Photo by Liam Pope
Christopher Dacanay
Distribution Manager
Male students were urged to remember their death and become true men during the “Drawn to Hope” night of prayer sponsored by Men’s Ministry in Finnegan Fieldhouse Saturday night.
The night began with Mass presided over by the Rev. David Pivonka, TOR, president of the university. The Revs. Shawn Roberson, TOR, and Jonathan McElhone, TOR, concelebrated.
During his homily, Pivonka said that real men are called to sacrifice. He cited multiple instances of men having to make difficult sacrifices in order to bring about good. Examples included attackers on D-Day and the story of Aron Ralston, who cut off his arm to save himself after a climbing accident.
After Mass, Bob Lesnefsky, head of evangelization, invited attendees to participate in a talent show. Men showed off talents ranging from unnatural joint movements to facial hair growth. The winner, chosen by Lesnefsky, was awarded a used sledgehammer.
Afterward, Matt Fradd, an international Catholic speaker, gave a 20-minute talk regarding the “four last things:” death, judgement, heaven and hell.
Fradd said his recent health battle, when he contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, was an opportunity for him to seriously contemplate death and determine whether he was truly seeking God through his life choices.
Fradd told listeners to place themselves mentally in their deathbed and converse with God about whether they had truly chosen him throughout their lives. He also said not to get too attached to anything in this life since it will all eventually pass away, and all that will be left is judgement.
“In this life,” Fradd said, “we can’t be perfectly happy because our happiness resides in the face-to-face vision with God. … When you find a great degree of happiness in this life, if it’s really great, you’ll realize just how far you are from being perfectly happy.”
Fradd’s talk was immediately followed by Eucharistic adoration, accompanied by praise and worship music. During adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation was offered, with the line stretched from the second floor to the first in the fieldhouse.
Junior Joseph Shanks said, “I thought it was really well done. … I did particularly like Matt Fradd’s talk. I thought it was very frank, and sobering, and just what we needed to hear in this day and age.”
Sophomore Kristofer Cowles said, “Mass, adoration, confessions, Matt Fradd. What more is there to say?”