|
About the
Catholic Men's Fellowship of Pittsburgh (CMF)
CMF is a private association of the laity operating and functioning in accordance with the Code of Canon Law and the blessings of the Church in Pittsburgh (A “lay apostolate”). The mission of the CMF is a response to the call made by Pope John Paul II, for a new evangelization, particularly the reinvigoration of faith among Catholics. Our mission is summarized as follows:
1. To raise awareness among Catholic men of their need to re-experience the spiritual awakening they originally received at their baptism, to nurture and deepen their ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit, so single and married men can accept their God-given roles as individuals in families, marriages, and churches (“Conversion”);
2. To encourage men to seek opportunities for faith-formation which may include forming or participating in a men's faith sharing group at the parish level and/or other forms of catechesis (“Formation”); and
3. To affirm and encourage our clergy while enthusiastically a) encouraging men to recognize their healing potential for our Church through their chosen vocation, religious or otherwise and b) teaching men how to pro-actively support their Catholic faith at the family, parish, and community levels. (“Mobilization”)
To communicate its vision, CMF uses the image of a rotating flywheel that consists of three parts: “Conversion>Formation>Mobilization”. This rotating flywheel image demonstrates that although growth in faith has distinct aspects, all three aspects are integrated in a continuing process.
To carry out this continuing process of Conversion>Formation>Mobilization CMF engages in four separate but related efforts;
First, CMF sponsors the annual Gathering of Catholic Men each year at the Palumbo Center. It is a day of significant conversion. This Gathering has resulted in numerous non-practicing Catholic men returning to the Church, often receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the Gathering for the first time in many years. We have heard many stories of men experiencing a true conversion of heart at this event. The Gathering attracts between 1,400 and 1,800 men each year. Through the Secretariat for Evangelization CMF collaborates with Bishop Zubik to mobilize active Catholic men to engage in evangelization by asking them to identify non-practicing Catholic men, for whom Bishop Zubik sends a personal invitation with complimentary tickets.
Second, CMF Forms and equips leaders to facilitate faith based men’s groups at the Parish and (in some cases) the community level. These groups meet regularly to read scripture, study the catechism and discuss how God’s word can be lived in their homes, workplaces and communities. Several parishes already have established men's groups, other lay organizations, movements or ministries that support men's faith-formation. CMF supports and encourages these efforts, and also offers new models of faith-formation for Catholic men in the context of Pope John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization. However, small men’s faith groups at the parish level require each pastor’s support to succeed. All men's group material must be approved by the pastor in insure it is rooted in Catholic teaching.
Third, CMF mobilizes men for action and mission. Already, in the brief 5 years that CMF Men’s Groups have been operating in Pittsburgh, we have seen much fruit from this “launching pad” ministry, manifested by men becoming more engaged in their parish life, for example as RCIA teachers, as volunteers for St. Vincent DePaul and other charitable organizations and becoming more involved in liturgical ministries. We have also seen permanent deacon and priestly vocations arise from the men's groups. Some of the men's groups are actively engaged in evangelization through outreaches such as the Emmaus retreat. Other groups have relocated their meeting location from the parish to drug and alchohol rehab centers so as to evangelize men in those centers.
Fourth, CMF actively integrates it mission of (faith) Formation and Mobilization three ways;
1) Overnight retreats and half day workshops presented by gifted lay leaders, priests and deacons.
2) CD of the month club. The CD of the month club provides pre-recorded talks by nationally recognized Catholic speakers, such as Scott Hahn, Steven Ray, and Fr. Corapi. It also provides CD's by up and coming speakers such as Father Jim Wehner, Father Jim Farnan, Father Roger Landry, Father John Riccardo, and Father Phillip Chavez.
3) Online Media Outreach. The technology and Online Media volunteers of Pittsburgh's CMF have joined forces with the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM) to create the NFCM Online Media Network. This Network brings various Catholic formation multi-media resources, along with masculine spirituality resources, to thousands of men worldwide each week. The first phase (Channel 1) of the Network was a podcast launched Fathers Day 2007. Channel 1 is short reflection by a member of the clergy on the upcoming Sunday readings. On Fathers Day 2008 the Network launched Channel 2 which contains a much broader selection of resources including top Men's Conference talks from various cities, top Catholic Mascuiline Spirituality radio show episodes, faith formation presentations by Father Larry Richards and others, online Bible study, masculine spirituality reflections by Mark Houck and other Men's Movement leaders, and much more.
Partial List of CMF Volunteers:
Jeff Ludwikowski (Conference: jeff@cmfpitt.org)
Patrick Molyneaux ( Conference and podcasts: pat@cmfpitt.org)
Pete Diulus (Treasurer and CD of the month Club: peter@cmfpitt.org)
Bill Talerico (Men’s Battle Team Leader: bill@cmfpitt.org)
Larry Squires (Men’s Groups: Email: LSquires@descomm.com)
Tom Pusateri (Formation& Retreat Team Leader Tpusateri@cmfpitt.org)
Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh
PO Box 13235
Pittsburgh PA 15243
412-276-2685
www.cmfpitt.org
Revised September February 14, 2010 | 