Giving one’s life to another in humility and service doesn’t exactly meet modern society’s definition of “manliness.”

But for those who truly consider themselves to be disciples of the Lord, bucking societal trends and radically devoting their lives to God is precisely what it takes to be a “real man.”

Click here for a gallery of photos from this event.

That message was heard loud and clear during the 14th annual Catholic Men for Jesus Christ rally on the campus of Mater Dei Prep, New Monmouth, March 5. From listening to inspiring speakers and personal witness statements to receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attending a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., the day was an opportunity for men to break away from the secular world and share their common faith in Christ.

Featured speaker Father Larry Richards challenged the men in attendance to not subscribe to the “me first” attitude that often permeates society, but instead told them that true happiness comes from making God the focus of their lives. He suggested they follow the “JOY” model – Jesus first, others second and yourself last – as a way to live happy, meaningful lives.

Father Richards, a priest of the Diocese of Erie, Pa., and a nationally-renowned speaker and retreat leader, said that he often asks Catholics if they include prayer in their daily routine. The most common answer he receives is that they “try” to do so, which he said is simply not good enough.

“You don’t try to pray every day. You pray every day,” he said.

Telling the men that they are themselves a tabernacle where Christ dwells, he urged them to build their entire day around God, not just to fit God into their schedule when time allows.

“If you do that, your life will be changed forever,” Father Richards said.

Steve Coffey, a member of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, was among those inspired by the talk Father Richards gave. Coffey said that it is undoubtedly difficult to put God at the center of one’s life but he appreciated hearing the challenging message.

“It was a different, hard-nosed point of view as to what God is looking for,” he said. “You don’t hear that very often.”

Rise Up to the Cross
In his homily at the day’s closing Mass, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the reading from Mark’s Gospel in which Jesus’ authority is questioned by the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem. The bishop asked those in attendance if they truly believe in the authority of Jesus and that he is in fact God, to which they responded with a resounding “yes.”

Bishop O’Connell noted that the theme of this year’s rally, “Rise Up Men of God,” is an invitation from Christ to become more like him. But to where, he asked, is Christ calling them to rise up?

“Rise up to there,” Bishop O’Connell said, holding up a crucifix. “Rise up to the cross so that like Jesus Christ in the Gospel today, you can be confident in your own identity, in who you are. Confident and comfortable in your own skin as a man, as a believer, as a Christian, as a Catholic…

“Rise up oh men of God, to [the cross],” he added, “so that you can say with authority, with St. Paul, with Christ, ‘I am nailed to the cross. The life I live is not my own, it is the life of Christ within me.’”

The inspiring words of the bishop and the day’s other speakers were exactly what first-time attendee George Chemaly was hoping to find from the rally. Chemaly, who brought along his 13-year-old son, said he was looking to learn more about his faith by drawing closer to the light of Christ.

“When you are out in the darkness you can see the light from afar, but I wanted to reach the light,” said Chemaly, a parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Middletown. “So I am trying whatever I can to find the light and to transmit the light to others.

“It was a powerful day,” he added. “Already I have the spirit jumping within me.”

Boys to Men
A new element added to this year’s men’s rally was a special youth track for young men ranging from their early teens to college age.

The session was led by Dan Duddy, football coach in Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River. Using movie clips, inspiring messages and witness statements from other young men, Duddy called participants to “stand up and be a man,” which means living a life for others.

“Manliness is giving, manliness is virtue,” Duddy said. “Boys take, men give. Boys want to be served, men look for service (opportunities). True men are mission based.”

For 19-year-old Eric Elgin, a student in Rider University, Lawrenceville, the opportunity to take a break from college life on a secular campus to openly discuss his faith with other like-minded young men was a refreshing and enriching experience.

“It is just great to hear each other’s stories and be reaffirmed in your faith and really try and grow as a person,” Elgin said. He added that he especially appreciated having a separate section just for younger participants.

“At our age we are going through different things than adults do,” he said. “It is great to have that support and reaffirmation from each other that we’re all going through the same thing and we can overcome it.”