Stronger Together

"If early one morning you see a tight group of men praying together while you are picking up your carry out, look closely, they may just be TMIY parishioners from Our Lady of Light."

Chris Bramlage, a member of the That Man Is You group at Our Lady of Light, is always inspired by the number of men who meet bright and early on Saturday mornings for fellowship with other Catholic men and to grow in deeper understanding and appreciation of their Catholic faith. With over sixty men in attendance, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is stirring a desire to make godly men in our community.

"In the OLL TMIY program, I have found authentic Catholic fellowship. We openly share our troubles and victories over worldly things as we try to focus on the eternal. I have made some lasting friendships with men where I feel comfortable sharing anything with them. They listen, empathize and console," Chris explains.

One powerful thing about this community of men is their commitment to each other. "They push me to confession, conversion and toward Christ," Chris says. Holding each other accountable in their Catholic faith is a powerful part of their mission - in a world where it is difficult to find connection, they stand beside each other and help each other get to Heaven.

​Community is vital to a strong Catholic faith. We are not meant to live this life alone: God created us to be a people who need one another. As it says in the book of Proverbs, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (27:17).

One article from Ascension Press said it well in regards to how the world so largely functions online today:

"Rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide have all been rising over the past 20 years. It’s no wonder people are afraid. They have few real friends and are being isolated further and further from reality and the ability to engage in lasting, fruitful relationships. Yet, “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). We who live in an authentic Catholic community are able to live in faith, hope, and love. It is only through this exchange with others man develops his potential and thus responds to his vocation (CCC 1879)." (The Power of Catholic Community by Ryan Welch)

We at Our Lady of Light recognize the importance of community with one another. With various groups for all adults, for men and women, and even for those in specific stages of life, our community groups are vital to the strength of our community. We hope that you will find a community that helps you search more deeply for God in your life, and encourages you to support your brothers and sisters in Christ in their faith journey as well.

For more information about That Man Is You, as well as our other men's and community groups for Our Lady of Light, please visit www.olldayton.org/communities