MEN FOR CHRIST

Comes To

Franciscan University
In 1989, the Sword of the Spirit (SOS) Covenant Community in Steubenville OH was working hard to influence the spirituality of young Catholic men and

women on the campus of Franciscan University. The Christian Formation Program taught on campus came nearly word for word from the Initiations and Underway teachings of the local Covenant Community.1 Households were supervised by SOS Covenant Community members. Dean Keith Fournier and Fr Michael Scanlan (President of Fus) were SOS Coordinators working at Franciscan University.2 Enter Fr David Tickerhoof TOR3 also a top Coordinator in the SOS Covenant Community- and his attempts to bring MEN FOR CHRIST to Franciscan University. In the following documents, Fr Tickerhoof describes MEN FOR CHRIST as part of a Missionary Body in Akron OH. In actuality, this Missionary Body was part of a larger group called the Bread of Life Covenant Community, also a member of the Sword of the Spirit umbrella of covenant Communities. This particular covenant community had been told to reform by their Bishop (Gilbert Sheldon) in 19854 and refused. Instead, they abandoned their official Catholic relationship with the local Diocese and opted for membership in the Sword of the Spirit. Fr Tickerhoof doesnt explain this to the Office of Student Life some four years later as he tries to bring Men For Christ onto the campus of Franciscan University. Later in 1991 the local Bishop Albert Ottenweller would investigate the Sword of the Spirit in the Diocese of Steubenville and insist that the all Catholic Covenant Community there end their affiliation with the non-denominational SOS. In his comments at the conclusion of his Pastoral Visitation to the Servants of Christ the King (once a Branch of the Sword of the Spirit) Bishop Ottenweller would say, There needs to be therefore a program of reeducation of the members to return them to a sense of Church that is important for those who call themselves Catholic.5 John Flaherty October 8, 2012 Grand Island, NE
1 2

http://www.scribd.com/doc/109101709 http://www.scribd.com/doc/103839744 3 http://www.scribd.com/doc/19591839/Sword-of-the-Spirit-Coordinators-Scanlan-Kneier-Fournier-TickerhoofSengenberger 4 http://www.scribd.com/doc/56952574 5 http://www.scribd.com/doc/19099693

ACTIVITIES:

WHERE:

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DORM MEN FOR CHR 1ST

WHEN:
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LEADERSHIP:

Canoe

Trip

Fr. David Tickerhoof (Vision & Direction) Tim O'Connor (Household Leader) IF INTERESTED IN SUMMER HOUSEHOLD, MEN SHOULD INFORM FR. DAVID OR TIM NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25.

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JVHO lVE ARE:

A/en For Christ is an erangelistic association for single men who chose to be men of God and God's men for today. We challengemen - to lire uves of holiness and prayer, and through their witness lead others to know and love Christ.

Spiritual/Pastoral Themes Generally you will need to be available for dinner,-evenings, and weekends for household commitments and activities.

- SPIRITUAL

IDEAL OF MEN FOR CHRIST

- MANLY SPIRITUALITY - BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIPS

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- SERVANTS WHO ARE DISCIPLES - SEXUALITY/RELATIONSHIPS - VOCATIONAL CLARITY OF JESUS

WHAT rVEARE ABOUJ,'

lVe are about teaching and essisting men 'to grow in manly strength and character. Also, we give single men the opportunity to experience brotherly relationships for personal growth and support. We encourage men to embrace their identity as Catholic Christians by participation in the worship life of the Church and serving others. We call men to: know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, receive the -, gifts and empowerment from the Holy Spirit, and finally, accept a challenge to be solid men in living a single life - ultimately to be clear on their vocational call.
I

COST Board: Full-time .Part-time IFull-time :Full-time ,Part-time Food: Campus Employee Campus Employee job off campus student student -

LIVING THE SINGLE LIFE/PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE OR CELIBATE LIFE - LIVES OF SAINTS - FORMATIONAL CHANGE - LITURGIES PRINCIPLES/CHARACTER

$0.00 $20.0( $25.01 $25.0( $25.0(

$25.00/week Total

Board + Food

We encourage all to find employment either on or off campus.

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MEMO

TO: FROM: RE: DATE:

Men for Christ Leaders, Student Fr. David Tickerhoof Information on Men for Christ April 10, 1990

Life Personnel

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The Coo rd i nators of Servants of chr ist the Ki ng Chr istia n Communi ty have recognized that much more needed to be done to strengthen and encourage a higher ideal of holiness among single men in our midst. They requested that I do some investigation about the possibilities and then prepare to lead a summer household for single men in 1989. I approached some of the leaders of Servants of the Cross, a missionary company comprising families and single brothers and sisters in Akron, Ohio. They offered to send some of the Disciples of Jesus Crucified, the Servants of the Cross Brotherhood, to Steubenville to help me with a summer household for single men. We worked as a team and served as the core staff for the twenty or so men we had in the household. We used the whole household to study and prepare to launch a.new evangelistic association for single men called. Men for Chris~. The ideals and way of life of Men for Christ is centered on forming and training single men who are Catholic in radical discipleship to serve Jesus Christ whole heartedly and to serve the mission of the Church sacrificially and generously. When the household concluded at the end of July, we continued plans to set up and establish the first and model chapter of Men for Chr ist at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. It has been less than a year since we began and already we can see the kind of growth that illustrates that the Lord Himself really wants to see this movement develop. Myself and Tim O'Connor, the head of the brotherhood of the Disciples of Jesus Crucified lead Men for Christ. We are joined by 14 other men, most of whom were in the summer household last year. We meet together as a group once a month, the first Saturday of the month, after 6:30 a.m. liturgy, from 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. We consecrated Men for Christ to Mary, our Mother, on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption. We call this the Heart of Christ meeting. WeBre convinced that Mary has placed her mantle of mercy over this work, and is leading us more and more into the Heart of Jesus. Every man at the Heart of Christ meeting has some specific responsibility as a leader in Men for Christ. The following Christ: are some of the things we are currently doing in Men for

1. Th~J2alleg ..... Chpsen. and Fit;..bf_Y.-l nine week course that presents the is a ideals of Men for Christ in the context of developing manly character and spirituality as well as brotherly relationships. Toward the end of this course, the men are given the opportuni ty to be prayed with for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit if they have not experienced that to this point. Because we desire them to freely make their commitments, we give them an opportunity to make a new decision to continue on in the course after every three teachings.

