The Church has “a Catholic man crisis,” said Deacon Gordon Bird, citing, for example, that only 51% of Catholic men agree that the sacraments are essential to their relationship with God. And, he said, a majority of Catholic men are not certain if it is possible to have a personal relationship with God.
“And if half the men feel that way, and maybe more than that, … what is that going to do to their families?” asked Deacon Bird, who ministers at All Saints in Lakeville and St. Joseph in Rosemount. He also assists with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Catholic Watchmen movement.
Deacon Gordon Bird
Deacon Bird recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to talk about the value of the Catholic Watchmen and how men in the archdiocese can get involved.
Recalling how Bishop Andrew Cozzens was instrumental in starting Catholic Watchmen in the archdiocese in 2016, Deacon Bird said the organization’s main purpose is to get men together and keep each other accountable as spiritual leaders “so we can have stronger families that lead to stronger parishes, communities and a better world.”
What gives the Watchmen life is prayer, he said. “And what keeps it going are men gathering in prayer regularly.”
Deacon Bird recalled statistics “from the start of the movement” that showed having fathers as spiritual leaders to their children is vital, even if the mothers are, as well, because adding the fathers’ influence had shown the percent of children keeping their faith increased to about 80 to 90% — “if the father steps in and is a spiritual father to them, showing them that he appreciates the sacraments, gets them to Mass regularly, takes confession, says prayers with them and shares the Scripture, and others things that make him a solid Catholic man to their kids. It’s so important in that the family being the vital cell of society.”
A man is a leader at home, a spiritual leader at home, not just a material leader, he said.
With the Watchmen parish-based, Deacon Byrd said interested men should first check whether their parish offers a group. For more information, visit archspm.org and search for “Catholic Watchmen” or visit its The Catholic Watchman Facebook page. Deacon Bird can be reached at [email protected].
To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. Dec. 3, 1 p.m. Dec. 4 and 2 p.m. Dec. 5 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Nancy Bandzuch from Catholic Spouts, who provides tips for parents on how to help their children grow in faith this holiday season, and Hayley Mueller, who discusses Catholic Charities’ “warming house” Dec. 10 and 11 at Mall of America.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at
Recent Comments