Gathering set to kick off men’s ministry in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb 3, 2005 / 22:00 pm

A new group in Pittsburgh is reaching out to Catholic men, offering them an opportunity for faith and spiritual formation and fellowship.

The Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh has organized a morning gathering March 12 at St. Paul Seminary in Crafton.

“I believe the Holy Spirit is calling for men in our diocese to be renewed and strengthened in their faith,” Fr. James Wehner told the Pittsburgh Catholic.

“Catholic men today are often trying to find ways to express their spirituality, but often find it difficult because of a stigma and prejudice against male expressions of faith,” said the director of the Department for Evangelization and rector of St. Paul Seminary.

Recognizing the need to support the spiritual development of men, the U.S. bishops established the National Resource Center for Catholic Men several years ago, Fr. Wehner pointed out.

Highlights of the March 12 gathering include a liturgy celebrated by Bishop Paul Bradley and a presentation by Reid Carpenter, president of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation and a convert to the faith. There will also be time for fellowship and a question-and-answer session on the mission and ministry of new group.

Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh is modeled after the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Cincinnati, which includes 3,000 men in 200 parishes. The parish-based movement was founded there in 1984 as a Catholic response to the Protestant Promise Keepers movement.