Parish men’s ministry workshop will be held on Nov. 16 in Nashville

By Sean Gallagher

The archdiocesan Department of Pastoral Ministries is sponsoring a workshop on parish men’s ministry that will take place from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 at St. Agnes Parish, 1008 McClary Road, in Nashville.

Titled “Brotherhood in Christ: Building a Community of Disciples,” the workshop will feature keynote speaker Benedictine Father Denis Robinson, president-rector of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad.

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson will celebrate Mass during the event.

Clayton Nunes helped organize the event. A member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington, he knows from experience the good effect that a parish men’s ministry can have in the faith of Catholic men.

“Life is a challenge and struggle,” he said. “In order for us to be the leaders that we’re supposed to be in our families, helping bring our spouses and children to salvation, it’s important to be able to lean on someone, knowing that there’s a larger community.”

Deacon Thomas Hosty, director of the archdiocesan Department of Pastoral Ministries, said that the event can be helpful for parishes that already have a men’s ministry, those wanting to revive one that’s been active in the past or to start a new one.

“This will be a practical workshop that explores what works and does not work at the parish level in men’s ministry,” Deacon Hosty said. “The workshop will be led by other men from parishes who lead men’s ministry and will provide the nuts and bolts that men can take back to their parish.”

He also noted that the event will involve discussion, prayer and music in addition to the celebration of Mass.

The cost of attending the workshop is $12 per person. Lunch is included. Registration for the Nov. 16 event will close on Nov. 11.

To describe the importance that an active men’s ministry can have in individual Catholic men, their parishes and the broader Church and society, Nunes shared a quote from Heroic Men, a national Catholic men’s ministry apostolate.

“Strengthen the man, strengthen the family. Strengthen the family, strengthen the Church. Strengthen the Church, change the culture,” Nunes shared from the apostolate. “And I add another at the end: Change the culture, you live heaven on Earth.”
 

(To register for “Brotherhood in Christ: Building a Community of Disciples,” visit cutt.ly/MensMinistry. For more information on the workshop, send an email to Deacon Thomas Hosty at thosty@archindy.org or call 317-235-5804.) †