THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

February 12, 2006

The Good News

...An Open Letter to MEN

Dear brothers in Christ:

By means of this, my regular article in our Archdiocesan newspaper, I am extending a very special and sincere invitation to you. Young men, old men, and all men of this Archdiocese, I invite you to the 10th Annual Men’s Conference. This very important, interesting and inspirational event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 25th at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.

The registration at McGuinness begins at 8 a.m. and the Conference ends with the celebration of the Vigil Mass at 4:30. I plan to be there all day and I invite you to join me. Come, and together with me, let us walk in “The Father’s Footsteps.”

As Catholic men, young and old, everyone of us has been given a great treasure. Our membership in the Church affords us the opportunity to discover the beauty of God’s plan for each of us. The Church also gives us the direction to follow in order to grow, to mature and to attain peace, fulfillment and joy. We are called to be men of God!

During the past 10 years I have observed thousands of men, young and old, participating in these annual conferences. Many of these men shared with me their overwhelming gratitude for these conferences. Young men told me how their participation helped them to discern the path to follow. Older men reported how their participation helped them better fulfill their role as husbands and fathers. Some spoke of the conversion they experienced and still others were grateful for the support, encouragement and guidance they received. All of them spoke approvingly about the spiritual benefits they obtained by participating in these conferences.

Men, if you really believe, as the Church so clearly teaches, that God is good and gracious and that He loves us totally and completely, this Conference is for you! This conference can help you open yourself more and more to the saving presence of God.

Even if you feel overwhelmed or despondent or confused; if you are angry or feel that God has abandoned you, this Conference is for you, too. It can assist you in separating fact from fiction. It can help you find meaning in an otherwise confusing situation.

Young men or old men, stalwart or fearful all of us have sinned at one time or another. Jesus came to forgive our sins. He offers us reconciliation and peace. Some of us have repented of our sins and rejoice in God’s merciful love. Some of us still harbor those sins and feel trapped. The reality is that all of us need the Lord and His mercy and His love. The Men’s Conference can help us as we hear the true life stories of other men of faith. This conference can help as it directs us to the Sacraments of Recon-         ciliation and Eucharist. At the conference we will have the opportunity to pray together with men of varying backgrounds, ages and outlooks. Through this conference we can all be transformed and become Catholic Men of integrity, of vision, of hope and of a joyful, vibrant faith.

I not only recommend this conference for you, but I urge you, I challenge you, I invite you. In inviting his brother Saint Peter to meet Jesus, the Apostle, Saint Andrew said: “Come and see”. To you therefore, men of this Archdiocese, my brothers in Christ, I say: Come and see; come and hear; come and pray and let us rejoice abundantly because the Lord is truly with us!