ALTON — Nearly 250 men woke up early Feb. 20 to take part in a Catholic Men's Prayer Breakfast here. This year's annual event was billed as "Fathers in a New Era."
The workshop began with morning Mass celebrated by Father John Paul Klein, OMV, in the historic St. Mary Catholic Church. After Mass the men adjourned to the cafeteria where master of ceremonies Zip Rzeppa recalled some of the lows and the highs of his colorful life and career. Rzeppa is well remembered by many metro-east viewers from his former stints as a popular St. Louis sports broadcaster.
Rzeppa then turned the session over to guest speaker Father Mark Schulte, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pittsfield. Father Schulte reminded the men that they are part of a covenant given by God and emphasized they are the gifts of God and that they belong to him.
He told the men that they should put God first in their lives.
He said that each day their response should be to reflect on their present and to ask God to help them to renew their relationship with God.
The men should ask God to "help me … to begin again." Father Schulte asked them to practice this everyday.
"We can live more fully," said Father Schulte. "Trust him more and worry less," he encouraged the men.
He said that fatherhood is in a deep crisis and that fatherhood is central to biblical doctrine.
"The signs tell us we are in for tough times ahead," Father Schulte continued. "Our country, the church and the world are in for tough times and the church is in an unsettled state."
Father Schulte said that before Christ returns, the church must be persecuted and that there will be a rejection of the faithful.
"The church must pass through a great trial," he said.
The Bible is filled with wisdom and signs and God's people can read the signs. Father Schulte recalled the biblical account of Noah and the Ark and how people laughed and made fun of Noah.
"Some (people) are acting like that today," said Father Schulte.
He encouraged the men to repent, to go to confession and to be good fathers.
He said people should open their eyes, their ears, their hearts and to consider the four last things — death, judgement, heaven and hell.
Father Schulte concluded the prayer workshop by saying that one day the men would stand before God as fathers and their place in the family.
Napper is a member of St. Paul Parish in Highland and editor/owner of The Pioneer newspaper.