Parish Faith Sharing Groups For Men

What are Faith Sharing Groups for Men?

Faith Sharing Groups for Men are comprised of men of parishes who gather to discuss their lives in the light of their Catholic faith and to share their faith and experiences through friendship, prayer, and fraternity.

What happens at a Faith Sharing Group for Men Meeting?

Men generally meet for 60 to 90 minutes to socialize, pray, discuss their faith, praise God, and sing. They support, affirm and share insights about the difficulties men encounter in both their home and work lives. They also seek God?s help in dealing with the issues they confront every day. Members strive to reinforce Christian values in their home, reach out to share those values with others in their group, and support other men who are struggling to do the same.

What will I gain from attending a Faith Sharing Group for Men?
Men have found that by attending a Faith Sharing Group for Men they make friends among their fellow parishioners, have fun, and learn from one another how to be a better husband, father, son, employee, and Catholic parishioner.

Men say it has been a growth experience, which has enabled them to form stronger, happier families and marriages, and has helped them to learn how to better cope with the inevitable stresses inherent in the workplace. They also seek God's help in dealing with the issues they confront every day. Members strive to reinforce Christian values in their home, reach out to share those values with others in their group, and support other men who are struggling to do the same.

How can I become involved in a Faith Sharing Group for Men?
Men all over the greater Columbus area are forming Faith Sharing Groups for Men and stepping forward to facilitate these groups. Contact your pastor and ask him if a Men?s Group has formed in the parish. For further information contact Chris Reis @ (614) 239-0867 or email him at reisfam@wowway.com.

Start A Group
Many men have suggested that they want to "do something" to help renewal efforts in the Dioces of Columbus, Ohio. One way to do that is to start a Faith Sharing Groups For Men. The requirement is simply someone who has the energy to talk with your pastor about starting the group, contacting a few friends and fellow parishioners, and then holding your first meeting. One doesn't have to be a faith expert to start a men's group; one only needs to want to grow in their Christian vocation by discussing faith and life with other men.

There are 2 main resources that we'd recommend for people considering starting a Catholic Men's Group at your parish:

• Attend a meeting of another Catholic Men's Group - This will help remove any mystery about what it takes to lead successful men's fellowship meetings. For further information contact Chris Reis @ (614) 239-0867 or email him at reisfam@wowway.com to find the closest group near you.
  
• Leverage the resources of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (see the NFCM's "roadmap" to starting a Catholic Men's Group below).

A Roadmap for Selected Men's Group Resources
The Catholic men's group resources on the NFCM website are broken down into three categories: Living as a Catholic Man, Marriage and Family, and Spiritual Life. Below is a roadmap for a few selected resources from e ach category.

Living As A Catholic Man
If you are a new men's group, or you are not sure where to start, we recommend starting with Signposts, How to be a Catholic Man in the World Today by Bill Bawden and Tim Sullivan. Signposts was specifically developed by two Catholic deacons who are heavily involved in the Catholic men's movement, and is ideal for a small-group setting or individual study. This is by far the most popular of our men's resources. Thousands of Catholic men have used, or are currently using this workbook, in Catholic men's groups all across the US.

This powerful resource uses Scripture and Catechism references, short real life stories, and challenging questions to aid in the group discussion. The individual lessons are broken down into four different categories: Man and God, The Measure of a Man, Man and Family, and Man and His World.

If your group wants to go deeper into what it means to build strong relationships with other Catholic men, as brothers in Christ, consider using Calling Catholic Men into Vital Relationship by Geoff Gorsuch. This book is a Catholic version, sponsored by the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM), of a very popular book written by in 1994 for small men's groups.

The book uses the baseball diamond to represent the process of building vital relationships with other Catholic men. Thus, we need to get to first base where we learn to "accept one another," to second base where we develop our friendship as we "encourage and build up one another," to third base where after much time and practice, we feel free to "exhort one another" as we face life's challenges together, and finally we help one another reach home plate as we grow in Christlikeness. Each chapter ends with excellent discussion questions for the men's group.

If your group wants to go deeper into what it means to live a virtuous life as a Catholic man, consider using Boys to Men, The Transforming Power of Virtue by Tim Gray and Curtis Martin. Each chapter is on a different virtue, with challenging questions at the end of each chapter. This book is ideal for Catholic men's groups who want to find out why "real men" choose the virtuous life.

