CMCSMen -
A Blog for Chicago Catholic Men
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Please be advised that during the final/first week of the year (next week), we will not be sending out any emails or blog posts, or video messages, as we will be conducting maintenance on our email list. Thank you in advance for your understanding. |
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Vision:
To Foster Catholic Men's Spirituality in Chicago Southland
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By Frank J Casella, CMCS Co-founder and Execuitve Director |
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Image New Year. New Program. - A narrow path is carved through towering snowbanks in mid-west America, illuminated by bright sunlight. The surrounding area is filled with trees and residential houses, creating a wintry neighborhood scene. Copyright 2011 Frank J Casella. Purchase here or view my popular photos. |
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As we step into 2024 and reflect on the past year, many Catholic men will establish new resolutions or set fresh goals for the year ahead. However, amid these intentions, it's crucial to seek God's guidance. Attempting to navigate our aspirations solely with our own understanding prioritizes self over divine will. Instead, we should aim to deepen our spirituality and strive to become the holy individuals that God calls us to be. This commitment not only enhances our personal faith but also nurtures our families and parishes, transforming them into a more sacred community or holy church. |
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In this new year, men are particularly called to take on a greater role in Christian leadership. Our culture often sidelines men, hindering their ability to stand up for what is essential: the presence of God and the integrity of strong families. A powerful New Year’s resolution for men could be, “This year, I will rise to the challenge and advocate for the well-being of my family and the Church!”
Achieving this resolution will necessitate spiritual fitness and the internal discipline needed to prepare for a unique battle—one against an invisible foe that exploits distractions to divide, confuse, and weaken us. Rekindling the determination to engage in this struggle will be crucial.
I firmly believe that empowering men in their faith is the most pressing responsibility we have to strengthen our families, society, and the Church. |
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I would like to share a few strategies I'm implementing to nurture my own spiritual growth, which you might find inspiring. Additionally, I'll outline some new initiatives that the CMCS Apostolate will be launching for your involvement in this mission. |
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At the forefront of my prayer life are both Bishop Perry's '
Virtues of a Catholic Man' and '
A Man's Prayer.' I invite you to incorporate these into your daily or weekly quiet time with the Lord as well. This practice will help you reflect on your mindset as a Catholic man, addressing any spiritual challenges you may face. |
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For the fourth consecutive year, I find myself actively engaged with the Amen app, utilizing both mobile (Apple or Android) and email platforms. The reason I prefer this app is that, while it’s free (I choose to donate), it offers a daily experience akin to a mini retreat. With a focus on podcasts and reflections, there’s minimal video or text, enabling me to better absorb the reflections, often with my eyes prayerfully closed.
I will also experience the daily Rosary Meditations found at SchoolOfFaith.com - also found on the Amen App - as the meditations 'Beween the Rosary beads' is very enlightening and often things I've not heard before. |
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Please save the date for the Annual Bishop's Men's Forum, taking place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, the weekend following Easter Sunday. This is our main event and the purpose that CMCS was formed. As always, we will provide reminders for you to register once the specifics are finalized. At this time of year, I reflect on how to reduce email frequency while effectively promoting the Forum. Therefore, instead of issuing weekly blog posts, we will shift to sending them out approximately every twelve days. However, the weekly Catholic Man Moment Messages will remain aligned with the Sunday Readings. I trust that this quality-over-quantity strategy will resonate with you and respect your time. |
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Chicago Catholic Man Blog by CMCS - A blog for news and information, and inspiration for Catholic Manhood - news.cmcsmen.net |
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Based on a recent survey, many of you primarily interact with CMCS through this email list, rather than our blog, video channel, or social media. However, we've seen an increase in new subscribers from those other platforms. Therefore, we will focus our engagement efforts mainly on this email list. Still, below you'll find quick links for these platforms to bookmark or visit as needed. I'm excited to adjust our approach into the vision of our Vicar once the new bishops are appointed and integrated into the Vicariates of the archdiocese. Please keep them and their transition in your prayers. |
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I trust this information will provide support and encouragement in your journey of Catholic manhood, helping you to place Christ at the center of your life. On behalf of Bishop-elect Larry Sullivan - Interim Vicar, Founding Bishop Emeritus Joseph Perry, and the CMCS Team ...
We Send You Our Best Wishes For Peace
And Good Health In The New Year! |
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Each year, we connect with thousands of individuals and numerous parishes across Chicagoland through our transformative Catholic manhood program and online resources, often at little to no cost. How do we achieve this? It’s made possible by individuals like you who choose to contribute $10 each month. When enough people participate, remarkable things can happen. |
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The CMCS Mission: Catholic Men Chicago Southland (CMCS) is engaged in fostering holy and courageous men and proclaiming the importance of husbands and fathers to children and the family. CMCS is a Catholic Apostolate of Bishop-elect Lawrence Sullivan, and founded in 2004 by Most Reverend Joseph N. Perry, Deacon John Rangel, and Mr. Frank J Casella.
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Catholic Men Chicago Southland
Aplostolate of Bishop-elect Lawrence J Sullivan
Founded in 2004 by Bishop Emeritus Joseph N Perry
Executive Director, Frank J Casella
Phone calls by appointment via email.
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Thank you for taking the time to read the CMCS Blog and Updates. If you enjoyed the content, consider sharing this email with a friend. Your support in spreading the word means a lot to us, and we believe your friend will be grateful for it as well |
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Catholic Men Chicago Southland | 3525 South Lake Park Avenue | Chicago, IL. 60653 |
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