The 2010 Gathering of Catholic Men is Almost Here!

The 2010 Annual Gathering of Catholic Men will soon be here! Come to the A.J. Palumbo Center April 10, 2010 for this powerful and inspiring event!
If not already registered go to www.CMFPitt.org to do so.

This year's theme is Get Into Spiritual Shape! The featured speakers are the entire "Crossing the Goal Team" from EWTN. Additional speakers include Most Reverend David A. Zubik, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Fr. Matt McClain, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Deacon Ralph Poyo, Founder of New Evangelization Ministries, and Damian Wargo, Co founder of the King's Men Apostolate.

Whether you are a grandfather, father, single ,man, or son, whatever your level of faith or whatever your level of Spiritual fitness, come and see how your life can be changed!

The New Church

Catholics are busier now than ever. There are so many very important things to do. Does God really expect us to go to mass every week? Isn't that just a lot of rules made up by a lot of people a long time ago? Perhaps you should check out this new church (click below)...



God does not ask for much. He gave us everything. EVERYTHING, there is nothing you have that God did not give to you. He even gave His only son to death for your sins. All he asks for is one hour each week. But that's OK, he'll probably understand that you're too busy for Him. However, you may want to start thinking about what you will say to Him if you meet Him in heaven. If you don't want to spend time with Him now, why would that change?

Deliver Us From Oprah

Many of our brothers are participating in our newest discussion group on Apologetics and new age religions. Please look at this video about the Church of Oprah. She is spewing forth new age religion all over the networks, and is promoting anti-Christian new age writers, such as the one interviewed here. Remember that from the beginning, Satan has sought to spread lies and doubt, to make us question God and his Word. This is the original sin -- "you will be like gods" (Gen. 3:5). Satan is very good at blurring the lines and causing us to doubt God's word: "Did God really tell you not to eat... You certainly will not die." (Gen. 3:1,4). Oprah is just the latest tool to spread lies and doubts among Christians promoting that it is all about me and living for me, as opposed to the Truth -- that it is all about God and turning away from self -- living for God and doing God's will. We must not be sucked into this fuzzy logic and thinking that is opposed to God and his plan for us. To do so would make everything Jesus did a lie and a waste of time.

A Good Confession

Many of the men from our group attended the Annual Gathering of Catholic Men in Pittsburgh in April 2008. One of the speakers was Father Larry Richards from Erie, PA and The Reason for Our Hope Foundation. Fr. Richards gave a very thought provoking talk on confession which he encourages us all go to once per month. Highlights from his talk are included below.

Lent is Coming Quickly...

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and the season's blessings continue into the New Year!...

As we move into 2008, we are excited at the opportunities forming around our continuing CMF activities to help us grow ever closer to our Lord, grow stronger in our faith, and grow in our ability to do His work according to His will. You've all heard in general terms some of the thoughts and plans coming from the Core Team in conjunction with Msgr's spiritual direction for the coming year, and it's time to provide more specifics. See these below, and in particular, take note of the requested actions identified to help us in our preparations.

Many thanks to all who have helped in planning and discernment. Please pray that God would continue to bless us in these initiatives, and pray that he would lead us to share them with those he is calling to and through them. May God continue to shower you with His graces in all that you do...onward and upward!

God Bless,

Pat and Vaughn

Signposts. Continues to meet on alternating Saturdays throughout Lent at 8am in the St Barbara Room; Divine Mercy Chaplet precedes at 7:30am in the Eucharistic Chapel. New participants are welcome to come on board at any time.

Rosary. The Rosary prayer continues on Saturdays alternating with Signposts, see calendar on our web site for dates. New participants are welcome at any time.

Monthly Study Groups (1st & 3rd Thursdays).
1st Thursday Group. The current topical study, "Grasping for the Wind" deals with the secular influences of modern history which challenge our faith and shape our culture. The last session of the series next week will be on the second Thursday in January, 1/10, instead of 1/3. The topic will focus on contemporary issues from the 1960's to the present. The next topical study for this group, "The Catechism of the Catholic Church", will begin Thursday, April 3, 7pm, CLW Room.

3rd Thursday Group. The current topical study, "Beginning Apologetics", will have its last session of the series on Thursday in January, 1/24, with a completion of the "Bible Answer Man Debate, James Akin vs James White" and discussion. The next topical study for this group, "The New Age and Atheism", will begin Thursday, April 17, CLW Room, 7pm, CLW Room.

