The diocesan Adult Faith Formation Office wants to introduce to Hawaii “That Man is You!,” a Catholic, parish-based, 26-week interactive renewal program for laymen that introduces them to the knowledge and wisdom of the Catholic faith and a deeper understanding of the sacrament of marriage.
Helping spread the word is Fishers of Men Hawaii, a local Catholic men’s group.
Fishers of Men leaders will explain the program at a breakfast 7-10 a.m., Aug. 3, at the Kamiano Center, just makai of the cathedral on the Fort Street Mall.
According to TMIY recommendations, six to 10 men are needed to start up a parish program.
The program is divided into fall and spring semesters, each 13 weeks long. Participants meet for one hour and 45 minutes each week, either in the morning or in the evening.
A typical meeting starts with a meal (breakfast or dinner), followed by a religious music video, a welcome by a master of ceremonies, a prayer and DVD presentation, small group discussions and dismissal.
Bear Woznick, one of the founders of Fishers of Men, said That Man is You! is “one of those waves” created in this “season of new evangelization and in this Year of Faith.”
“It is designed to draw men into deeper understanding and conversion in their faith and in so doing create servant-leaders within their families, churches and community,” he said.
“It is not a fraternal, social or service-oriented group,” he said, though many participants get more involved in “such groups as the Knights of Columbus and lay ministry.”
Woznick, an author, radio host and world champion tandem surfer, said that all discussion is confidential. “The Vegas rule is in play. What is said there, stays there,” he said. “There is no political discussion. Men experience a great depth of communication and conversion.”
TMIY was founded in 2004 in Houston by a group of men who based it on men’s leadership programs from other Christian denominations and corporate America.
According to Kristina DeNeve, director of the Adult Faith Formation Office, TMIY is offered in hundreds of parishes in more than 105 U.S. dioceses.
The That Man is You! website claims that 5-15 percent of the men registered in a parish with TMIY participate in the program.
“Fishers of Men Hawaii works directly with TMIY to help launch parish programs,” said Woznick. “This program takes just a few men in the parish to step up and contact us. We will work with you. We are here to serve you.”
“The start up cost to the parish is minimal and the program is paid for by the men,” he said.
According to DeNeve, the recommended start for the fall semester is the week of Sept. 1 or Sept. 8. The recommended start date for spring is the week of Jan. 6 or Jan. 13.
The cathedral parish will be starting its first That Man is You! session in the fall. Woznick said he “hopes to start one soon at Holy Trinity” Parish.
For more information, contact Bear Woznick at Bear@FishersofMENCatholic.com or Ron Gochenouer at Ron@FishersofMENCatholic.com.
To find out more about That Man is You!, go to www.paradisusdei.org/tmiy.
