By David Kilby | Correspondent

Many men who were looking for a different kind of challenge found what they were looking for in the advice they were given at this year's Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Conference Feb. 22, in St. Mary Parish, Middletown.

At the 17th annual CMFJC Conference, entitled “Be Courageous. Be Catholic,” Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., celebrated Mass and gave a homily at the climax of a day where nearly 600 men were inspired to live their faith to the fullest. The conference also featured talks of encouragement by Catholic evangelist and speaker Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, president of the King's Men Mark Houck, and former Major League baseball team manager, Jack McKeon.

In his homily Bishop O' Connell reflected upon the Chair of Peter, the feast that the Church was celebrating that day, and shared how the papacy is "a reality that unites us, brings us together and keeps us together as Catholics."

He said people may ask, 'Why be religious when I can just be spiritual?' or 'Why can't I just worship God in my own way?'

"It takes no courage to ask those questions," Bishop O'Connell said. "It takes courage to answer them. It takes courage to say 'I believe, I witness, and I am Catholic, and the gates of hell will not prevail against me.'"

Deacon Burke-Sivers began his morning talk by telling the audience to open their Bibles to the first book of Kings.

When he noticed that hardly anyone in the audience brought their Bible, he told them, a bit frustrated, "Whenever you hear that I'm speaking some place, bring your Bible. That's our book!"

He then shared the words that King David said on his deathbed to his son Solomon, ordering the future king to be a man and keep God's commandments.

"If you truly want to be a man, you must follow the ways of the Lord," Deacon Burke-Sivers said to the crowd that filled the church.

In addition to being an author, Deacon Burke-Sivers frequently appears on Eternal Word Television Network and hosts his own weekly radio program.

"There are too many men who are failing their wives, their children, their culture, their Church because they have forgotten the ways of the Lord," he continued. "Too many men are standing around doing nothing and our culture is being destroyed!"

He explained how understanding the relationship between man and woman is a large part of being a man.

A woman is "someone who stands opposite and helps you in battle," he said. "Anyone other than woman is not a fit helper for him."

"The woman is the very heart of God's love," he said, then explained how if it weren't for the love and support of his wife Colleen he wouldn't have had the courage to leave his job as a police chief to spread the Gospel for a living.

He described the meaning of a covenant, saying it is a "complete giving of self.

"Jesus held nothing back when he gave himself on the Cross. He gave everything!"

Part of his message throughout the day was that men have to sacrifice themselves as well for their wives, children, culture and Church.

He said one time a man took him aside after church and told him how he was being unrealistic when he preached against contraception.

He told the man how love and life are bound together by God. "When you use contraception what you've done is you've stuck a wedge between love and life."

Deacon Burke-Sivers went on to say "The greatest gift I can ever give my children is to love my wife as Christ loved the Church."

He encouraged the men to pray the Rosary and go to Confession, while saying how great a weapon the Rosary is, and sharing that there is nothing anyone has done that can't be wiped away by the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

In his talk before lunch, Houck called the men to be courageous by being holy.

Houck also spoke of how it's common for men to fall into a cycle of sin and Confession, and said "God wants to take you beyond that."

Referring to the simple "theology of the Cross," he shared, "Your strength, men, is in your weakness. (Christ) can take your sin and he can redeem it."

Part of the mission of The King's Men is to help men fight pornography, and the ministry has already been part of the closing of 11 businesses that exploit women, such as strip clubs and x-rated video shops, Houck shared.

He invited men to attend upcoming evenings of reflection that are being held around the Diocese, the next one being March 13 in Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, from, 6 to 9 p.m. The evening is a chance for men to come together and encourage each other to keep the faith.

Deacon Burke-Sivers also encouraged the men to stick together, saying "Every man sitting here has got your back. We need to do this together."

"We need to call men to lead their families and make more of an impact on the culture," said Father Jeffrey Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish. "We need to be energized, formed, and sent to spread the message of the Gospel."

After receiving this year's Champion of Faith Award at the conference, Bob Bursley, who has worked in various ministries in the Diocese over the decades, told the men to look at the letters "INRI" on the Cross and consider this translation: "I never regretted it."

During his talk in the afternoon, McKeon shared how it was St. Therese of Lisieux who brought his 2003 Florida Marlins team to victory over the Yankees in the World Series.

McKeon, a native of South Amboy, said after almost 50 years of managing baseball teams, he thought his career was over when the Cincinnati Reds fired him at age 70.

"I needed a miracle. So I asked St. Therese, 'I'd like to have one more chance.'"

Many of the men at the conference also shared how they would like another chance to show their character and live a life of faith in Christ.

"We're all counting on you guys," McKeon told the men. "But it's gonna take some work. There's no shortcut to success."

"It's easy to be quiet (about your faith)," said Bryan Bastano, who traveled to the conference from New York, but is originally a parishioner in St. Anselm, Tinton Falls. "Being a bystander is easy. The need or desire to actually be able to stand up for what you believe in... is really important as a person."

"Being a courageous Catholic means following the Lamb wherever he goes,” said Adriano Pargo, of St. Joseph Parish, Toms River. “If he's going to the Cross, you go to it."  

"Being a courageous Catholic means having the courage to pray, ask people for prayers and give prayers. It sticks in people's heads. It could really change their lives and open their minds. Prayer takes courage. Step out of your comfort zone and you'll be rewarded," stressed Robert Nicosia, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Yardville.

To see a photo gallery on this story, click here.
To read Bishop O'Connell's homily, click here.