Requested Action:
All those continuing on with these Study Groups beginning in April, or those interested in coming on board, are requested to respond via e-mail as soon as possible, but preferrably before the end of January, to confirm their intention so that we can order a base of materials in appropriate numbers. As always, new participants in either of the final two sessions on 1/10 and 1/24 are welcome.

>>>>>Click here for more details on our Parish Lenten Program - Disciples in Mission

Are You a Strong Man?

All men are strong. Men are the stronger sex. These stereotypes have weighed in throughout history, and verdict is that men are supposed to be strong. Superheroes, knights, gladiators, soldiers, and athletes are often used to illustrate men’s strength.

When we say that a man is strong, we refer to his physical strength. Today’s society has placed a high value on men who are physically strong and have a muscular build. This is reinforced through a never ending supply of young, buff actors, models and athletes used to sell products to men and women alike.

How do these men get their strength? Well, part of it is a natural gift from God, of course. However, like any gift, it must be developed. Strong men work out regularly to keep in shape and strengthen themselves further.

But there is another type of strength – an inner strength and strength of faith. And just like physical strength, you must work out and exercise your faith daily to get stronger. This type of strength is not embraced by Hollywood and it certainly doesn’t sell products.

But even without Hollywood, there are plenty of examples of men strong in their faith who can serve as role models for us all. Certainly, our Holy Father is a wonderful example. But how many ordinary men do you cross paths with each day who are also role models of spiritual strength? They are all around us. We just need to look a little closer.

As men, we need to exercise to stay physically fit and maintain our physical strength. In addition, we must commit ourselves to daily workouts to strengthen our faith as well and acknowledge that we can do nothing without our Lord. Our current culture encourages us to focus only on ourselves and our own physical needs.

We will never find complete happiness by satisfying only our physical needs because we will always want more. We must get our strength from Jesus. He told us, “Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Let us pray each day for strength to focus on what truly matters most and that we will commit ourselves to a new fitness routine – our own spiritual fitness.

Loving Savior,

I pray that you will help me to gain strength.

Help me to become a strong man—

A man strong in my faith.

Send the Holy Spirit to give me the gift of strength,

and guide me as I struggle to become spiritually fit.

Help me to commit to a daily exercise of my faith,

That with each new day I may become stronger than the day before.

Amen.

Be Sealed With the Gift of the Holy Spirit

In the sacrament of Confirmation, we hear these words, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” Through Confirmation, we are awakened to the power of the Spirit within our lives.

All of us need the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our world is filled with all types of temptations towards sins of all types and we need the Holy Spirit to help us through each day.

There are 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as identified in scripture (Isaiah (11:1-3)).

• Fear of the Lord. Respect for God, our Creator, and the desire not to offend Him.
• Piety. Also known as reverence, we honor and worship God our Father.
• Fortitude. EWTN’s Mother Angelica refers to this one as strength and guts. It is the strength to do good and to endure suffering.
• Counsel. Often referred to as our ‘conscience’, it is our ability to discern right from wrong.
• Knowledge. This refers to our ability to reason things through, make the correct decision and act accordingly.
• Understanding. Our ability to know the “truth.” This gift can help us to better interpret the meaning of scripture and how to apply it to our own lives.
• Wisdom. This refers to our ability to reason through our thoughts and beliefs and to accept the “truth” presented to us by God.

How well do you accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? All of our individual talents are also gifts from the Holy Sprit given to help us serve the needs of others. Do we use them for their intended purpose?

Pray today and everyday for the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven,
You promised to send the
Holy Spirit to Your apostles and disciples.
Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in our lives
the work of Your grace and love.
Grant us the Spirit of Fear Of The Lord that we may be
filled with a loving reverence toward You.
the Spirit of Piety that we may find peace and fulfillment
in the service of God while serving others;
the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our cross with You
and, with courage, overcome the obstacles
that interfere with our salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge that we may know You and know
ourselves and grow in holiness;
the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten our minds with
the light of Your truth;
the Spirit of Counsel that we may choose the surest way
of doing Your will, seeking first the Kingdom;
Grant us the Spirit of Wisdom that we may aspire to the
things that last forever;
Teach us to be Your faithful disciples and animate us in
every way with Your Spirit.
Amen.