Faith discussions a source of support for young men

14 Sep 2016

By The Record

The monthly gathering of Young Men of God at the ‘Paddo’, with Father Roy Pereira. Photo: Supplied

By Caroline Smith

Finding time to talk about God with likeminded people can be difficult, particularly for young people, but a group of Perth-based young men have found a way around it, meeting up for a weekday Mass and then sharing a meal and having a discussion afterwards.

The Young Men of God (YMOG) was started some two years ago when one of their current members and co-host, Anthony D’Aloia, found out about a similar group which had been founded in Sydney in 2000.

Upon attending their national conference, he broached the possibility of setting up a similar group in Western Australia and in July 2014, a formation weekend was set up to facilitate this with some 12 men in attendance.

Group co-host Richard Smiroldo said the best thing about the group, was the friendship and support network it had provided for members.

“A lot of us have become close friends – there’s a real brotherhood between the men in the group,” he said.

“We support each other through the challenges we see in life. I think it’s really important for men to find opportunities to connect with other men.”

Although some members of the group have continued to head over east for national conferences, for the most part their focus is local, meeting once a month at St Bernadette’s Church in Glendalough for Mass, and then on to the Paddington Hotel for discussion, sometimes with a guest speaker.

Speakers have included Aquinas College teacher Paul Kelly and Father Ken Barker, who founded the Sydney group.

Mr Smiroldo said members often have the opportunity to share their own stories, whether about their chosen vocations or general faith journey and added that such discussions and friendship, had helped to bolster his own beliefs.

“The group has affirmed and strengthened my faith, while given me greater support than I had previously,” he said.

“As men we face a lot of challenges and it has helped with that.”

The Young Men of God 2016 National conference will be held in Stanwell Tops, New South Wales from 16 to 18 October and will feature speakers including Fr Rob Galea, Father Morgan Batt, Bruce Downes, Karen Doyle, Fr Ken from the Missionaries of God’s Love and Joe Dean Sola of ‘He Cares Mission’.

The Young men of God meet on the first Monday of every month at St Bernadette’s Mass at 5:45pm.

For more information contact Richard Smiroldo on 0401 133 679 or email rsmiroldo@hotmail.com.