2. 1..LQJJ2ha._[pen~2Lon:Wh'2n individuals have completed the above mentioned course, and have decided to continue on in Men for Christ, we introduce Lhe me n to the next phase of discipleship training. The goals of this p roorarn is to further prepare the men to live the ideals and commitments of- Men for Christ by training them in brotherly relationship of a committed nature. We teach them the purpose of being in d men's group that primarily. exist to call one another on to holiness and growth in Christian Discipleship and to learn how to give support to one another in accomplishing these goals and serving the mission of the Church.

3. The Heart of Christ: This meeting henors both the persons and roles of Jesus and Mary. It presupposes or encourages consecration to 'bo t.h . We believe the grace for this work flows through their Hearts. The meeting begins with a generous time of worship. Then we seek the Lord and His word for encouragement, guidance, and direction. We then have a donut breakfast during which we have a time for fellowship, and begin discussing the growth and development of Men for Christ. Tim and I bring to the brothers specific concerns:and make decisions with them about the growth and responsibilities of the movement. Each brother will share about his area of responsibility. We use this time to keep the vision clear as it develops and moves Men for Christ forward according to the Lord's guidance. When men are ready to take on significant commitment and leadership, we invite them to attend this monthly meeting. We are working on a special teaching and training program for these leaders. 4. The Miqi9~~~~~: The mission year is a special discipleship training program for single men who al-e leaders in Men for Christ. It is particularly designed to give detai led char acter formation to c Lar ify ones vocational call, and train men in the Ideal and overall leadership in the Association of Men for Christ. They received frequent personal pastoral care and belong to a specially designed formation men's group. They are expected to refrain from dating during this period of discipleship training.
5. The Adorers are those men in Men for Chr ist who' are responsible for Eucharistic Adoration. They plan the Holy Hours and schedule special times of Eucharistic Adoration and night vigils. We are preparing a series on reparation and atonement for the men called to this ministry. 6. The following are some events and activities we sponsor for the purpose of attracting men to Men for Christ, and assisting those in the Association to grow stronger: a. Special Courses: - "The Called, Chosen, and Faithful" "Iron Sharpens Iron" Sponsor Speakers b. - (three this semester): 1. Talk on Prison Fellowship 2. Tom White - Imprisonment in Cuba 3. Fr. Michael - Discipleship for men in the 90's c. Holy Hours d. Vigils e. Retreats f. Assist in supporting the development of the University's households g. Sport activities

7.

f_I.,!..t..l:lT~_P19_ n~.:

a.

b. c. d. e.

f. g. h.

i.

A summer household this eumrne r (199C) to t I" a i n men into the Idea 1 of Men for Christ, and to further develop the leadership training of the staff. The development of the second level of Men for Christ that consists in leaders in the movement. To conti nue to develop the mo.-ge1 of Men for Chr ist at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. To continue to develop the ministry of the Adorers. One of the commitments of Men for Christ is to relate to a person who is suffering once a week.' Therefore, one of our primary objectives for the coming year will be to develop our mercy works program, especially our Prison Fellowship Outreach. We are training two brothers from Honduras to take the Association of Men for Christ back to Honduras (San Pedro Sula). To send some of the leaders in Men for Chr ist to wor k with the Servants of the Cross in Zukapa, Honduras for special missionary training during spring break, summer. and Christmas vacation. We are preparing to develop a chapter of Men for Christ at Wheeling Jesuit. One of the men in Heart of Christ is the Director of the Student Center and Residential Li fe. We are goi ng to do a presentation this spring and then a special retreat in the fall. We are preparing to approach Fr. Lou Gaetano who is the Head Pastor at Catholic Central High School to work with to begin younger Men for chr ist. Several of the men in Heart of Chr Ls t bel ieve they are called to work with high school students. is a list of financial resources.

Attached

I'

Resource

Assessments

for Men for Christ

I.

Immediate Needs:
1-

(spring/summer

1990) $3,000.00 1,000.00 500.00 $4,500.00

2. 3.

Part-time Administrator For Men for Christ (20 hrs/wk) Summer Training Household Suppo~t Fund Operational Expenses Total need this semester are supported

- Two key 1eaders do ing Men for Chr ist work .salaries they receive for other services.

by

the

- Those in summer training pay their own expenses. $1,000 cover staff expenses who serve in the summer household. II. Resources
1-

is to help

Needed

for July

1990/July 1991 $8,000.00 10,000.00 500.00 500.00 200.00 200.00 $19,400.00

2. 3.

4.
5.

6.

Administrative Services Prison Fellowship and Mercy Work Coordinator (married/2 children - 1/2 salary; the University' will pay the other half) Second Level Leadership Training Honduras: Missionary Training (1/2 expenses) Wheeling Jesuit and CCHS programs Brochures Total

Note:

The vast majority who serve in Men For Christ are volunteers and members will tithe once they make a commitment.