(162) Press Release #1: Cancer Survivor to Show How Suffering Can Make You a Saint at the 2019 Men's Day of Renewal

Mark Nehrbas

          For the tenth consecutive year, the Diocese of Steubenville is sponsoring a Men's Day of Renewal on Saturday, March 23 from 9 am to 4 pm (optional Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 8:30 am) at St. Stephen’s Church, 1036 Belford St., 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 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 theme of the Conference is “The Cross as a Source of Strength and Path to Ultimate Victory Over All Adversity”.  This is not abstract theological theory.  Mark Nehrbas lived it.  He will be speaking from his heart, from his personal experience. 

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.

           

            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.

The $25 Registration could be a belated Christmas gift for the men in your life.......husband, father, son, grandson, boyfriend, etc.  The men may bring their teenage sons.  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 and send 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.  Parish representatives are urgently needed to mobilize the men; they can inform Don Coen of their availability.  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 resources to promote the Men’s Conference and articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.