May 1997
Index
- History of SacraMentors by Fr. Bob Camuso
- In it Together, by Lory Misel
- Community Meetings, By Carl Jones
- Tacoma graduates first class
- Trainers/Facilitators Needed, By Carl Jones
[Web Editors note: that all references to MOTUR (Men of the Upper Room) have been changed to reflect the SacraMentors name]
History of SacraMentors
by Fr. Bob Camuso
The idea for SacraMentors came in 1993, while I was at my first assignment as a priest at Holy Family Parish in Kirkland. I asked the pastor what programs he thought I might work on at the parish and he suggested I create something on the subject of male spirituality to get more men involved in adult formation and education. There was some concern about getting more men involved because most of the programs offered at the parish were attended primarily by women. Since male spirituality was an area I was already interested in, I agreed and began a series of six evening gatherings for men.
I announced in the parish bulletin that I was looking for twelve men to participate. Eighteen men showed up and we began our first evening. The series was well received and I was amazed at the hunger in men for this kind of program. I was also astonished at how the men opened their hearts to one another during the evenings that followed.
When I was asked by the Bishop to be the parochial vicar at St. Andrew’s Parish in Sumner, I accepted. Once again, I asked the pastor what I might do that would be of service to the community. He heard about the series I did and asked me to do it for the men of St. Andrew’s. While I was preparing to launch another SacraMentor series, a mutual friend introduced me to Lory Misel. Lory was providing group therapy in Enumclaw, a town not far from Sumner. I didn’t know any therapists in the area and wanted to know of his services for the possibility of recommending parishioners for counseling. After a second meeting with Lory I told him about the series I was planning and he offered to help present the series, at no charge! Since we had not worked together before I was a little hesitant, but I had heard many good things about Lory from other friends who went to him for counseling and I was impressed by my own brief experience of him.
And so we offered a new series of six sessions which, as I recall, turned out to be about eight sessions. Once again, I was amazed at how the men were so open to the process and material that was offered. It felt good that I wasn’t presenting the series by myself. Lory is not only a great presenter but a wise person who has taught me much in short time we have known one another.
From the Sumner series, Lory and I learned we could not do this alone. So we asked Carl Jones to join us as facilitator/administrator. Carl continues to be invaluable in helping us promote this program.
The next series was offered at St. Anne Parish in Seattle after I was assigned here as Pastor in July of 1996. This time we reduced the number of sessions from six to four. We had about forty men attend the first session and there are now two groups of men that continue to meet regularly.
The fourth offering of SacraMentors has just taken place at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Tacoma. At our first meeting we had fifty men.
Lory and I have a dream that Men of the Upper Room will develop in other parishes in our diocese and even spread to parishes beyond. I believe that will happen as Lory and I begin to step back and allow you, our brothers of the Upper Room who are called by God to do so, to present this program to other men. I invite you to pray about being part of our team.
SacraMentors is something our Church has needed for a long time. The success we have in bringing this to other men will depend on your support and involvement. I ask you to ask God about your active involvement in the future of Men of the Upper Room. If we are to have our history told again, there won’t be much to report without your contribution.
In It Together
by Lory Misel (May 1997)
We read in the scriptures that our body is a "Temple". (I might say that the older I get, the more I consider my body as becoming an old army tent). What is a "temple"? It is a structure that protects the holy alter. If the body is a temple, where is this holy alter? Our mind is the holy alter. Not our brain but mind. It is the place where God resides and is welcome.
Most of us do not realize our mind is where our Father is joined with us because we have filled our mind with false idols and valueless thoughts. We think our Father is not with us because we are worshipping our idols and valueless thoughts instead. A "holy mind" is not a mind who walks around all day thinking holy thoughts. A "holy mind" is a mind who is willing to let go of thoughts. In other words, a mind who is willing to release or have the Holy Spirit cleanse or purify it of its idols and valueless thoughts.
Dear brothers, this is not as difficult as we make it. If we look at our favorite false idol thoughts and consider the possibility they may not be true or have special power, we have made the first step in inviting the Holy Spirit to enter and help us heal our mind (purify the alter).
