The Diocese of Honolulu and the Hawaii Catholic Men’s Conference are sponsoring two free virtual “Lawai‘a Kanaka — Fishers of Men” mini-conferences this summer exploring manhood and fatherhood.
The sessions will explore what it means to be a Christian man, father, brother and husband through the example of St. Joseph.
Session 1: “Meet Your Spiritual Father,” June 15, 7-8:30 p.m. is about the profound holiness of St. Joseph, his virtue, his faithfulness and his important role as an intercessor.
Session 2: “The Shadow of the Father,” July 15, 7-8:30 p.m. will show how Scripture, the Magisterium, mystical tradition, the popes and saints all point toward St. Joseph as a spiritual father.
These mini-conferences, open to men 18 and older, are a prelude and invitation to the upcoming 2021 Hawaii Catholic Men’s Conference, “Lord Prepare my Hands for Battle,” featuring Catholic author and evangelist Jesse Romero.
Each session will feature a video talk by doctor and permanent deacon Mark Miravalle of the Diocese of Steubenville, a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, specializing in Mariology.
The talks, produced by Paradisus Dei, the makers of the That Man Is You (TMIY) Catholic men’s program, are part of a series on St. Joseph and fatherhood.
Each session will include an opening and closing blessing, and an introduction and concluding remarks by Gary Okino of St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea, and Dewey Arakawa of Resurrection of the Lord Parish in Waipio, and time for discussion.
The 2021 Hawaii Catholic Men’s Conference and mini-conferences are the results of a collaboration with the diocesan Office of Faith Formation and Religious Education and the diocesan Respect Life Office, which had been looking for help in planning diocesan events that benefitted family stability and encouraged men to fulfill their central role in safeguarding the dignity of life. The Year of Saint Joseph, designated by Pope Francis, provided an opportunity to assist men in this regard, particularly those who are married.
The purpose of the conferences is to help men gain a deeper understanding of the dignity of their manhood as revealed by God through Scripture and Sacred Tradition, while promoting their role as servant leaders in their families and communities.
Before the pandemic, the Hawaii Catholic Men’s Conference had hosted in-person Fishers of Men Breakfasts featuring guest speakers.
The video conferences plan to use the GoToMeeting app. To attend, register at www.catholichawaii.org/fishersofmen2021
