Better to bear the trials and tribulations of life as crosses with a support system, rather than go it alone, and to celebrate triumphs in unity. While the pandemic curtailed many activities, including the annual Archdiocesan Men’s gathering, the conference is returning after a three-year hiatus.
The gathering provides an opportunity for men, young and old, to fortify their minds, souls and hearts with practical, spiritual and actionable takeaways. It’s a time and place that men can convene in worship and dialogue with Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who will preside at the opening Mass, and to hear from, and talk with, other vibrant speakers from within and outside of the archdiocese.
“Raising the Bar — Men of Faith Walking Together” is this year’s theme for the conference, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 18 at All Saints in Lakeville.
The schedule includes Mass, confessions, presentations and food, as well as adoration and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. The keynote speaker will be Devin Schadt, executive director of Pennsylvania-based Fathers of St. Joseph. Bishop Joseph Williams and Deacon Joe Michalak, director of the archdiocesan Office of Synod Evangelization, will provide an update on Synod Evangelization Teams and discuss the impact of small groups.
As men of faith walking together, we lift each other up, bringing our hearts and souls to do God’s will. We do this for our families, our parish community and greater society. That’s what Catholic Watchmen do together as they build fraternity and evangelize in groups large and small — with Christ at the center. With Synod Evangelization Team activities and the upcoming focus on small groups ramping up, the men’s conference is providentially well-timed with Archbishop Hebda’s post-synodal pastoral letter. Teams representing their parishes are “to begin the process of creating or growing a small group ministry that fosters personal relationships, builds community and provides formation to help parishioners grow as joyful missionary disciples of Christ,” the letter states. Men’s ministry groups that gather regularly — especially in small groups — is core not only to evangelizing others, but to keeping each other accountable to the daily Christian mission.
Men of faith need not go it alone, whether all is well or when challenges arise. To borrow the approach of the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance, a movement that ignites, empowers and equips ministry to men throughout the world: “Strengthen the man, strengthen the family. Strengthen the family, strengthen the Church. Strengthen the Church, transform the culture.”
Building Christian friendships that strengthen men through prayer, Scripture, witnessing, evangelizing and works of service provides encouragement through the good and tough times. For the love of God and neighbor, we should not have to face difficulties alone. We can help each other and raise the bar as we walk together.
The premise of Catholic Watchmen has always been to support (and not replace) the many men’s apostolates, programs and platforms that get men together regularly. Its purpose hinges on men challenging men, “as iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). St. Joseph, the patron saint of the Watchmen movement, is our model. We look and pray for his intercession as men of faith “walking together” — providing an example in raising the bar and striving to be a spiritual father to others, like he was to the first Holy Family. He did not go it alone.
St. Joseph surely sensed that the omnipresent and omnipotent force — God — was with him as he provided for, and protected, his Divine Son and the Blessed Mother. Yet he was still a man. Even receiving divine revelation from dreams with angelic instruction required great faith, fortitude and strength to wake up and take flight — many times into hostile territory with the devil and his minions lingering. Joseph, however, most courageous (and everybody’s favorite as the terror of demons), had the ultimate trust in God — knowing that he was not going alone on those journeys and hardships as the foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph did not live to witness the cross his earthly son had to bear for the sins and salvation of the world, but the patron saint of the universal Church certainly continues to teach Christian men about sacrificial spiritual fatherhood— “Raising the Bar” — including the crosses we bear.
Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and assists with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for existing tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich your parish apostolate for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or any other questions regarding ministry to men contact him at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
