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This year we are featuring stories of personal faith journeys. We hope by sharing these stories that our visitors and parishioners may grow to have a deeper understanding of the
call we each have to live our faith daily.
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July
AUGUST 2010
The Men of Veritas
by
Jim Healy
About a year ago Fr. Remo announced that the parish would like to form a men's prayer group. Me join a men's prayer group? Come on you have to be kidding! Then in church one Sunday I started asking myself what this Catholic faith was all about and where did I fit in the scheme of things. I found that I was going through the motions and less than thrilled with my evaluation. At that time I decided to give this prayer group a shot.
I've been attending "Men of Veritas" (Men of Truth) meetings for about a year. I wince when I hear Men of Truth. It sounds like we have the answers to all the ills of the world. We don't. I think it would be more appropriate to say that we are men that have faced a variety of challenges in our life, within our families and faith that are in "search of truth". We are seeking to improve our spiritual lives with our God, our families, friends, co-workers and members of our parish.
The men's group has opened my eyes to understand that I need God in my life. Regardless how self-sufficient, independent, egotistical or in control I may think I am, I need a relationship with God. Grudgingly it was hard to finally admit, I don't have all the answers. The men's group has provided an outlet to share life experiences in a confidential and prayerful setting. Many of us have the same questions and concerns about our faith in today's society. It has renewed my focus on the need for prayer and reflection on our Catholic faith and how I can try to be a better witness of that faith. I certainly have not reached that goal. I have a long way to go. But the men's group has been my first step back in this process.
In a book written by Fr. Larry Richards entitled "Be a Man" he raised the following question. "Do you know that God exists? If not, what are you doing to find out if He is real or not?" I guess when I did my personal evaluation that one Sunday in church as to "where am I concerning the God question and what am I doing about it?" I realized that I did not have an adequate response.
As Fr. Richards added, "it may take you months-it might take you years-but you have to do it. You have to keep spending time with God until the answer to the question of whether or not you know God is unequivocally yes."
The men's group has provided that opportunity for me to learn and share with other men who are in search of that truth. Think about joining us.
Jim Healy
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