(319) TWO OF OUR DIOCESAN PRIESTS, FR. BRADLEY GREER AND FR. TIM SHANNON TO SHARE THEIR AMAZING PERSONAL CONVERSION STORIES FOR OUR OWN CONVESION AT MEN’S DAY OF RENEWAL

AMDG 

The Diocese of Steubenville continues its annual Lenten Men's Day of Renewal on Saturday, March 7 at St. Stephen’s Church, 1036 Belford St. in Caldwell off Exit 25 on I-77, a half hour north of Marietta and a half hour south of I-70.  This Conference will be the fifteenth Men’s Day since 2010.  Doors open for Registration and coffee at 7:30 am.  The main program will begin with a welcome and Holy Hour with Rosary at 8 am, continuing until 3 pm.  

The theme of the Conference is “Personal Conversion” which is ongoing for every one of us.   The patron of the Conference is St. Joseph, a model of virtue and a true man of God, whose intercession we count upon for its success.

To complement the Holy Hour, the Penance Service, and Mass, there will be two main speakers, namely Fr. Bradley Greer and Fr. Tim Shannon.  Both speakers will share their amazing personal conversion stories and how we can apply their experience to our own journey of ongoing personal conversion.  This will help us to be more effective in the renewal of our parishes and the strengthening of our families.

                                               Very Reverend Bradley W. Greer

The experience that Fr. Greer will share is truly amazing.  As a non-practicing Protestant, he discovered the Catholic Faith through “an experience of the Eucharist and also a feeling of being drawn to the Blessed Mother”.  That led him to read and learn about the Church, convincing him in the truth of its teachings and to become a Catholic.  He was not baptized until he entered the Church.  That conversion led to the priesthood and a graduate degree in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America.  

Today Fr. Greer is the Chancelor of the Diocese of Steubenvlle and Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Lohse.  He is also a judge on the Appellate Tribunal.  In addition, he has done considerable parish work and has served as Chaplain of St. John Central High School and member of the Diocesan Finance Council among other duties.  Fr. Greer will show in his talk that the Eucharist and Mary are the essential elements of evangelization.  Mary, the Mother of the Church, is the greatest evangelizer of all time.

                                      Fr. Tim Shannon

The second speaker is Fr. Tim Shannon who discovered the Faith and his vocation in a much deeper way through the Eucharist and the Charismatic Renewal.  His conversion is inspired by the Eucharist as a means of “personal conversion to a deeper appreciation of one’s relationship with the Lord through the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit.”

    After graduating from St. John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale, Ohio (now part of Catholic Familyland) and Franciscan University, Fr. Shannon was ordained in 1975, recently celebrating 50 years as a priest.  He has extensive experience as a parish priest, particularly as pastor of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Henry parishes.  He also served as Chaplain at Catholic Central High School and taught religious education. 

    At the diocesan level after receiving an MA in Religious Education from Boston College (1984), he served as Director of the Office of Religious Education, Director of Evangelization & RCIA, and Director of Vocations for several years.  He has been part of our Steering Committee for the Annual Diocesan Men’s Day of Renewal since its initiation in 2010.  Fr. Shannon is a great story teller and enjoyable to hear. 

Both speakers will help you to deepen your Faith and love of the Eucharist.  Both will make the Faith come alive for you and thus your family as we all resolve to do our part in renewing our parishes.   

The men are encouraged to bring their sons and friends (18 and under free of charge).  A lunch will be provided.  Although the men may register at the door, preferable for planning purposes is to register by mail with Brett Martz; 75 Stewart St.; Athens, OH 45701 at bmartz21@gmail.com.  Fill out the Registration Form in the brochure in your parish and send a $25 check (payable to the Diocese of Steubenville) to the address indicated.  More information may be obtained from the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Brett Martz at Phone: 330-354-8028, or <bmartz21@gmail.com>. For greater convenience, the men may also register on-line at https://athenscatholic.org/steubenville-mens-day with an additional $3.00 surcharge. 

    Since St. Stephen’s Church in Caldwell is near the approximate center of our far-flung diocese, the Steering Committee is hopeful that the men of Steubenville in the north and the men of Ironton and Chesapeake in the south will be able to participate.   This mini pilgrimage is a Lenten sacrifice of early rising and a long trip with great fellowship in a van or bus as the men pray together, discuss the talks and other events of the Conference, and deepen friendships.

 Parish representatives are urgently needed to mobilize the men in their churches; they can inform Brett Martz of their availability.  Ads in the program and donations to underwrite the Conference and keep the registration at a low price are greatly appreciated and may be sent to Brett Martz at the address above.  Keep posted on resources to promote the Men’s Conference and articles on men’s spirituality at http://diosteubmen.blogspot.com.

Equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit and His gifts, the men will be more effective as fathers as well as leaders in the parish, the community, and on the job.  God fearing men and leaders can be pivotal in changing the culture, putting Christ into the marketplace (job), renewing the parish, and building the domestic church at home.