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About five years ago the Office of Adult and Family Ministry established a wonderful partnership with a core group of men who had formed Southeastern Wisconsin Catholic Men’s Ministry (SWCMM). SWCMM and the adult and family ministry office provide the following services to parishes:
- Delivery of a parish starter kit to any parish where a men’s ministry is being considered;
- On site assistance in meeting with parish leadership and interested men in a parish to get a men’s group started or help to revitalize or sustain an existing group;
- Assembly and distribution of men’s ministry resource materials;
- Coordination of periodic spiritual events, seminars, and leadership trainings and conferences for men.
Parishes who have wanted to begin men’s ministry, as well as those looking to enrich what they presently offer for men, have responded very well to the programs, resources and services being provided by this collaborative effort. Currently there are 20 to 25 parish-based mens groups throughout the archdiocese.
One of the biggest successes in this ministry has been the men’s breakfasts with Bishop Sklba. These gathering have been offered twice a year for the past three years. The morning sessions provide a time for praying and talking with other men, as well as an opportunity to hear an inspiring reflection from Bishop Sklba.
SWCMM and the Office of Adult and Family Ministry can provide an abundance of resources for thoseinterested in men’s ministry. A website, www.swcmm.org
, provides a listing of books, videos, cassette tapes and other materials for men’s study groups or personal reflection. The National Resource Center for Catholic Men (NRCCM) also has a website that can be very beneficial to Catholic men and anyone interested in men’s ministry. The website is accessible at www.catholicmensresources.org.
The SWCMM Group Starter Kit is an effective tool for parishes that are considering starting men’s groups. This free folder contains the key elements needed to start a men’s group, advice for parish leadership and a list of resources for new groups to use. Most of the materials in the starter kit can also be found on the SWCMM website.
A newsletter is published twice a year by the adult and family ministry office and SWCMM. This newsletter provides information on upcoming programs, a listing of men’s groups, and articles on issues related to men’s ministry.
The vision of this ministry is that Catholic men, through their example and leadership, dedicate themselves and guide others toward building God’s kingdom in their family, parish, work and the larger community.
Contact Randy Nohl at nohlr@archmil.org, 414-769-3770 or 800-769-9373, x440 (within the archdiocese) to find out more about men’s ministry.
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