Participants in the 2022 Men’s Conference posed for a group shot with special speaker Jessie Romero at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe. (Courtesy photo)
By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Men who want to grow in their faith, and who desire to answer the call of the Holy Spirit to become the men they were created to be, now have the support of a new ministry in the Diocese of Honolulu.
Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Hawaii (CMFH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that emerged as a response to the need for a place where men can come together in faith, camaraderie and support.
“We inspire, equip and empower ministry to men with regular parish meetings, yearly conferences, quarterly breakfasts, retreats and other activities focused on prayer, discussion and reflection,” said Ron Gochenouer, chairman of CMFH.
The group has been around for several years and recently won the approval of Bishop Larry Silva after a process of submitting to the diocese a proposal outlining its purpose, objectives and structure.
As of Dec. 26, 2023, the feast of St. Stephen, deacon and martyr, it was officially sanctioned as an association of the faithful in the Diocese of Honolulu.
It was a goal that was a long time coming.
“One of our goals is to have a ministry to men group in every parish in the diocese. As iron sharpens iron, good men sharpen good men,” said Gochenouer.
Father Arrion Rosales-Llantos, parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea, sees the need for such an organization.
“While there are many groups that have provided community and spiritual support to women in parishes and across the diocese, I had yet to encounter any ministry dedicated to building brotherhood, fraternity and genuine, authentic masculinity until I encountered Catholic Men’s Fellowship,” he said.
Father Rosales-Llantos also serves as the chaplain of CMFH, providing spiritual guidance, support, the sacraments and prayer.
CMFH currently is active in eight parishes: St. John Vianney in Kailua, St. Anthony in Kailua, St. George in Waimanalo, St. Ann in Kaneohe, St. Elizabeth in Aiea, Resurrection of the Lord in Waipio, Our Lady of Sorrows in Wahiawa, and St. Michael in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Other parishes across the islands are expressing interest as well.
Member Michael Wong said that before joining the ministry he had a strong desire for fellowship.
“Many Catholic men have a hard time connecting the Mass to having a real relationship with Jesus. Jesus invites all of us to ‘Come follow me,’ and for some reason I think women respond to that invitation much easier than men do,” said Wong.
He would host small groups of men in his home for dinner and fellowship until he met Gochenouer in 2022 and learned about CMFH.
Special guest presenter Father Larry Richards spoke at the 2023 Men’s Conference at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe. (Courtesy photo)
From there he wanted to support the organization, helping with events as best as he could until he eventually became its co-chairman.
“Ron and I are helping men to answer that call from Jesus. I have already seen in it in so many of my brothers who are now actively seeking Jesus and walking with him,” Wong said.
“We need to call men off the sidelines and help them discover and respond to God’s call to discipleship and evangelization,” Gochenouer said.
CMFH is part of a bigger ministry called the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance, a national ministry for men that provides coaching, resources and national events about spiritual battles.
Gochenouer said he cannot emphasize enough the importance of men having fellowship.
“There was indeed a need in the diocese for a men’s group like this,” he said, “as it provides an opportunity for men to come together in a supportive and encouraging environment to grow in their relationship with God and with each other. It is important to have this group as it helps to strengthen the faith of men and build a sense of community and brotherhood.”
Wong said this ministry has changed him in ways he could not have imagined and hopes others will experience it the way he has.
“I know that the Father has called me to be a leader in this ministry,” said Wong. “Because of my involvement with men’s ministry my prayer life has increased, and I am lifted with God’s word when I study Scripture. I am also learning a lot more about my Catholic faith.”
Father Rosales-Llantos agreed that men could use the support.
“With so much in popular culture and the media depicting poor examples of fathers and a growing hostility to men and masculinity, Catholic men need to be reassured that to be a man, to be a father, is part of God’s call to holiness in their lives and ministry to men will help make that happen,” the priest said.
Some of the events the group has hosted included presenters like Catholic international speaker Jesse Romero, who addresses spiritual warfare, and Father Larry Richards, the founder and president of The Reason for Our Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to “spreading the Good News” by educating others about Jesus Christ.
CMFH has also hosted local speakers like its own chaplain, Father Rosales-Llantos.
“I was privileged and blessed to be able to speak about my vocation story with the Catholic Men’s Fellowship a few months ago,” he said.
The ministry meets monthly on both the Windward and Leeward sides of Oahu. For participants who want a more intimate setting, small group meetings are also held in members’ homes.
“A holy hour to pray before the Blessed Sacrament at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea is a new monthly initiative we have started to help men grow in faith through Eucharistic Adoration,” said Father Rosales-Llantos. CMFH also holds quarterly breakfasts with Mass.
“We encourage all parishes to have a ministry to men group, as it’s in the smaller groups where men get together and help each other navigate the world where there is confusion on what a man’s role is and how we should act,” said Gochenouer. “It’s a place where men can be vulnerable and pray together and not be judged.”
Men can attend CMFH events or learn more about Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Hawaii by contacting Gochenouer at 808-206-4420 or gochron@gmail.com.
CMFH is currently in the process of creating a website and domain. Interested men will be put on an email distribution list that informs them of upcoming events.
