It seems like nine years instead of another ten. What was supposed to fill the void in 2004 that Deacon John Rangel and I felt from not having (spiritual dialog with) a Catholic men's conference has turned into an annual event, as well as a blog, with engagement both online and offline. Over the years I have personally, and continue to have, done everything at all costs so there is not that void again in Chicagoland. As result, hundreds of men have attended our events and made a (re)commitment to their relationship with Christ and role as a Catholic man, and this turned into thousands of followers locally, and those who've since moved away, to keep in touch.
Our average event may have had around one hundred, however, it's how the 'regulars' who keep coming back year after year, and the first timers, blend in together in such a way you can't tell the difference between the two. We all have a different spiritual temperature, and thus each of us have different needs for our spiritual growth. Likewise, CMCS has had different people as a part of the Advisory Team because of the different 'seasons' or (growth) needs for this apostolate to evolve.
The one constant has been our local Vicar, His Excellency Bishop Joseph Perry. He has been a fixture like he'd be there forever, but it doesn't, because of the mandatory retirement rule for Bishop's. Maybe it won’t be accepted immediately, we can hope. You have seen Bishop Perry in the public moments at our events and with his articles on our blog. What you may not have seen is how he opened many doors for our mission, mentored my own writing on the blog, and was always engaging with the functioning of this apostolate, including how our stewardship be debt free and that we follow the magisterial teachings of the Church, short of the long.
But all of this I'm sharing does not even put a dent in what he has done for all of you and your Catholic manhood, we hear from you on this all of the time.
Before I get too far ahead, I want to look at the past to thank some people who've helped us make it this far: David Taylor, Deacon James Norman, Tim Becker, Sister Kathleen Sinclair, Mike Hoffman, Peter Palanca, as well as the present CMCS Team: Deacon Alfred Coleman, Oscar Griffin, Jr., and Terry Shelley. Both Deacon John and I are deeply grateful and overjoyed by your belief and service in this mission.
At a time when many Catholic men's movements seem to be ever increasing, and each serving a different vice or need by Catholic Men, CMCS has been consistent about living the goodness (virtues) of a Catholic man to make Christ the center of his life. This means to focus on the foundation and fundamentals of our faith. Men's ministry is really very hard, and the main things that keeps us from folding up (as many have) is first those of you who donate your money and / or prayers and engage with this mission, and second that we are a rarity as an apostolate of a bishop, and we don't take any of this for granted one second.
Finally, thank you to all of you reading this. You are continuing what you or others have started, and make it possible for others yet to come to keep it going. Why? Because men need to talk and connect the dots with each other about their spiritual journey as a Catholic man, as we are hard on ourselves until we see other men are experiencing the same things, and share with other men who have solutions to the things we too contemplate and think about. This is why it's important to keep our community local, and our events a manageable size to foster dialog and right action.
I would last but not least like to thank Deacon John Rangel for the God given partnership that we share. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the support John has provided as Director of Mission, and to me personally (as a shy introvert) words cannot explain. As well, it seems from the beginning CMCS adopted St. Joseph as our patron saint. While many have worked hard over the years to sustain CMCS, it's his heavenly watchfulness that really guides our work.
