HADDONFIELD – “The joy of the Lord must be your strength.”
Quoting the prophet Nehemiah, Chris Stefanick – an internationally acclaimed author, speaker and television host – fired up the 700 men attending the ManUp South Jersey Spirituality Conference held Nov. 8 in Paul VI High School’s auditorium.
Photo Gallery: ManUp South Jersey 2025
Stefanick was one of the presenters for the seventh annual conference, a day for men of all ages and backgrounds to engage in fellowship, prayer and reflection, and grow further into the spiritual leaders they are called to be in their homes and communities. This year’s theme was “Men of Faith, Messengers of Hope.”
Joy, Stefanick said, comes “from knowing who we are, and what we are worth,” evidenced in Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.
“He said to us, ‘You are my son. You are worth dying for,’” Stefanick reminded the crowd.
What joy is not, he continued, is those instances when one’s problems in life – financial difficulties, relationship stressors and health problems, for instance – are fixed.
“Joy is what you get when you know you’re loved perfectly, even if everything else is a total mess,” he stressed. “Joy is not the prize at the end of the battle; it’s what you need to get into the battle.”
To live this joy, he urged men to practice three things: live with gratitude; love themselves, as men loved by God; and frame their minds with faith. “The words in your head have to be in agreement with God.”
These practices, he said, “can help us be the joyful men of God that we know we’re meant to be, so that who we are brings the light and hope of Jesus Christ.”
Stefanick shared a personal story, too, about the inspiration he found from his 21-year-old daughter after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “I asked her how she was doing, and she told me, ‘I feel called to be joyful. To be peaceful. To be courageous.’”
“That’s not a bad calling, men,” Stefanick said. “The invitation to live in the joy of the almighty God is not an invitation to bury your head in the sand. It’s not about living in the denial of reality; it’s living with an awareness of the reality [of Christ].”
‘He is waiting for us’
Building upon Stefanick’s message, Bishop Joseph Williams addressed the crowd, urging all to be “joyful heralds of the Gospel.” Critical to that mission is the Sacrament of Confession, and Bishop Williams made sure to note that there were opportunities for confession throughout the day’s event.
He also recounted a personal experience of being on a retreat in Ohio with his siblings, and witnessing his older brother, Matthew, receive the sacrament. Seeing his brother’s joy on the long car ride home to Minnesota, “I knew he was found by God,” Bishop Williams said.
He encouraged the men in attendance to let themselves be found by God in the day’s offerings: “He is waiting for us, He is looking for us, and all you have to do is say yes.”
Faith, loss and vocations
The day began with morning prayer led by Bishop Emeritus Dennis Sullivan, who urged the audience “to let the Spirit move you, encourage you, challenge you, lift you up and even change you.”
More testimony of God’s work came from Eddie Morris, a Catholic leader in the Philadelphia area and father-in-law of NHL hockey star Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau, a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School, played for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. He and his brother, Matthew, were struck and killed while riding their bicycles in South Jersey in August 2024.
Morris recalled giving his son-in-law a rosary ring. Gaudreau sent back a photo of the ring in front of his Calgary Flames hockey bag.
After the brothers’ deaths, Morris shared rosary rings with Johnny Gaudreau’s friends in the National Hockey League. Soon, he received photos of the rings on various NHL hockey bags, a show of solidarity and support in a time of grief.
Deacon Steve Javie of Saint Andrew Parish in Newtown, Pa., and internationally known liturgical musician Tom Kendzia were also among the conference’s visiting speakers. Deacon Javie shared humorous tales of his 25-year career as an NBA referee, and the lessons he’s learned in finding gratitude for God’s blessings. Kendzia led all in Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration and Benediction.
Father Thomas Piro, an associate director of vocations for the Diocese of Camden, and recently-ordained Deacon Michael Drees of Church of the Incarnation in Mantua, spoke of the call to vocations. Father Piro specifically talked about the Diocese’s “Called by Name” program, which encourages the faithful to suggest men who could make a good priest.
Deacon Robert Oliver of Saint Joseph Parish, Somers Point, led a workshop titled, “Human Dignity in the Age of AI.”
In addition, the majority of attendees also heeded the call to help those in need across the Diocese, donating hundreds of personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and soap – as well as gift cards to supermarkets and other merchants totaling more than $2,000. These items and gift cards will be distributed by Catholic Charities of South Jersey, which serves Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
Joyful transformation
Many of the men in attendance said they would be leaving the conference energized and transformed. First-timer Benjamin Filachek, 14, from Saint Stephen Parish in Pennsauken, was among them. He attended the event with his father, Brian.
“I wanted to experience this with him. I know it will strengthen our relationship,” the teenager said.
From all the speakers, but especially Stefanick, Filachek said he learned “how to be a better Catholic man and son.”
From Vineland’s Saint Padre Pio Parish, Michael Alvarez found meaning in Deacon Javie’s talk about how not to think about what you get out of Mass. Instead, think about what you put into it.
“I’m going to think about ways I can contribute at Mass,” Alvarez said.
Deacon Anthony Cioe, executive director of ManUp South Jersey, was pleased to see the Holy Spirit moving throughout the day in both the presenters and the record attendance.
“All present learned how to live the faith and bring it to others,” he said. “Filled with the joy of the Lord, these men – fathers and sons, friends and brothers – will go back to their communities, be involved and spread that message. The energy found today will continue.”
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