Group seeks to build accompaniment, collaboration among men's groups across Michigan in buildup to March 22 conference
BRIGHTON — The Christian path was never meant to be a journey taken alone.
Since the days of the Gospel, when Jesus commanded his disciples to travel two-by-two, accompaniment and relying on one another has been a cornerstone of Christian witness.
But in an age of increased social isolation — particularly among men, who for so long have been conditioned to be self-reliant — Christian accompaniment can be hard to find.
It’s why, in the buildup to this year’s Ignite Men’s Conference in Ypsilanti on March 22, co-hosted by the Diocese of Lansing and the Archdiocese of Detroit, parishioners from the Diocese of Lansing are introducing a way for leaders of men's groups across the two dioceses to better connect with the men in their communities, with one another, and to foster camaraderie among Catholic men.
Inferno Michigan is a concept that started in Colorado a few years ago to bring men closer to Christ, said Charlie Thompson, a parishioner at St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, which will be hosting Inferno Michigan's “Get in the G.A.M.E.” — Groups Advancing Men’s Evangelization — Summit this Saturday.
“Inferno started with four guys in a basement in Colorado Springs talking about God and building brotherhood and has expanded to 50-plus small groups across their state,” said Thompson, a leader of Inferno Michigan. “They just hosted their own diocesan men’s conference and had 800 guys there.”
The “Get in the Game” Summit will see 70 men's ministry leaders from across the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Lansing gather to share best practices, communication tools and their own personal testimony in the buildup to the March 22 Ignite Conference in Ypsilanti.
Inferno Michigan’s goal isn’t to be another men’s ministry, but rather to empower men’s ministries and the small clusters of men’s groups throughout the area by giving them the resources to stay connected to one other, tactics for reaching out to new members, or — for men in parishes that don’t have men’s group — how best to build a core team in one’s own parish.
“What we are trying to do is bring guys closer to God by building brotherhood,” Thompson said. “What does that mean? Many men we know are walking alone. When I sit at our parish, we have 1,500 people at Mass on Sunday, but a lot of guys do not know anybody — they don’t know any other men.
“The guys in Colorado use a line; it’s kind of morbid but fits,” Thompson continued: “'It takes six guys to carry you to your funeral.' Now imagine having those six guys to carry you during a spiritual battle. We are all in this major spiritual battle. The devil is trying to pick us off every minute of every day, and we can’t fight this alone. So we’re trying to unite men’s minds across Michigan to find ways to do it better and roll out this ministry for men.”
Vince Phelan, a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton, said Inferno Michigan wants to empower and listen to existing men’s groups to get a better read on what men need in terms of spiritual accompaniment.
"I know men in our parish who don’t want to get up at 6 in the morning to have a structured program with a video and lecture; it’s not their style," Phelen told Detroit Catholic. "But there are groups of guys who want to go wood chopping or bicycling in the summer, who want just to get together when watching their kids play soccer, whatever it might be. We want to meet men where they are and show they are not alone in this and connect them with other men who want the same things.”
The Inferno Michigan “Get in the G.A.M.E” Summit will allow various men's groups across the state to discuss what works and doesn’t, and how to help men get the most out of the March conference.
“A lot of times, men’s conferences have this top-of-the-mountain experience, but then have this coming down from the mountain moment and you ask, ‘What’s left?’” Phelan said. “What we want for them is soft places for them to land — links to small groups that are available, ministries that are available in the parish or in the area — so you continue the work from this great experience at the conference.
“The goal is that, after the conference, each man who leaves Ypsilanti will not only be spiritually recharged, but also have a concrete plan of action on how to stay engaged in a small group to build off that conference experience.”
The Archdiocese of Detroit last hosted a men’s conference in 2023. This year’s joint conference features Super Bowl-winning former Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk; Jonathan Reyes, senior vice president for communications for the Knights of Columbus; Peter Herbeck of Renewal Ministries; and Fr. Joe Krupp of Joe in Black Ministries.
The collaborative conference is not meant to be a “one-off,” but a launching pad for real spiritual renewal, said Patrick Howard, engagement and family ministry coordinator for the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship.
“In the Archdiocese of Detroit, we want to support and encourage men to grow as joyful, missionary disciples drawing strength from community and fellowship with each other,” Howard said. “As a part of this effort going forward, we will be partnering with the Diocese of Lansing to host the annual Ignite Men’s Conference. We are encouraging all men to attend this opportunity to join other men in hearing from dynamic speakers and being equipped and inspired to live out their Christian calling.”
Beyond the buildup to the conference, Thompson said Inferno Michigan can be a tool for other men’s ministries to reach out to the men in their parish who are not currently engaged.
“I think we can be a catalyst for men’s ministry; it’s something I’m praying for,” Thompson said. “We don’t have the answers, but we have the passion and dedication. When I was in Colorado, I witnessed what they were doing, how they were forming these small groups that were on fire for the Lord. I’ve never seen anything like this before. That’s why we’re so moved by bringing it here.”