If your group wants to grow deeper spiritually, consider using Spiritual Workout of a Former Saint by Danny Abramowicz, former All-Pro wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints. This is the newest book offered by the NFCM and is an excellent resource for Catholic men's groups. It is more than the story of a recovering alcoholic grabbing onto - and working hard at - his second chance at a happy, spiritually rich life.

This book, based on proven NFL workout techniques, is a practical, encouraging, step-by-step method to help you grow spiritually; add new life to your relationships with the your spouse, family, and friends; and re-energize your soul as you deepen your love of Christ and His Church. Through a special arrangement, and for a limited time, all copies will be personally autographed by Danny.

Marriage And Family
If your group wants to go deeper in understanding solid principles on how fathers and grandfathers can have a positive effect on their children's (and grandchildren's) lives, consider using Velvet and Steel, A Practical Guide for Christian Fathers and Grandfathers by John Ream. This book also provides practical ways for husbands to be more effective fathers and to relate to their wives as full partners in marriage and family life.

If your group wants to use audio tapes on fathering, marriage, and family, two 3-cassette tape series are available: Restoring the Hearts of Fathers by Curtis Martin and Safeguarding the Family by Philip Gray, Curtis Martin, and Marcus Grodi. In a day when so many men fail to meet the challenges and responsibilities of marriage and family life, Curtis Martin speaks a clear word in Restoring the Hearts of Fathers, At the same time lighthearted and heavy hitting, Martin calls modern men to be true men, husbands and fathers.

Three of today's most insightful Catholic apologists light the way for families in the modern age in the Safeguarding the Family series. In the first of three tapes, "Marriage, the Forgotten Sacrament", Philip Gray (who holds a licentiate in canon law) speaks to us where we really live. In the second tape, Curtis Martin challenges men to be real men, in other words, to become men of God. In "Keeping Our Kids Catholic", Marcus Grodi (well known convert and host of EWTN's "The Journey Home") outlines the seven essentials every parent needs to know and apply to ensure our children become and remain faithful Catholics.

Spiritual Life
If your group has never done a Bible study, or are experienced in Scripture reading and study, consider using Embracing the Kingdom: A Bible Study on Conversion by Rich Cleveland. This study emphasizes applying God's Word in Scripture to our daily lives, importance of prayer, importance of being part of a community of believers, ongoing work of conversion, and deepening of our faith.

If your group wants to do a bible study on the Gospel of Luke, consider using Mission of the Messiah by Tim Gray. This study presents the messianic mission of Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It also shows how the plan of God revealed in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The review questions at the end of each chapter provide fresh material for group discussion (or individual reflection).

If your group wants to do a bible study on the Gospel of Matthew, consider using Mystery of the Kingdom by Edward P. Sri. This study focuses on the "kingdom of God" and why it is the heart of Jesus' teaching. The provocative study questions at the end of each chapter make this book ideal for group study (or individual study).

The National Fellowship of Catholic Men is committed to providing high quality resources for use in men's fellowship groups, or for individual study, including over 10 new ones in the past year and a half. In addition to the books that can be purchased directly from the NFCM, an additional 25 on a variety of topics of interest to Catholic men are also available on the NFCM website. These books can be ordered through direct links to various online web bookstores.

Join A Group
We are currently attempting to gather a list of men's fellowship groups throughout the Diocese of Columbus. If you have or know of parish men?s group that is not listed please contact Chris Reis @ (614) 239-0867 or email him at reisfam@wowway.com.

Faith Sharing Groups For Men are growing in the Columbus Dioceses, we encourage you to talk with your pastor and fellow parishioners to start one. For some resources on how to do that, please click on the Start a Group link above.

Please review the following list and join an already existing group in your Parish.

List Your Group
Our goal is that every Catholic Man in the Columbus Diocese that would like to participate in a parish-based men's fellowship group will be able to easily find one.

If you are a leader or a member of a parish-based men's group that meets regularly, please list your group by contacting Chris Reis @ (614) 239-0867 or email him at reisfam@wowway.com

We will then list the group on our website. Thank you!

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