Men gathered to build community, share faith
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Kilby|Correspondent
Over the past several years, the rallies of Catholic Men for Jesus Christ have grown in popularity. And with the first Catholic Men’s Morning in St. Rose Parish, Belmar Oct. 12, Jim Manhardt, the founder of CMFJC, took that momentum and packed it into a men’s faith gathering on a smaller scale.
Manhardt started CMFJC rallies in Palm Springs, Fla. about 17 years ago, and then brought the men’s movement to New Jersey. The rallies now take place in the Diocese of Trenton every February, but this Catholic Men’s Morning event was the first men’s gathering of its kind in a small parish setting.
The keynote speaker of the first event, Allen Hunt, is also doing his part in sharing his monumental conversion story as he is joining his musician George Lower in a 20-city national tour.
Hunt holds a doctorate degree in ancient Christian origins from Yale University, and is the host of the Allen Hunt Show, a nationally syndicated radio show. Before becoming Catholic, Hunt was a United Methodist pastor in a mega church in Georgia. Back then, becoming Catholic was hardly even on his mind.
Now being Catholic is what gives him a strong sense of identity, and the main message of his first talk was about reminding fellow Catholics who they truly are.
He told each of the 100 men in St. Rose Church to turn to the person next to them and ask: “Who are we,” and then respond “I’m not sure.”
“One out of 10 American adults are ex-Catholics, meaning they actually said ‘I’m an ex-Catholic,’” he told the men, adding that equates to about 20 million people in America.
Hunt shared the story of the house that his friend Sean grew up in. Sean’s father built the house himself, and as a child, Sean remembered his dad telling him ‘This house will take care of you.’
At the time he didn’t know what that meant, but after his father died Sean found coffee cans hidden in the walls and ceilings of the house containing a total of $5,000.
Hunt then compared the hidden money in that house to the hidden treasures of the Church.
“These treasures, guys, are only available in the Catholic Church,” he said, adding that even though his family has been United Methodists for generations, once he discovered the treasures he had no choice but to convert.
He said the Church feeds more hungry people, houses more people, clothes more people, and educates more kids than any other group on the planet.
“These are the obvious treasures, but I’m not talking about these treasures,” he said, adding that “someone does need to tell that story” because the media tends to have a “shrill, anti-Catholic” mentality that spreads misinformation about the Church.
He told of how, as a Methodist minister, a priest-friend invited him to a convent of cloistered nuns.
“They had this radiance and holiness about them,” he shared. “As a Methodist minister I talked about and read about holiness, but (with those nuns) I was standing in the presence of holiness. As a Protestant I didn’t know how to respond to that.”
In that experience, he said, “God planted a seed of faith in my soul that over 15 years he watered and gave sunshine.”
Hunt said 40 to 60 percent of the people in the average mega church are ex-Catholics because of “spiritual amnesia ... They’ve forgotten who they are.”
He told a handful of stories about his 15-year journey into Catholicism, but he said the truth that led him home the most was the reality of the Eucharist.
Hunt said with Protestant churches, Sunday services are a hit or miss, but with the Catholic Church, “I knew what I was going to get. The music and homily may or may not have been good, but it didn’t matter,” because the Eucharist was always there.
He then asked the men again “Who are we?” and told them to respond “We are the people of the Eucharist.”
After the first talk, some men prayed the Rosary in the church while others lined up for Confession.
Hunt’s late morning talk was on a call to holiness and discipleship. He told the story of Gideon and Emilia Earhardt to demonstrate the power of faith and perseverance.
After the talks, Manhardt said Hunt challenges men to get in the ballgame.
“We need to stand up and be counted,” he said. “Who are we? We are Catholic men who love the Eucharist.”
Manhardt announced the next Catholic Men for Jesus Rally will be in St. Mary Parish, New Monmouth Feb. 22.
After the talks, the men celebrated Mass with Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor, then gathered for a pizza lunch in the parish hall and shared their impression of the first Catholic Men’s Morning.
“I draw my strength and hope from my faith,” said Larry Larson of St. Justin Parish, Toms River. “I’m always looking to enhance it through fellowship and a like-minded community.”
Rick Leach of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said Hunt’s testimony helps solidify the value of the Eucharist, “especially hearing it from someone who came from outside the religion, to hear his story.”
