One of the most important developments of the last five years has been the reemergence of young men in the Church. For decades, the absence of men in the Church had been regularly bemoaned as an almost insurmountable hurdle. As it turns out, male disengagement may have had more to do with the Church than men themselves. Men simply weren’t attracted to the wishy-washy, dumbed-down expression of Christianity that asked nothing of them other than smiling at hopeless platitudes.   

As a Catholic theologian and catechist, I have come to realize that education must extend beyond imparting information to include life-changing experiences. Learning, though essential, is not sufficient in itself, and parish catechetical programs often don’t appeal to the average man. I’ve committed myself to building culture, investing in experiences of the faith that are rooted in community and invite people to live differently.