Archdiocesan Men’s Conference

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, confession, 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 effort to protect your listening in this way, I learned — I embraced it with enthusiasm. To this day, I remember her solos from my study tape.

Our exam was this: At the end of the semester, our professor would open a catalog of jazz classics, point to a tune, and say, “Okay, sing it the way Ella would sing it.” Maybe it’s the hubris of the young, but I had taken the assignment so seriously, had listened with such assiduousness, I was sure I would pass the test.

On the day of my exam, I stepped up confidently to the piano where my professor sat. He opened the catalog and chose a song I knew well, “Guess Who I Saw Today.”

Now, he knew my favorite rendition of this song was not by Ella, but by Carmen McRae, another superb vocalist I adored. I had listened to Carmen’s version of that song so many times, I literally wore out the cassette and had to buy a new one.

My professor smiled up at me as he rested his hands on the keys and out rang the first chords. I took a breath and let go of the first phrase ... just exactly as Carmen McRae would have sung it.

He laughed, shook his head, shut the book, and said, “You’re not ready.” 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.”

He wouldn’t fail me of course, but the point was made. It is an incredibly difficult discipline to absorb — in this case — the musical thought of someone.

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 parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials, or any other questions regarding ministry to men, contact him at gordonbird@rocketmail com

To come to know their artistry so well that you could make it your own, call upon it without struggling, make their musical vocabulary yours.

I thought often of this story as I worked on my most recent book: “A Place Called Golgotha: Meditations on the Last Words of Christ.” What a serious business it is to consider the word of God. How demanding a discipline it is to absorb the Lord’s thought so well, so deeply that it becomes my own, flows from my heart, not as an alien thing, but as though his words live there, dwell there, flourish there.

Let’s make this new year one of focus, if not exclusivity, of heart and mind for absorbing the word of God, for resting so purely, so supremely with the words of Jesus that they run through our veins. That when we are put to the test, the world will know us as true disciples of Christ.

Father, strengthen my capacity to enter into study and prayer with your Word, that I would know your voice more clearly and follow your lead more assuredly. Amen.

Kelly Stanchina is the award-winning author of 11 books, including “Love Like A Saint: Cultivating Virtue with Holy Women” and “A Place Called Golgotha: Meditations on the Last Words of Christ” (January 2023). Visit her website at lizk org

Letters

Is anyone listening?

The Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life March (“Pro-Life community stays on the move,” Jan. 12) is a critically important event — yet year after year those that we march for, to have hear our voices, listen less and less. It’s a good start but falls on deaf ears in St. Paul. Based upon the stated priorities of the governor and heads of the House and Senate, the 2023 legislative session will include even less listening. The Democrats are in full deployment mode — with no plans to listen to any reason or facts. Their mission to legalize marijuana and abortion is a priority and is simply mind boggling. Apparently, a drug-free mind and the hopes, dreams and contributions of the unborn have no value in this state. While the march makes us feel better, and as if we’ve had our say to our elected, I argue that they are not listening. While I directly blame Gov. Walz and the rest of the Democrats, I have to honestly look to my neighbors who continue to elect them. We’ve repeatedly elected those who want to promote drug use, foster abortion as a form of birth control and tax us into oblivion as mission critical priorities. This thinking is mainstream, deemed acceptable by my neighbors, some fellow congregants and promoted by media, entertainment and within the Capitol as if there were no consequences. The brazen promotion of selfishness and sin cannot continue. It’s unsustainable. God help us.

Hans Molenaar St. John the Baptist, New Brighton

Pavone and abortion

So let me see if I understand this. Fr. (now “Mr.”) Frank Pavone blasphemed by laying the mangled body of an aborted infant on an altar (no indication, incidentally, that it was in a church) (Dec. 22 issue, page 7). Tell me, which is more blasphemous, to tear the body of a little boy or girl limb from limb and then perhaps make a haul on its organs, or to speak out forthrightly and dramatically against such monstrous evil? We would condemn anyone who did anything half so ugly to a dog or cat but let a priest of God raise a ruckus and he is excoriated and excommunicated. And oh, by the way, anyone who knowingly destroys raptor eggs (or the offspring of any