|
Spiritual growth program drawing hundreds of men to Centennial parish
Numbers show That Man is You! speaks to men's hearts
John Gleason
Untitled Document
Nearly 400 men have been attending an early morning spiritual growth program
Fridays at St. Thomas More Church in Centennial. The response, program organizers
say, is the largest the program has drawn anywhere it’s offered.
That Man is You! is one of the preeminent men’s leadership programs
in the Catholic Church. Originating in Texas, it is now found in 14 states and
parts of Canada. It integrates modern science with authentically Catholic teachings.
A program of Paradisus Dei (Paradise of God), That Man is You! is now part of
the men’s ministry at six parishes in the Denver Archdiocese: Our Lady
of Fatima, Lakewood; Church of the Risen Christ, Denver; St. Mary, Greeley;
St. Steven Protomartyr, Glenwood Springs; Christ the King, Evergreen; and St.
Thomas More, Centennial.
The 26-week series is designed to help men better understand themselves, their
wives and their marriages as well as their unique role in the family and society.
The series, presented in two 13-week semesters, is designed to provide men with
the opportunity to receive and apply relevant information to issues facing them
today.
“The first semester in the fall deals with how men have failed as religious
leaders in their families,” said St. Thomas More parishioner Brad Maddock,
who was instrumental in bringing the program to his church. “The second
spring semester (focuses on) how we should be as leaders; about men’s
leadership role in their families and the Church.”
That Man is You! started in 2004 by a group of men in Houston, who, after studying
successful men’s leadership programs from Christian denominations and
corporate America, designed the interactive program.
The presentations are produced by Steve Bollman, who founded Paradisus Dei
in 2003 as an organization dedicated to discovering the joy of God in marriage
and family life. The weekly meetings include fellowship and a video presentation
that includes theological material, social science statistics and personal stories
followed by small group discussion. The series has proven popular at the parishes
it has been offered.
“I’m in awe every Friday morning when I walk in the building at
6 a.m. and see (the) men coming to the meeting,” Maddock told the Denver
Catholic Register. “Following the presentation, we divide up into small
groups and discuss what we’ve seen; that’s where we learn a lot
about each other and the struggles we all encounter. We learn that we’re
not alone.”
Until That Man is You! was offered at St. Thomas More, the men’s group
didn’t have as many members as they would have liked. But when some of
the men saw a demonstration of the program, they knew they had to get the word
out. They were pretty successful at it, too, according to Deacon Steven Stemper,
who said that before the first meeting in September more than 300 men signed
up. Today that number is closer to 400. Some 250 men show up weekly.
“The feedback has been very positive,” Deacon Stemper said. “I
think we all come away with a better understanding of the sacraments and the
call to a holy life. As one of the taglines of the program states: they want
you to become ‘a man after God’s own heart.’”
Deacon Stemper said he and others were excited that Steve Bollman would be coming
to Denver at the end of April to participate in a Mass at Church of the Risen
Christ followed by a banquet.
“There are so many who want to meet him,” he said. “We’re
very excited.”
The second 13 week-session will be ending this month but the entire series will
begin again in September. Those wishing to attend can contact the men’s
ministry office at the parishes now offering the program. Any parish wanting
to look into the possibility of hosting That Man is You! at their own church
can get information online at .
“It’s a marvelous program that brings men together,” Maddock
said. “We support each other and let each other know we’re there.
It’s very uplifting.”
|
