standup

News Release:
Cathlolic Men "Stand Up to Be Counted"
Men's Morning of Spirituality with Bishop Steib Resonates with
Catholic Men

"It's a Miracle" proclaimed Bishop J. Terry Steib when he saw almost
500 men fill the pews of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in
Germantown for the first Memphis Area Men's Morning of Spirituality.
The men came from all over the Mid-South to Stand Up, to Stand Up
for Faith, to Stand Up for Family, to Stand Up for Justice, to Stand Up
for Christ, to Stand Up and Be Counted.

The event was planned to be a morning of prayer, reflection and
reconciliation but it was so much more. It was a morning of
inspiration. "Your life will never be the same after today, I promise
you that."-Danny Abramowicz told the attendants. Men traveled to
the event from Humboldt, Jackson, and Olive Branch; they came from
almost every Catholic Church in Memphis with large groups from St.
Augustine, Holy Rosary, Holy Spirit, St. Louis and St. Francis.

The morning's witness was US Federal Prosecutor Scott Leary, J.D. He
shared his story of questioning the Catholic Church and almost
leaving it. But as he studied the bible and early Christianity, he saw
the Catholic Church. He found that the rites and prayers of the very
first Christians are still used today almost 2000 years later in the
Catholic Church. He told the men "I say Thank You God! What a
treasure we have here in this Faith." Jesus' words come to life in the
Eucharistic Celebration of every Mass. He encouraged them to use
their brothers in the Church to lift them up, to stay true to their faith
and to stay strong so that they don't forget their role as Catholic
men.

The morning's speaker was Danny Abramowicz, former NFL All Pro
Wide Receiver and author of Spiritual Workout of a Former Saint.
During his rousing presentation, Danny asked the men "Why not Mass
everyday? If you know that Jesus is going to be somewhere, why
aren't you there?" He called the men to stand up for their faith, stand
up for their priests and stand up for their families. "It is not easy to be
Catholic. Jesus has called you; he is not going to leave you alone out
there." He called on the men to end their spiritual atrophy: to Stretch
Out in Prayer, Run Away from Temptation, Lift Up Others in Prayer,
Receive Your Spiritual Nutrition, Rest in the Spirit and Make a Workout
Plan.

A group Examination of Conscience and Eucharistic Adoration
followed the speakers. Some men openly wept as they considered the
heavy burden they carried. 20 Priests were on hand to hear
confessions. Men made statements like: "I haven't been to
confession in so long that I really can't remember my last one" and "I
haven't been to confession in 40 years."

During the homily, the Most Reverend J. Terry Steib, called on the
men to be witnesses to the Faith, to be like the apostles sent by
Christ. "Proclaim the Good News of God. Follow the path of those who
stood up to be counted in the witness of the Gospel of Christ." After
the Mass, Bishop Steib was ecstatic at the response of the men, he
said "I am moved when I think of so many Catholic men singing
together and praying in unison in church! Catholic men from all over
our diocese came. This expressed to me how they feel the need to be
fed spiritually in their lives."

OLPH Parishioner Andrew Hall, father of three, said "This really was
life changing. Danny spoke with such enthusiasm. I want that in my
faith. I want that for my kids. I can't wait until the next Men's
Morning." The next Men's Morning is being scheduled for early 2007.

Danny Abramowicz came to the Memphis area after Hurricane
Katrina. Danny has found a home at OLPH and became involved in the
parish Men's Prayer Group, the Fishers of Men. With his guidance, the
OLPH Fishers of Men planned this first Memphis Area Men's Morning of
Spirituality with Bishop Steib. Their prayer group has grown from a
dozen men to almost 50.

On November 18th, there will be a follow-up meeting for all men who
are interested in starting the Fishers of Men group in their home
parish. OLPH Fisher Dave Kevern, emceed the morning. He offered
help to anyone who wanted to start a group at their parish. "We can
leave here today and think it was great but we need reinforcement.
The Fishers of Men is the best wake-up call I get any day of the
week." The OLPH Fishers will be assisted by the Cincinnati Catholic
Men's Fellowship during the Men's Prayer Group Workshop.