Kim Metcalfe and 12 other men spent the weekend of 10-11 September discerning what it meant to be a son of the Father and how to be good, godly men in the world.
The Church needs men and men need the Church, according to local MenALIVE coordinator Kim Metcalfe.
Mr Metcalfe and 12 other men spent the weekend of 10-11 September at a MenALIVE retreat at St Joseph’s, Queens Park, discerning what it meant to be a son of the Father and how to be good, godly men in the world.
The men heard talks and testimonies and participated in group discussions and prayer, culminating in Sunday mass celebrated by parish priest Fr Peter Stiglich OPraem.
“It’s about giving men time and space to reflect on their relationship with God,” Mr Metcalfe said.
“It’s not a new club you join, it’s about encouragement,” he said of his organisation.
Men often have a very skewed picture of God, he said, based on their own relationships with their fathers. “They can often see God as up there and perfect. MenALIVE is about reconnecting with the true, loving God.”
“And if you can reach the man then you can reach the marriage, the Church and the world.”
With the Sacrament of Reconciliation offered at their retreats, the sight of men going to Confession for the first time in five, ten or 15 years was “very powerful”, Mr Metcalfe said.
Participant Andrea Zappacosta said the retreat was “a breath of fresh air” in his “busy, fulfilling and, at times, challenging life”. It was his first time at a MenALIVE event, following a friend’s invitation.
Mr Zappacosta and his fellow participants have formed a monthly Scripture journalling group on the back of the retreat.
Mr Metcalfe said planning for next year’s events is well under way with retreat weekends scheduled for All Saints, Greenwood, and St Denis’, Joondanna.
According to MenALIVE, the movement began in Brisbane in 2003 “to bring men together, renew their faith in God and encourage them to become an active force for renewal in the Church”.
MenALIVE has run more than 100 events in the past eight years in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Metcalfe said he was open to other parishes booking MenALIVE weekends and could be contacted on 0414 537 023, with more information available at the group’s website, menalive.org.au.