Recent research shows that many Catholic men feel disconnected from their parishes. A Pew Research study completed last year found that only 20% of Catholic men participate in parish activities outside of Mass, and the percentage is not much higher even among men who attend Mass weekly. Another study by the New Evangelization Data Project found that 55% of Catholic men know fewer than ten other men in their parish on a first-name basis, while 31% report having no close relationships with other men in their parish.
 
One reason may be that joining an established parish group can be difficult when you do not already know anyone. Many groups naturally include people who have known each other for years, and new members often join because they already know someone in the group. This can make it harder for a man who wants to become more involved specifically because he does not yet know many people in the parish.
 
CTDS’s Knights of Columbus is starting a new group through the CORE program to address this problem. The goal is to help men who feel disconnected become more involved in the parish. The group is specifically designed to be comfortable for men who may not know anyone else when they first attend. The only goals are to grow in your faith and become more connected with others in the parish.
 
My name is Daniel Marston, and I will be the main contact for the program. We will meet Monday, October 12, at St. Bernadette’s. We will pray the Rosary at 6:15 p.m. and then discuss the program, including what we would like to get from it.
 
If this sounds interesting to you, please attend. If you have questions, feel free to call me at 724-433-5467 or email me at [email protected].