West Wyalong men inspired

THIRTY men participated in a menALIVE weekend on March 12-13 in West Wyalong.

The weekend involved talks, small group and reflection activities, and three hours of confessions – a highlight of the two days.

The weekend was the result of many months of preparation, led largely by West Wyalong parish priest Fr Emil Milat and the Canberra-based menALIVE team.

Fr Emil, who covers three parishes and several other churches in the far west of the Archdiocese, said it was a successful weekend.

Men from around the Archdiocese and beyond took part in a menALIVE weekend on March 12-13 in West Wyalong. The Catholic men’s ministry was founded in 2003 and has hosted almost 350 weekend events since then. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

“It was a delight to see men come together from several Mass centres with support from their city counterparts, particularly because in rural areas rates of depression, suicide and other men’s health issues are the highest in the nation,” he said.

One participant travelled from the South Coast for the weekend, while two men journeyed from Melbourne.

The occasion was also the first time the Canberra menALIVE team has held a weekend without supervision from the movement’s home base in Brisbane.

MenALIVE was founded in 2003 by Robert Falzon, Peter Shakhovskoy and a small group of lay men in Brisbane.

Since then, almost 350 weekends, with more than 18,000 participants, have been held across Australia.

The goal of menALIVE is to bring men together, to renew their faith in God and to encourage them to become an active force of renewal in the Church.

The next menALIVE weekend will be held in Queanbeyan on May 21-22. Visit www.menalive.org.au for more information.