On a cold December evening, when most people were huddled indoors to escape the arctic air, a group of men gathered around a partially assembled wooden structure that would soon become a familiar and powerful sight. What began as an idea transformed into a stack of lumber and then a structure that would soon become a crèche displayed in front of the rectory at Notre Dame on Morehouse Road in Easton. A quiet but bright sign of care, craftsmanship, and fraternity.
The project is a glimpse into what the Notre Dame Men’s Ministry is all about.
The construction of the manger was a team effort. Joe Samon bore the brunt of the project, using a combination of prayerful discernment and weekend warrior carpentry skills to transform raw materials into a solid, thoughtfully built, and sturdy structure. Tom Collins (yes, that’s his name, it’s more than a drink) used his electrical know-how to ensure the manger would be safely lit and visible at night. The rest of us helped move the structure from Joe’s garage to its eventual home in front of the old house across from the church. That part was a true team effort, as Joe’s sturdy structure packed considerable weight. It took the strength, and good humor, of more than a handful of men to haul, set up, and later dismantle the manger once the Christmas season came to an end.
It wasn’t glamorous or fancy, but cold, heavy, and occasionally awkward, but it certainly was meaningful. It was a true group effort, even if most of us would give the most credit to Joe’s superior handiwork.
That same spirit will be on display at the upcoming Men’s Ministry open house, taking place on Wednesday, February 5 at 7:00 PM in the Deacon Sabol Hall (downstairs at the church). The plan for the evening is relatively simple and welcoming. There will be adult beverages and light snacks, with plenty of time to talk, ask questions, bear witness and get to know each other with no pressure attached.
The goal of the Men’s Ministry is to foster fraternity, deepen spirituality, and put faith into action through service. Sometimes that service is hauling a manager around town; other times it’s moving donated items to their new home to help those in need. What ties everything together is the idea that faith grows when it’s shared, when men come together not just to talk shop about the daily grind, but to live out their faith and values in meaningful and tangible ways.
For men already part of Notre Dame, the open house is a chance to learn more about the group and how you may fit in. For men looking for a new spiritual home and considering joining the parish, it’s an opportunity to meet people, get honest feedback, and witness the kind of community that is growing at Notre Dame.
There are no requirements as to who can join or who belongs. Some of us are drawn by the service projects, others by the fellowship and the desire to grow spiritually with peers. Some come just for the Tom Collins, which deacon Rick mixes with his bar tending skills. That’s a joke that I believe Tom would appreciate. Humor is often also a feature of the meetings. What we all share is a willingness to show up, and occasionally to lift something heavy together. As Father Ford often says, “many hands make light work.”
While the crèche is now in storage until next year’s Advent season, the relationships built around it continue to grow. That, more than the wooden structure itself, is the core work of the Men’s Ministry.
If you’re curious, searching, or simply looking for a place to connect more deeply with peers in the parish, try to stop by on February 5th. Pull up a chair, grab a beverage and a bite to eat, and see for yourself what’s being built in Deacon Sabol Hall and beyond.
The Cultural Easton 