Men Matter

"MAN DOES NOT TRULY FIND HIMSELF UNTIL HE MAKES A SINCERE GIFT OF HIMSELF"
Saint John Paul II

With men, boys learn to be protectors. Without men, boys learn to become predators.

Our Church is in Decline
The Center for Applied Research on the Apostolate at Georgetown (CARA) reports that since 2000, 15 million Catholics have left the faith, Religious Ed participation has dropped 25%, Catholic School attendance down 20%, infant Baptisms down 30% and Sacramental marriages down 40%. 
Another study by CARA of 18-25 year-olds revealed that the average age someone reported as when they decided to leave the faith was 13 years old! The main reason they gave: the incompatibility of faith and science, as learned in schools. 
 The Augustine Institute found that of the 1,000,000 Catholics baptized around the year 2000, only 500,000 received Confirmation. 

ROLE OF MEN

“It is the religious practice of the father of the family that, above all, determines the future attendance at or absence from church of the children.”

The study reports:

1. If both father and mother attend regularly, 33 percent of their children will end up as regular churchgoers, and 41 percent will end up attending irregularly. Only a quarter of their children will end up not practicing at all.

2. If the father is irregular and mother regular, only 3 percent of the children will subsequently become regulars themselves, while a further 59 percent will become irregulars. Thirty-eight percent will be lost.

3. If the father is non-practicing and mother regular, only 2 percent of children will become regular worshippers, and 37 percent will attend irregularly. Over 60 percent of their children will be lost completely to the church!

https://www.romancatholicman.com/dad-takes-faith-god-seriously-will-children/

WHY PRACTICING FAITH MATTERS

Practicing religion has been linked to LOWER rates of depression, suicide, lonleiness, poverty, incarceration, substance abuse, out of wedlock births, and divorce. It has also been linked to higher levels of "Happiness," stronger marriages, more education, and many other benefits. 

Getting your kids to practice the faith is linked to much better outccomes than tutors, trainers or coaches. And the biggest influence is what dad does.

A 2016 study published in the American Medical Association JAMA Psychiatry journal found that Americans who attended a religious service at least once a week were five times less likely to commit suicide. Men are much more likely to not attend Mass, and men are the great majority of suicides.

MEN MATTER

Sadly, according to Pew Research, men make up 57% of the “nones”(the religiously unaffiliated) but only 45% of the Catholics...we must do better!

Since 1960, the percent of children raised in fatherless homes has gone from less than 5% to about 40%. Children from fatherless homes make up 63% of youth suicides, 90% of runaways, 71% of HS dropouts, 70% of pregnant teens, 80% of rapists with anger problems, 75% of adolescents in chemical abuse centers, and 85% of all youths in prison. Fatherless kids are at double the risk of being victims of child abuse and 92% more likely to get divorced. 82% of mass shooters come from what is called “male dysfunctional” homes.

ALARMING STATS LINK

 Bishop Chaput Exp[lains that Men Matter

Losing the Good Portion ends with a series of “lessons which can be drawn from [its] survey of male alienation from the church,"

(1) “Men value their independence and resent clerical domination.”

(2) “The movements that reach men are mostly lay-led and lay governed.”

(3) “The clergy should treat men and women as responsible adults.”

(4) Everyday church life is too feminized and drives men away.

(5) “Avoidance of erotic hymns and concentration on masculine concerns in preaching (work, sexuality, family) would help.”

(6) “The hardest group to reach is completely unchurched young men,” as this group is dominated by “the energy that fuels anger, passion, and the desire for masculine honor. How to tap this energy for Christianity…is the key to reaching young men.”

(7) “Movements that have reached men have focused upon the person of Jesus Christ, not as bridegroom, but leader and friend.”

(8) Though existential loneliness is the human lot, men suffer from it particularly because of their drive to independence. “Men seek to overcome this loneliness in the comradeship of fraternal movements, of fascism, of communism, of terrorist groups, of gangs, of war. Such ways are deceiving and destructive. Men will not accept Christianity because it is socially useful, although in general Christians make good law-abiding, family-centered citizens.”

(9) “Men accept Christianity because it resonates with their deepest longings, both their desire to be truly masculine…and their longing for communion, not to be alone in an empty universe but to have a companion and friend in the adventure of life and in the adventure that begins after this life.”

This is a very good article: No Church for Young Men
"The father is the “mediator”—the “priest”—of the family, the domestic church. Therefore it makes sense, both sociologically and theologically, to focus on fathers in order to save the children."

"Loneliness and isolation are debilitating problems.  First, men are isolated from one another, losing the spiritual and moral strength to encourage and strengthen one another in virtue as only brotherhood can.  As Scripture says, iron sharpens iron, and so must one man sharpen another (Prov. 27:17).  The Apostle John even said that loving the brotherhood of the Church is how we know we have moved from death to life (1 John 3:14).  But this is not just a problem for men, but the generations themselves are divided – sons are simply not being taught by their fathers how to be men of God.  Men are abandoning Christ in massive numbers, perhaps only outnumbered by how many boys are poised to leave the Church."
(From Fraternus)

Catholics Come Home
12 Steps to Becoming a Better Catholic

Learn more about why the faith is vital for your children, and begin to learn more about our Church here.

