|
Starting A New Men's Fellowship Group
Prior to starting a new group, the following steps should be undertaken:
1. Speak with your pastor to gain his permission and guidance for the new group.
2. If you are in the Diocese of Pittsburgh or Diocese of Greensburg fill out the new group form. Contact Pat Molyneaux or Larry Fagan if you have any questions. If you are in another part of the country please register your group at www.catholicmensresources.org
3. Listen to our roundtable discussion on beginning and succesfully running a Men's Fellowship Group. (coming soon)
4. Utilize the resources available on this site and at the National Fellowship Of Catholic Men's site.
5. Develop a plan for promoting your group in your parish. Utilize your parish bulletin, pulpit annoucements, and most importantly, personal invitations.
Do not be overly concerned with attracting large numbers of men to your group. A successful group can be run with as little as two men!
 Operating Suggestions (not requirements)
1. Spread out the preparatory work among several men.
2. Use one or two facilitators to maintain a standard.
3. Plan with a 3-6 member leadership team that is co-responsible and non-hierarchical.
4. Pre-plan each meeting, but be flexible, responsive, and able to adjust to an individual's needs.
5. Establish a predictable and comfortable format that fosters spontaneity.
6. Start with a few "social" moments and stop on time.
7. If the group becomes too large, develop a small group (5 to 7 men) infrastructure that ties in with the large group.
8. Position the large group as the "tool" of evangilization; the vehicle for attracting men to the fellowship.
9. Initiate a weekend retreat during the large group's start-up phase and on an annual basis thereafter.
10. Organize the large group meeting in a circle so that each man's space is respected.
11. Encourage personal witnessing and "testimonies" to build faith.
12. Do not establish "rules and regulations" or overcommit the men.
13. Meet the men "where they are" and avoid making demands.
14. Keep brief reference notes on each meeting and maintain a resource "library".
Read the article, "Starting parish men's group? Here's some advice" in the August 18, 2006 edition of the Pittsburgh Catholic.
The most used resource for men's groups is Signposts: How to be a Catholic Man in the World Today
| 
Excellent Four Part Series on Men’s Group Formation for the Parish Communities (Produced by the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of CA). 