seven children, he will also touch on “Leadership and Teamwork in the Family, Church, and the Community”.  An excellent and dynamic speaker, Mr. Gruters gives talks all over the country and is the author of the book, “Locked Up With God”. 

            Since St. Stephen Church in Caldwell is the approximate 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 (huck4816@roadrunner.com).  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 may be obtained from the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Don Coen at 740-264-0155, 740-632-1565, or donandmargcoen@yahoo.com.  Ads in the program and donations to underwrite the Conference and keep the registration at a low price are greatly appreciated and may be sent to Roger Huck at the address above.  Keep posted on the Men’s Conference and articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.