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By David Kilby|Correspondent
Over the past several years, the rallies of Catholic Men for Jesus Christ have grown in popularity. And with the first Catholic Men’s Morning in St. Rose Parish, Belmar Oct. 12, Jim Manhardt, the founder of CMFJC, took that momentum and packed it into a men’s faith gathering on a smaller scale.
Manhardt started CMFJC rallies in Palm Springs, Fla. about 17 years ago, and then brought the men’s movement to New Jersey. The rallies now take place in the Diocese of Trenton every February, but this Catholic Men’s Morning event was the first men’s gathering of its kind in a small parish setting.
The keynote speaker of the first event, Allen Hunt, is also doing his part in sharing his monumental conversion story as he is joining his musician George Lower in a 20-city national tour.
Hunt holds a doctorate degree in ancient Christian origins from Yale University, and is the host of the Allen Hunt Show, a nationally syndicated radio show. Before becoming Catholic, Hunt was a United Methodist pastor in a mega church in Georgia. Back then, becoming Catholic was hardly even on his mind.
Now being Catholic is what gives him a strong sense of identity, and the main message of his first talk was about reminding fellow Catholics who they truly are.
He told each of the 100 men in St. Rose Church to turn to the person next to them and ask: “Who are we,” and then respond “I’m not sure.”
“One out of 10 American adults are ex-Catholics, meaning they actually said ‘I’m an ex-Catholic,’” he told the men, adding that equates to about 20 million people in America.
Hunt shared the story of the house that his friend Sean grew up in. Sean’s father built the house himself, and as a child, Sean remembered his dad telling him ‘This house will take care of you.’
At the time he didn’t know what that meant, but after his father died Sean found coffee cans hidden in the walls and ceilings of the house containing a total of $5,000.
Hunt then compared the hidden money in that house to the hidden treasures of the Church.
“These treasures, guys, are only available in the Catholic Church,” he said, adding that even though his family has been United Methodists for generations, once he discovered the treasures he had no choice but to convert.
He said the Church feeds more hungry people, houses more people, clothes more people, and educates more kids than any other group on the planet.
“These are the obvious treasures, but I’m not talking about these treasures,” he said, adding that “someone does need to tell that story” because the media tends to have a “shrill, anti-Catholic” mentality that spreads misinformation about the Church.
He told of how, as a Methodist minister, a priest-friend invited him to a convent of cloistered nuns.
“They had this radiance and holiness about them,” he shared. “As a Methodist minister I talked about and read about holiness, but (with those nuns) I was standing in the presence of holiness. As a Protestant I didn’t know how to respond to that.”
In that experience, he said, “God planted a seed of faith in my soul that over 15 years he watered and gave sunshine.”
Hunt said 40 to 60 percent of the people in the average mega church are ex-Catholics because of “spiritual amnesia ... They’ve forgotten who they are.”
He told a handful of stories about his 15-year journey into Catholicism, but he said the truth that led him home the most was the reality of the Eucharist.
Hunt said with Protestant churches, Sunday services are a hit or miss, but with the Catholic Church, “I knew what I was going to get. The music and homily may or may not have been good, but it didn’t matter,” because the Eucharist was always there.
He then asked the men again “Who are we?” and told them to respond “We are the people of the Eucharist.”
After the first talk, some men prayed the Rosary in the church while others lined up for Confession.
Hunt’s late morning talk was on a call to holiness and discipleship. He told the story of Gideon and Emilia Earhardt to demonstrate the power of faith and perseverance.
After the talks, Manhardt said Hunt challenges men to get in the ballgame.
“We need to stand up and be counted,” he said. “Who are we? We are Catholic men who love the Eucharist.”
Manhardt announced the next Catholic Men for Jesus Rally will be in St. Mary Parish, New Monmouth Feb. 22.
After the talks, the men celebrated Mass with Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor, then gathered for a pizza lunch in the parish hall and shared their impression of the first Catholic Men’s Morning.
“I draw my strength and hope from my faith,” said Larry Larson of St. Justin Parish, Toms River. “I’m always looking to enhance it through fellowship and a like-minded community.”
Rick Leach of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said Hunt’s testimony helps solidify the value of the Eucharist, “especially hearing it from someone who came from outside the religion, to hear his story.”
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