With the upcoming ManUp South Jersey Conference taking place Nov. 11, Veterans Day, it is only appropriate that among the presenters will be two men devoted to God and country.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Karl H. Gingrich, director of program analysis and evaluation in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, and Capt. Father Daniel L. Mode, a priest who serves as the current chaplain of the U.S. Coast Guard, will bring their faith and wisdom to Paul VI High School in Haddonfield.
“I’m excited to not only be a speaker, but to sit down with the men, talk to them about their faith and learn from them,” says Gingrich, who first realized the joy that could be found in the Catholic faith shortly before his conversion 20 years ago.
The fifth annual ManUp conference is a daylong retreat to bolster men in the Catholic faith. In addition to Gingrich and Father Mode, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, host/co-host of several EWTN series, and international Irish Tenor Mark Forrest will be guest speakers. The day will include Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, fellowship, spiritual reflection and vocations talks.
Gingrich says he does his best to live his faith every day in the understanding “that God has a plan for us, and that we have a responsibility back to God to be leaders for our family and community and servants of our Church.”
In his military career, he has done just that. He received his officer commission from Temple University, Philadelphia, as an armor officer with a degree in civil and construction engineering technology. After leading tactical formations in the U.S. Army, he embarked on a career in operations research, supporting and leading the Army’s Force and Program Development.
Today, as director of program analysis and evaluation for the U.S. Army, he assists the secretary and chief of staff in budget projections and allocation.
His ManUp talk will center on the parallels between duty to God and duty to country. “I hope my message resonates,” Gingrich says, noting that he hopes men understand the importance of “service to other people, being part of a greater whole and defending the faith and U.S. Constitution.”
He called the ManUp event “an important one to re-center ourselves and strengthen each other so that we can go home and be better examples” to others. “What can I learn from them to be a better product of myself,” he cited as one of his main hoped-for takeaways.
As a U.S. Navy Chaplain for the past 35 years, and a Catholic priest for the last 31, Father Mode feels a responsibility to serve and pass on the Gospel. His presentation at ManUp will include his personal story as well as Scripture and the need to exemplify sacrifice, humility and peace in concrete ways.
“Faith always needs to lead to action,” he explains, adding that he hopes to “encourage and inspire men to go outside themselves in service to others” through sharing the lives of individuals such as Father Vincent R. Capodanno Jr., MM, a U.S. Navy chaplain who served with the Marines during the Vietnam War. Father Capodanno is the subject of Captain Mode’s book, “The Grunt Padre.”
In his service, Father Capodanno quickly established a reputation for selfless dedication, sharing hardships with other servicemen and working for their spiritual and practical welfare. He went out into the heat of battle to retrieve the wounded, deliver last rites and bring comfort and aid. Killed in action, his posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his family in 1969.
“Father Capodanno was very ordinary, but he did extraordinary things. He’s a witness and example of the fact that all of us are called by God to do the same,” Father Mode said.
Like Father Capodanno, men must keep themselves strong in mind, body, and soul, “so that when God calls us, we are ready,” he said.
This year’s ManUp South Jersey Conference is scheduled for Nov. 11 at Paul VI High School, Haddonfield. The day begins with Mass at 7 a.m. at Saint Joseph The Worker Church, 901 Hopkins Road, Haddon Township (located to the right upon arrival at the high school). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit manupsouthjersey.com.
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