A different Way

From the National Catholic Men’s Ministry, Northern Vicariate

This is an urgent call to the whole Church, to join us as we reach out to the men of the Northern Vicariate, urging them to take a different way by becoming a true image of St Joseph.

As the world sees it, and often with good reason, we men are considered to have abandoned our God-given role, of servant/leaders of the family.

We are often seen as having lost our identity and purpose as leaders of family life, protector and defender of the faith, partners of our spouses in sharing responsibility for the well-being of the domestic Church.

On an objective view, there is evidence which supports some of this criticism. Far too many of us have shown ourselves as merely being sowers of “wild oats”, content with selfishly satisfying distorted desires, rather than shouldering the responsibility that comes with lovingly caring for another and living out the gift of fatherhood.

There are too many households in our society subject to abuse and neglect, headed solely by an overburdened mother, or an older sibling or grandmother, in the absence of what should be a community headed by a loving, nurturing father.

On the other hand what is often overlooked, is that many of our brothers have tried as hard as they possibly could to be good fathers, spouses and sons. These efforts have not always evoked a positive, appreciative response.

Some of these committed men have experienced a sense of rejection and failure, may even have been told that they are failures, whether manifest in word or deed, by the very ones for whom they have laboured to love, and provide.

In an evolving society that places a premium on the material rather than the spiritual, the perception of an apparent failure of men to meet material expectations on demand, is the received wisdom.

Even in some cases in which men have stretched themselves beyond their strength, sacrificing health and their personal interests, in an effort to care for and promote their family’s best interests, they can remain unappreciated.

The result is that some of these men experience a sense of despair, hopelessness, and depression; they give up.

In those circumstances, many brothers, lacking God-given faith and strength, have walked either the road of neglect of their responsibilities or despondency, from being unappreciated.

The Holy Spirit has the power to bring about renewal by revealing to us, that it is for this reason that Jesus came, died and rose again, in order that we might not only live, but thrive and flourish.

It is the Holy Spirit who anoints with grace for us to experience a life-changing event. He empowers us to shake off a spirit of irresponsibility and neglect on the one hand, and a spirit of depression and despondency on the other, and to take up our true role and our place in the family, in the leadership of the Church and in society.

It is the Holy Spirit who alone can silence the deception that causes us to experience a sense of depression and failure, even when we are trying our hardest. He invites us to model our lives on that of St Joseph, servant/leader of the Holy Family. He will reveal to us that, in and through Him, “nothing can come between us and the love of Christ” (Rom 8:35).

Because of that love, He allows us to share in the victory of Calvary, as we become more than conquerors in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In the face of the pressing and painful issues referred to earlier, we are happy to extend an invitation to all our brothers, to come aboard and journey with us on our Men’s Lenten Retreat. The theme of the retreat is A different Way (Mt 2:12).

It will take place on Sunday, March 26 at Centenary Hall, St Mary’s College, Pembroke Street, Port of Spain, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with registration starting at 1.30 p.m.

Let’s continue the journey which some of us began at our conference on November 5, 2022. Let’s have fun, sharing among ourselves, while experiencing healing in a wonderful atmosphere, with Christ, and the people of God.

Together, let us be determined to take a different way, the narrow road that leads to life, while building a more unified and victorious future, extending throughout our mortal lives, and even into eternity.