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While praying for the Holy Spirit to inspire me with a topic for this month’s Evangelist column, a recurring theme regarding the critical importance of relationships enveloped me. Our world functions around relationships on every level from one-time interactions with strangers, to regular interactions with acquaintances, friends and colleagues, and the most intimate relationships with our loved ones and family.

As we know, the most important relationship of them all is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There are many ways to nurture our loving relationship with our Lord and Savior including the sacraments, prayer, reading the Bible, and time in adoration, but due to limitations of time and space, I will focus specifically on the gift of our brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. 

We need to accompany one another on the journey to best fulfill our purpose here on earth and follow God’s will. Following Jesus’ examples is not easy, but we must unite and rally together at the foot of the cross and at the Eucharistic table to love and support each other as disciples of Christ.

Next month, the men of our Diocese will come together for an entire day at the Diocesan Step Up 2024 Men’s Conference. Step Up 2024 will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park. The day will start with the Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger and will include reconciliation, adoration, time for quiet prayer, three presentations and the opportunity to meet and unite with brothers-in-Christ across our Diocese.

Our keynote speak­ers will be Bishop Scharfenberger and Michael Gormley. Bishop Ed’s topic is “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41-42). Gormley will give two talks and his presentations are entitled: “The Biblical Vision of Manhood” followed by “The Bonds of Brotherhood.” Gormley is a nationally known Catholic speaker, a Mission Evangelist for Paradisus Dei, and the host of two podcasts: “Every Knee Shall Bow” and “Catching Foxes.” Gormley is also a Steubenville Conference speaker and Ave Maria Conference host. 

The Step Up Men’s Conference will give men the tools needed to grow in holiness in their everyday lives and to further develop our relationship with Jesus so we can bring this energy back to our families and parish families. Please share the event information and personally invite everyone you know. The early registration cost is $50 per person until July 31 and includes lunch. College age and younger men are free. For more information and to register, head to: www.rcda.org/StepUp.

For all the women out there, please save the date for our Diocesan Unleashing Love 2024 Wo­men’s Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park.

Tom Cronin is the Director of Evangelization & Strategic Planning in the Diocese of Albany.  Contact Tom with any questions about boosting evangelization efforts at your parish at [email protected] or by visiting www.rcda.org/evangelization. Follow me on Instagram: tom_rcda.

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