Catholic mens groups

[Trying2bssint]

Hello! I am starting to notice a lot of catholic mens conferences pop up around the country. Unfortunately not a lot have been in my area. I did some browsing around online and found a lot of information about how parishes are starting to have mens groups in their diocese. I was wondering if people on the board have them in their parish and if so how people like them? I was also thinking about possibly starting a group in my parish but I would have no idea how to even go about it. Being a father if two and in my early 30s, I think something like this might be helpful for me and other young dads in today’s world. (This is no way a knock on women or moms who have a huge importance in faith upbringing)

 

[robertmidwest]

Try That Man is You or Men Under Construction. These are programs parishes can buy into.
I am not sure the cost.

Do you have an adult faith formation director? Contact them and see if they can help you. You may be able to come up with something on your own too. Breakfast on Saturday morning? One thing I would be wary of is these groups sometimes attract scrupulous or judgmental types. Sorry to say it, but will be something you will have to keep an eye on.

 

[40Days]

Yes…monthly…Father leads: compline (Night prayer)…then what’s going on in the parish (what men need to do to support it…clean up, etc.)…20 min of spiritual battle talk (very good) … then social time afterwards. …pretty good turn out, mostly younger guys (many are dads, not all)…patron is naturally…St Joseph!

My 2 cents is that those are all key: Father leads it, prayer ( of the Church and for direction as men), demands on men for sacrifice for THEIR parish, and socializing

 

[robertmidwest]

My 2 cents is that those are all key: Father leads it…

This makes sense but may not be practical. Maybe a deacon or someone elso who works very closely with the pastor. Without strong leadership each guy will want to take the group in the direction he wants it to go.

 

[dmar198]

Hello! I am starting to notice a lot of catholic mens conferences pop up around the country. Unfortunately not a lot have been in my area. I did some browsing around online and found a lot of information about how parishes are starting to have mens groups in their diocese. I was wondering if people on the board have them in their parish and if so how people like them? I was also thinking about possibly starting a group in my parish but I would have no idea how to even go about it. Being a father if two and in my early 30s, I think something like this might be helpful for me and other young dads in today’s world. (This is no way a knock on women or moms who have a huge importance in faith upbringing)

My parish uses the Crossing the Goal Series from EWTN, and it’s absolutely free. Everything is available on the Crossing the Goal website, with the free videos and the free discussion questions. Then all we do is pick a time and place, watch the video, and split up into groups of three to five people to discuss.

It helps to have free pizza and drinks and a cool social gathering place. That stuff can cost money. But for us it’s a great, free program at the core.

 

[Neofight]

We have a monthly men’s group that we limit to about a dozen me (ages 21 and over). When the group get bigger than 12, we break the group up…its just easier to facilitate discussion, we have found, with a smaller group.

The only rule we have is that any discussion in the room, stays in the room, and is not to be discussed with others. We are not pressured to attend every month, some attend quite regularly, some drop in and out as their schedule or needs dictate.

We start with about 15 minutes of fellowship, light a candle and spend a few moments in contemplation, and then one of us leads in an opening prayer.

We then use the upcoming Sunday Gospel for a Lectio Divina session, and soon it begins a conversation in how the reading impacts our lives as men, at home, at work, and in the world.

We close with a prayer, and leave spiritually recharged and full of insight from the others (and, of course from the Holy Spirit).

Good Luck in starting your group!

 

[robertmidwest]

Any news on starting the group?