What can we do? Here is an excellent article: Family is Where Church Begins

Here are common Catholic Prayers
Prayer is vital! Try the Hallow App

Best Bibles for Catholics: Great Adventure Bible, Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition. 
If you like more traditional language:  Douay-Rheims

The Comprehensive Catholic Multimedia Source: EWTN

Good Reads- Early Stage of Journey
The Beginning Guide to Roman Catholic Faith
Catholics Come Home- Making the Journey Back
Rediscover Jesus- Encounter the Lord

Good Reads- Next Stages of Journey
My Catholic Life- RCIA at Home!
Catholic Parents- Resources on the Issues
Meaning of Catholic- Deeper Dive

Good Reads- Living Your Faith
Plan of Life- Father Roger Landry
Rescued- Father John Riccardo
What if God Wrote Your To Do List?- Jay Payleitner


Video Resources for answering your questions, and your children's:
Catechism: Real and True
Faith and Science: Science Uprising
Faith and Culture Issues: What Would You Say?
Faith, Culture and History Issues: Prager University
Faith and Society: Edify

For video-based explorations of your faith, try these great resources:
Formed.org 
Free: To register: “Sign up as Parishioner," enter your info, and choose St. Catharine or St. Denis (or your parish)

Just Starting Out or Getting Back? Formed.org has something for you!

1. Best Place to Start: The Search
2. More on the Holy Spirit: The Wild Goose
3. More on Jesus: Into His Likeness
4. Knowing Jesus Personally: The Chosen
5. Engaging the Battle: Into the Breach

From there, your options for going deeper are endless. The Sacraments, Bible Studies, Content for Kids, For Men, and so much more.
Sign up for the daily reflections!

OTHER OPTIONS:
Dynamic Catholic: A great entry point for returning to the faith. Also, sign up for the
daily reflections!
Ascension Presents has a lot of content including homilies and topic-specific short videos.
Metanoia: The sequel to The Wild Goose, focusing on our relationship with Jesus (It’s Free)
Word on Fire: Bishop Barron’s library of Content. St. Catharine has free access to full library.

YOUTUBE CHANNELS 
Channels with a lot to explore:
Dynamic Catholic- Not deep, but very engaging and encouraging. Good place to start
Ascension Presents- All things Catholic! Homilies, Topic-specific, Bible in a Year etc.
Word on Fire- Bishop Barron’s library of homilies and content.

Evangelization and Encouragement
Real Life Catholic- Chris Stefanick is a dynamo!
Father Michael Sliney- Short and to the point.

Apologetics: Knowing and Defending the Faith
Pints with Aquinas
Counsel of Trent

Well-Done Niche Channels
Christopher West (Theology of the Body)
Renewal Ministries (Charismatic)
Capturing Christianity

PODCASTS (FOR ALL)
The Bible in a Year- Father Mike Schmitz is great! An absolute bucket list item.
Catechism in a Year- Father Mike again takes us on a sublime journey in faith. 
You Were Born for This- Father John Riccardo calls us to mission!
They That Hope- Father Dave Pivonka and Deacon Bob Rice. Faith and fun together.
Blood Sweat and Joy- Chris Stefanick exhorts and encourages as only he can.
Christ is the Answer- Father John Riccardo reveals Christ to us all.
A Reason for Hope- From Array of Hope. Interviews with inspirational Catholics.
Ask Father Josh- Father Josh answers your Catholic questions.

GEARED TO WOMEN
Abiding Together- Sister Miriam and friends take you through a joyful faith journey
Girlfriends-Danielle Bean and the folks at Ascension speak to and for women.

GEARED TO MEN
Anchored in Hope- Father Larry Richards calls us to raise our games.
Catholic Men- Literature for the Catholic Gentleman
The Catholic Gentleman- No holds barred, topic driven.
Just a Guy in the Pew- A regular Catholic guy talking about everyday Catholic things.

For a great series on the Life of Christ and His Gospel, try, The Chosen

Core Websites for Men:

Engaging the Battle: Into the Breach

Heroic Men Videos- The Netflix for Catholic Men
Fathers of St Joseph- Youtube channel with great inspirational and instructive videos
RISE- Chris Stefanick challenges all men as only he can (explore the Real Life Catholic website)
The King's Men- Mark Houck builds authentic Catholic men
Catholics Come Home- Returning to the Faith
Fraternus- Building Catholic youth and men via outdoor exploration and skills
Dads- Becoming a Godly father
Catholic Dads- Forming men in their faith


Niche Websites for Men:
Catholic Gentleman- Old fashioned manly virtues with Bishop Sheen in the mix.
Wild at Heart- Masculine faith! Love God and Live Free!
2232Men- Men and prayer
Roman Catholic Men- Preparing Men to Battle Evil
Men of Iron- Building men of iron!
Hard as Nails- Men as mentors
Strong Catholic Dads- The title says it all
Meaning of Catholic- The reality of what we are up against

Contact us for more information and resources or to just talk!!