PEORIA – Possibly as many as 1,000 Catholic men will make a stand for their faith by walking and then kneeling on May 1.
Responding to a sermon by Bishop Daniel Jenky in August 2003 at an Erin Feis Mass that urged Catholics to defend their faith against cultural attacks, members of a men’s group that regularly meets at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Peoria have organized the “Call to Catholic Men of Faith” event.
“What got me most was the bishop said, ‘What is it going to take to get you to stand up for what you believe?’ ” in the face of jokes and disparaging comments about the Catholic faith, said Tim Drew, one of the organizers.
“It was a real call; it was a real challenge to the faithful to no longer just sit back and sheepishly take assaults,” he said.
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Bishop Jenky was the auxillary bishop for the ‘South Bend end’ of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese before he went to Peoria to become bishop.
I live in South Bend, and had the opportunity to meet Bishop Jenky a couple of times (the Cathedral where he stayed and celebrated mass is the next closest parish to my home parish, they are big rivals of my sons’ sports teams). Bishop Jenky is a much more charismatic bishop, and his call to action doesn’t surprise me one bit, he is that type of person.
Bishop Jenky is a holy, humble leader who has energized the diocese with many fresh, innovative ideas. We love him here in Peoria and pray that he will remain here for a very long time.
Men from varied organizations including the Knights of Columbus, the Oblates and the Brothers of St. John, Cursillo, and parish members throughout the diocese are expected to participate. We pray for great weather on this Feast of St. Joseph and a blessed day for these men of God!