On June 8-10, 2007, almost 100 leaders involved in the Catholic Men's Movement attended the first National Catholic Men's Leaders Conference. Twenty-three states — from California to Massachusetts, from Texas to Wisconsin — were represented at the conference, which was sponsored by the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM). The theme of this very successful conference was "Mobilizing Men for Mission" and was a very important event in the ongoing impact of the NFCM on the Catholic Men's Movement all across the U.S.
The move of God among Catholic men was first highlighted by the U.S. Bishops in their "Catholic Men's Ministry, An Introductory Report," USCCB, July 1999.
**"From Los Angeles to Chicago, from Manchester to Miami there is a growing hunger for God among Catholic men. They are meeting together in large and small groups, sharing their burdens, listening to each other's story, and celebrating Eucharist. Call it a revival, an awakening. Call it a work of the Holy Spirit at the grassroots level. The emergence of new ministries with men is a welcome development in the Church."
Cardinal Maida of Detroit, the NFCM Ecclesial Advisor, kicked off the gathering on Friday night with Mass and an inspiring message of encouragement and support for the Catholic Men's Movement. Fr. Tom Forrest sent the men forth from the conference on Sunday morning with a passionate challenge and call to the men to "go and make disciples."
At the gathering a new appreciation and special bond was formed among the men, which will lead to increased collaboration among Catholic men's leaders all across the U.S. Among the men, there was a great sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the weekend and his anointing on the conference.
The men were provided a framework for their ministry to men, based on the powerful booklet, "A Vision for Ministry," by Rich Cleveland. The booklet describes the three stages of spiritual growth for Catholic men — Conversion, Transformation, and Mobilization — that drives the NFCM Vision: "Catholic Men, Linked as Brothers in Jesus Christ, and Called to Bring Him to Others!" This powerful Vision resonated with the men at the conference. The NFCM strongly believes that every Catholic man in the U.S. should be offered the opportunity to experience conversion, transformation, and mobilization for mission. The "A Vision for Ministry" booklet can make a difference with those already in men's ministry, or those who want to start a men's ministry. The booklet is available on the NFCM website at www.catholicmensresources.org.
On Saturday morning, Rich Cleveland gave a talk on the overall Vision for ministering to Catholic men. Peter Herbeck followed with a presentation on Conversion. Paul Young kicked off the afternoon session with a talk on Transformation, followed by Paco Gavrilides on Mobilization. On Sunday morning, Maurice Blumberg discussed Methods and Ideas for implementing the Vision, and the future plans of the NFCM. Pat Molyneaux also spoke of how the NFCM is using technology to reach more Catholic men, including the new 10 minute podcasts of Sunday homilies for men, which are being sent to those registered on the NFCM website.
CD's of the conference talks are also available through the NFCM. They include Cardinal Maida's inspirational welcoming homily. The conference talks, and the discussions that followed, will enhance men's ministries by bringing this important conference to life for men's leadership teams, and for other men who did not attend the conference.
The feedback and emails received from the men attending the conference, and those they are exchanging with one another, are inspiring and encouraging to all of us. Below is an example:
"Congratulations to you and all those who helped form an immensely successful gathering of Catholic brothers in leadership from all over this nation. Your efforts were truly anointed by the Holy Spirit in the obvious, prayerful planning and execution. Thank you for assisting your brothers in our attempt to grasp a clearer vision of the path Christ has chosen for us. His plan for each of us is as unique as His relationship with each of us. — Mike Anderson, Leader of the Catholic Men's Fellowship of Kalamazoo, MI.
The new momentum and initiatives that have been started from the conference are striking. One of these is Podcasts of homilies for men on the Sunday Mass readings that are being sent to several thousand Catholic men all across the country. These podcasts, and the fruits of them, are just the beginning of what the NFCM hopes to provide to Catholic men via technology. The podcasts are available to all men who register on the NFCM website. Other initiatives are a guidebook for conducting Catholic men's conferences and new resources for Catholic men's groups.
In the 8th century, St. Boniface had some profound words to say about the state of the Church. These words are just as true for the Church today, perhaps more so, as they were when he wrote them:
"In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course."
Those at the conference recognized that this "duty" is shared with Catholic men's leaders, and all were willing to "step up to the plate" and accept this responsibility. They left the conference inspired, challenged, and energized for the work of reaching Catholic men for Jesus Christ.
If you have any questions, you may contact Maurice Blumberg, the Executive Director of the NFCM, at 301-874-1043, info@nfcmusa.org, or www.catholicmensresources.org. If you don't already have a men's ministry in your diocese or parish, the NFCM is available to support you in starting one, or in enhancing your current men's ministries.
