Sacred Heart Men’s Fellowship members break up into groups of three for Scripture study. (L-R) Phil Scozzaro, Jeff Bassett, Tim Perry.

Over 30 men from our parish have taken part in the bi-monthly meetings of the Sacred Heart Men’s Fellowship group (SHMF)

"I enjoy being among a group of men and Fathers who are all striving to live a life committed to Christ," said Tim Perry, a regular participant. "Since we often tend to become more like those people we spend most of our time with, I enjoy the support the group provides me."

It was Perry and fellow parishioner Frank Collins who took it upon themselves to organize this group two years ago. They got the idea from the ten-year-old national Christian men’s movement Promise Seekers, and modeled themselves after the mission statement of the Catholic Men's Fellowship organization of Northeast Ohio.

That mission is, "to be committed to growing closer to Jesus Christ by encouraging all men to study, practice and share the Catholic Faith, to eliminate racial and cultural barriers, to lead families in Holiness, to support the clergy, and to support on another spiritually."

The group meets for one hour following the 8 a.m. Saturday morning Communion service in the Andes Room of the church hall. Meetings are held from September through the end of May, on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.

A typical meeting begins with opening announcments, then opening prayer, followed by the reading of the upcoming Sunday scripture readings, the breaking into groups of three to discuss and personally reflect on the Sunday readings, and then closing with individual prayers of thanksgiving and petition.

"I get much strength and support from the fellowhip that
goes on within the group members," states Phil Scozzaro. "Being among a group of men who strive to live Godly lives helps all of us feel a sense of accountability to one another."

According to participant Jeff Bassett, the group highly promotes the fact that men can come as often as they are able. "We don't want Men to feel like it's just an another obligation or that they cannot come back if they miss one or several meetings," Bassett said. "Men can attend any time they'd like, and we make sure the meeting times are limited to one hour." Some of the group members are planning to attend this year's 'Ohio Catholic Men's Fellowship Conference to be held in Cincinnati in March. For more information about SHMF or to have your name added to their bi-monthly e-mail notification list, call Jeff Bassett at: 335-4334 or send an e-mail to him at: proverb3-5@juno.com.