Catholic men’s groups in Trinidad and Tobago must make male spirituality “real” to attract others, especially young males.

“You have to step out from the safety of the sanctuary and into the heart of the world. Take spirituality and make it real,” said Fr Jason Gordon on day two of the 5th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference, organised by the Association of Catholic Men’s Groups (ACMG). Theme of the conference, held once again at the School of Continuing Studies, St Augustine, was “Living the Vision”.

In a humorous but direct interactive session last Sunday morning, Fr Gordon repeated that Sunday’s Gospel reading about the Prodigal Son and asked the 100-plus men present with which son they identified more. He remarked that those involved in Catholic men’s ministry might feel like the older son.

Noting the concerns raised in the preceding open session about poor turnout and the challenge of getting men involved in Church activities, he acknowledged that members of the men’s ministry might begin to feel frustrated, powerless, humiliated and cynical.

Fr Gordon, the Vicar for Administration, said men in the Church and outside the Church had a problem with their spirituality.

He explained that male spirituality seemed to be a dressed up version of piety because of historical and other reasons, and was divorced from true religion and the moral issues of today.

He said the Church and the wider society needed men with inner authority. He differentiated between power and authority following a comment from the audience: “It’s not about the office the man holds, but who you have become.”

Group discussion

Fr Gordon said only when men became real authority figures again would there be change in society, and young males would no longer view some of their elders as hypocrites. This transformation might take one or two generations to achieve, he added.

He explained that, in general, the role of the laity was to transform the world. “That is your role by right of your baptism,” Fr Gordon said, adding that Jesus lived life to the full and spent his time in the world trying to transform it. “Jesus would be out on the block, liming with fellas who not coming to church,” he remarked.

He added: “Piety has a role and its place, but real religion for men is about transforming the world and going into places you don’t want to go - places where you are challenged, uncomfortable and feel powerless.”

The former parish priest of the Rosary/Gonzales parish cluster spoke of his experiences in trying to reduce gang violence in the Upper and Lower Gonzales communities.

He said that community has since been transformed through the Pride in Gonzales project, which had its genesis on Easter Monday four years ago. He noted that this was an example of what the laity was called to do.

“Religion for men requires testicular fortitude; it requires belly,” Fr Gordon said with a laugh. Drawing laughter whenever he slipped during his presentation and addressed the gathering as “brothers and sisters”, he added: “If you’re talking about religion for men, you’re not talking only about prayer meetings. That is the foundation – that is not the house.”

The conference began the day before with praise and worship. Speakers on the opening day were current Rosary/Gonzales parish priest Fr Clyde Harvey and former calypsonian-turned-gospel artiste Christopher “Tambu” Herbert. Workshop sessions followed each talk and a healing service closed the first day.

Time was allotted after lunch on Sunday for an update on the ACMG. This was followed by the closing Mass, with Archbishop Edward Gilbert as chief celebrant.