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In The Media

On this page are two articles published by the Archdiocese of Seattle's weekly newspaper: The Catholic Northwest Progress as well as a link to Conversations with Father Bob radio show aired on May 15, 2004 where Fr. Bob interviews Jeff Smith, executive director of SacraMentors.

The Catholic Northwest Progress Article on May 20, 1999

The Catholic Northwest Progress Article on April 29, 2004

Conversations with Father Bob Radio Show - Aired May 15, 2004 with Jeff Smith, ED of SacraMentors

This Article Appeared in the Catholic Northwest Progress on April 29th, 2004

SacraMentors brings new spiritual insight to men in Seattle archdiocese

By John Wolcott

MARYSVILLE — Dave Walker’s quiet, sincere presentation at the end of Mass a few weeks ago at St. Mary’s parish in Marysville touched some hearts as well as ears.

It wasn’t an impassioned, practiced plea of an orator but rather a sensitive speaking from the heart of a devoted Catholic who has found great comfort and spiritual insight in a growing program in Western Washington called SacraMentors.

Twelve men with a wide span of ages showed up at the first SacraMentors meeting the next week at St. Mary’s, curious to learn what the program had to offer that was different. One big difference is that originally it was designed as a spiritual support group for Catholic men — although the group now has a program for women, too, by popular demand.

“When Father Bob Camuso founded SacraMentors at Holy Family parish in Kirkland nearly 10 years ago, it was because there were no spiritual programs for men,” said Jeff Smith of St. Michael’s church in Olympia, the group’s executive director. “Our mission is to create small faith communities in parishes where men will support and sustain each other on a spiritual journey.”

All baptized Catholics are “called to be blessed and to bless,” to be spiritual followers of Christ, Smith said, yet it can be especially challenging for men to accept and practice that spiritual calling.

“It’s easy for men to believe their occupation defines who they really are, or that they are defined by their roles as parents or husbands. Often, they accept the world’s definitions of who they are or should be, setting their goals in terms of wealth, power and consumption of goods,” Smith said.

The program recognizes that, unlike many women, it’s not natural for most men to talk about the spiritual side of their lives when they gather with other males. Instead, they end up talking about their jobs, sports, families, hobbies and life goals that are usually reflected in familiar, worldly values.

“I believe the reason the SacraMentors program is influencing changes for the better in men’s — and now women’s — lives is that the Holy Spirit is actually leading the program,” said Father Camuso, now pastor of St. Anne Parish on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. “This program is only a way to learn how to allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify and heal us so we can offer graces and blessings in people’s lives.”

SacraMentors is a lay movement, he said, adding that he now works primarily as a spiritual advisor for the program. Its success keeps him involved. When he started the program, the first group of men met for eight weeks. “Afterward, because they felt they got so much out of it, they didn’t want to stop meeting with each other,” Father Camuso said.

Presently, nearly 1,000 men in the Seattle archdiocese have completed the three Sunday three-hour meetings and the all-day Saturday session. Most of them have continued on in their own parish group for “apostles” gatherings. There are 46 groups established in 25 parishes from Vancouver to Bellingham, Smith said, with more forming as word spreads about the success of SacraMentors.

In the group’s five year plan is a vision of spreading the program throughout the Seattle archdiocese and even to other dioceses in the country. Already, program leaders are working to see how they might fulfill a request from the diocese of Albuqueque, New Mexico, to implement the program there.

Most of the Western Washington groups are concentrated in the Tacoma and Olympia areas, where for years it has spread slowly by word-of-mouth promotion. Now, its supporters are on the move, backed by SacraMentors’ own Web site, www.sacramentors.org; a five-minute video; brochures; a quarterly newsletter and outreach teams.

It was at a parishioner’s request that Dave Walker and a training team from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Mill Creek introduced the program in March at St. Mary’s in Marysville.

With Walker were Dave Duclos and Scott Occhiuto, along with Bruce Jaeger from St. John parish in Kirkland.

“The SacraMentors program reminds men that there is more to life than money, power and praise,” said Occhiuto. “I joined because I wanted to know more about what it means to be spiritual. It’s really changed my life.”

Job roles aren’t even discussed by members, so that men share with each other at a common level as “children of God” who are meant to be spiritual people who help bring God’s blessings to the world.

Developing the spiritual side of manhood enables the Holy Spirit to bless and change the world through SacraMentors, who develop a stronger faith and make positive improvements in their own lives, too. Men learn how to bless others in the world — including their spouses, children and friends — through prayers, actions and mind changes that lead to heart changes.

“The SacraMentors program is a way to get some of the faith stuff you have in your head down to your heart so Christ can speak to you there,” said Father Camuso. “That distance of 12 inches between the two can a longer journey than Marco Polo’s (exploration adventures). This program is designed to make that journey easier.”

For more information about SacraMentors, visit its Web site at www.sacramentors.org or contact Jeff Smith at 360-754-7693.

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