Catholic Men of the Eucharist gather to celebrate Christ with Holy Communion, prayer and fasting

Intermountain Catholic

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The Catholic Men of the Eucharist celebrated their monthly Mass at Saint Jude Maronite Catholic Church. The presider was Monsignor Joubran BouMerhi, pastor of the parish.IC photo/Laura Vallejo

MURRAY - About 12 Catholic men gather regularly for prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, have time for discernment and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as part of a spiritual group called the Catholic Men of the Eucharist (CMOTE).

Catholic Men of the Eucharist was founded by Father Wayne Dawson in Paso Robles, Calif.

Fr. Dawson and Doug Arndt, president of the CMOTE group in California, spoke at the Park City Conference for the last two years, which lead to the formation of the group in Utah.

"Our local group is growing," said Phil Hofstetter, a Blessed Sacrament parishioner who has been participating in the local group since the beginning.

All men from the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City are welcome to participate.

"There is no formal entry," said Hofstetter. "Men who would like to participate — they just come and join us."

The group’s focus is spirituality. They meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month; during one of those meetings, Mass is celebrated by Monsignor Joubran BouMerhi, pastor of Saint Jude Maronite Catholic Church.

In addition, CMOTE members are asked to spend one hour each week in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Sometimes men have not taken their place as spiritual leaders in their families, "somehow they are not participating at all or they are back too far," Hofstetter said. "Men need to step out and lead their families with prayer, with their example."

The group emphasizes the power of the Eucharist.

"This group is a community of prayer that normally doesn’t happen," said Jeff Parrack, CMOTE member. "It brings camaraderie and gives us a chance to share and grow together."

"I like it because it is far more spiritual than other groups," said Albert Malloy. "This group is more for the interior of the soul."

Members of the group fast on water for 24 hours every month and, during Lent, every week.

"We need in the church support; we can’t make it alone," said Hofstetter. "All the groups pray for one another. When we fast, all the groups fast together – in California, Washington, etc."

Malloy distinctly remembers the words that Fr. Dawson told them when they first met him in Park City. "He said ‘If you do what I tell you, many things will happen and it’ll be beyond of what you can imagine,’ and that’s what has happened and it’s beyond what I have imagined."

"When I joined the group it was a very refreshing start, it was not only about knowing yourself better or just renewing your faith in Christ," said Tony Calpotura. "Knowing yourself in relation with Christ is very uplifting. For me that’s a very important thing, especially with so many changes in everybody’s lives. With all the challenges we are given, it’s very nice and refreshing, the moments that we have."

For information about Catholic Men of the Eucharist, contact Phil Hofstetter, 101Phil@comcast.net or at 801-860-0404.