The world’s favorite "false idol thought" is a little three letter word: GET. Think about this word. How much our day is spent "getting"? We get up, get dressed, get breakfast, get to work, get the job done, get lunch, get back to work, get as many RAPS (Recognition, approval, praise and status) as possible, get paid, get home, get supper, get the news on TV, be shown by commercials how much more stuff we need to get, get to bed and get to sleep. We teach our children: Get those grades, get home, get your homework done, get your chores done, get home by 10:00 and get to bed. We are so busy and preoccupied getting, we have no time to join our Father where He resides.
Our Lord taught, "It is more blessed to give than receive". We have made a false idol out of this and converted His wisdom into, "Getting is how I bless myself. Who needs God?"
The SacraMentors program is not about having to change anything in your life. It is about joining with your brothers of the Church and Christ to assist you in changing your mind and heart that you might meet and know God and yourself.
Think about this. Instead of having a "getting" directed day, how about having a "giving or blessing" directed day. Awaken and give a few appreciative thoughts to our Lord for the day and His loving presence. Give your kindness and appreciation to those you live with before you leave the house. Give thanks for your breakfast, your car and music on the radio as you drive to work. Give your recognition and appreciation to those you work with. When you go to lunch, look for a small, inexpensive gift to give someone at your office or someone at home. Look at the contacts at work as opportunities our Lord has arranged for you to bless (give). Give your love and appreciation to your family when you arrive home. Give your gratitude to God before you sleep.
See what you experience by this little change of mind.
"I cannot change the world but I can change my mind. When I change my mind, I change the world." Lory Misel, MSW
Community Meetings
By Carl Jones (May 1997)
A new component called the Community Gathering is being added to the SacraMentors program. It is a two-hour evening session that will be held every six weeks for all men who have participated in the SacraMentors series.
The Community Gathering has been added to enhance your personal growth and to enhance your SacraMentors group’s role in your parish community. Some basic elements of the Gathering will be:
An opportunity to meet and talk with SacraMentors brothers from other parish communities. This will help all communities learn what is working in other communities and what obstacles to growth some SacraMentors groups might be facing.
A forum where you will receive new information to enrich your individual and group spiritual life.
A time to receive information on the growth of the SacraMentors movement and how you might participate in this growth.
All SacraMentors graduates are invited to attend these ongoing sessions. The schedule and locations for each Community Gathering session is outlined in the Calendar of Upcoming Events.
Tacoma Graduates First Class
The first SacraMentors class ever conducted in Tacoma recently graduated men from several parishes in the Pierce and SE King county areas.
The series was conducted at St. Charles Borromeo Parish Center and many of the men in attendance were from St. Charles Borromeo, however there were men from , St. Patrick, St. Francis Cabrini and St. Rita of Tacoma. Also, several men from Holy Family in South Hill and Sacred Heart in Enumclaw attended.
Over forty men completed the series and many are now participating ing the weekly SacraMentors sessions at their home parishes.
(note: The webmaster has edited out the names of men to prevent this list from being used for comercial purposes on the internet)
What did the men rate as the single most important element of the series?
The one rated very high on everyone’s list was the ability, honor, and responsibility to Bless those they come in contact with each day. All of the men using this concept are finding it to be a powerful Blessing for themselves as well as for the individuals they are blessing.
If you have not yet been able to attend a weekly meeting at your parish look below for time, date and locations of each parish meeting.
Trainers/Facilitators Needed
By Carl Jones (May 1997)
Are you a teacher,trainer or facilitator? Have you thought about the joy of sharing your talents? Maybe these new roles are for you. As we develop the SacraMentors program we will need three teacher/trainer/facilitators for each series.
The first is that of the facilitator. This person is responsible for the logistical and support function of the series will fulfill the function Carl Jones has been filling which includes; arranging for the facility, set up and clean up, introduction of the trainers, refreshment breaks, materials management, coordination of Saturday Sanctum volunteers and dinner, assist with logistics of Saturday Sanctum Mass and SacraMentors ceremony.
The second area of responsibility is that of the trainer. The series is team taught therefore, two trainers are needed for each series. The trainers will fulfill the function that Fr. Bob Camuso and Lory Misel have been fulfilling as teachers. Lesson plans have been developed for each session and specific training will be given to each person that volunteers to insure the essential elements of the presentations are included in each talk while enough flexibility is given to allow for the style of individual presenter to show through.
If you are interested or just have questions contact Carl Jones to find out more. His e-mail address is carljones@sacramentors.org
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