December 2007 Breakfast Meeting - Saturday 12/8/07

This December, the whole family is invited to breakfast and to hear guest speaker, former MLB pitcher Dave Frost.

Dave pitched for the California Angels from 1978 to 1981. In 1979, his first full season with the club, he won sixteen games and helped lead the Angels to their first division championship. At the conclusion of the season he was chosen as the team’s most valuable pitcher by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America. Dave also pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

Upon retirement from baseball, he worked as a floor trader at the commodities exchange in Chicago. Dave has also presented seminars and training to businesses on a wide range of topics such as motivation, team building, attitude, and stress management. He has been a columnist for the Orange County Register in which he wrote a weekly feature on "sports and family issues." He has also been a frequent guest on radio talk shows discussing subjects such as life transitions, family sports issues, and athletes in crisis.

Dave received his Bachelors degree in Political Science from Stanford University. He also has a Master’s degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. He and his wife, Alla, have one child and reside in Long Beach, Ca.

We will begin as usual with 8 AM Mass, followed by a fantastic family breakfast at 8:30 in the Cafeteria. Dave will speak immediately following breakfast. The event will conclude at 10:30 AM. Please RSVP to Steve at sshanklin@verizon.net including the number of guests you will be bringing, so that we can plan properly for food.

So take a break from stringing house lights, setting out the the snow domes and twinkling reindeer, and trying to find a parking spot at the mall. Faith, food & fellowship for the whole family! Bring a friend (and his family too.)

Catholic Men's Fellowship of California - Leadership Gathering

Bishop Alex Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles San Pedro Region will be the keynote speaker at the Catholic Men's Fellowship of California's Leadership Day "Walking the Walk as a Catholic Man: Taking the Next Step". The 1 day retreat will be held on Saturday November 3, 2007 at Our Lady of Refuge in Long Beach. The day will be divided into two sections: the General Session will begin with 8:00 am Mass and end at 11:20 am; the Leadership Session will start at 11:30 am and conclude at 2:00 pm. Great speakers, including Bishop Alex Salazar and Deacon Roger Faubert, live music by Pillar, small and large group discussions, and fellowship are some of the items on the agenda. Breakfast & lunch will be provided. All men are welcome. To register for the event online, CLICK HERE. For more information email OLR Catholic Men's Fellowship at olrcmenf@ourladyofrefuge.org .

September 2007 Breakfast Meeting - Saturday 9/8/07

September's Guest Speaker will be Dr. Bradley Hawkins. Dr. Hawkins is a specialist in the early religious history of South and Southeast Asia. He received his Hons. B.A. in Islamic and Asian Studies, and a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies from the University of Toronto where he studied under such teachers as A. K. Warder and A. L. Basham, a Master’s degree in Catholic theology from Loyola University and his doctorate in comparative religions with an emphasis in Southeast Asian religions under the supervision of Ninian Smart.

Dr. Hawkins is currently a full time lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at California State University Long Beach. He has authored a number of books including Buddhism: Many Paths, One Goal and Introduction to Asian Religions. He is working on a new book, The World Religions and the Challenge of Modernity, to be published by Longman. Dr. Hawkins will speak to us of his conversion to Catholicism at the age of 50. We will begin as usual with 8 AM Mass, followed by breakfast at 8:30 in the Cafeteria. Dr. Hawkins will begin immediately following breakfast, and conclude at 10 AM. Please RSVP to Steve at SShanklin@ verizon.net including the number of guest you will be bringing, so that we can plan properly for food. Faith, food & fellowship. Come and get fed. Bring a friend.

36th Annual SCRC Charismatic Renewal Conference

Anaheim, California, August 31, 2007 - September 2, 2007 Trust in the Lord, the 36th Annual SCRC Charasmatic Conference will be held in Anaheim this coming Labor Day Weekend. Guest speakers include award winning recording artist John Michael Talbot, Fr. Michael Manning SVD, TV Host and President of WordNet Productions, and Fr. Robert Faricy SJ, Professor Emeritus, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. This year's conference will include additional special tracks for children, Young Adults & Teens, featuring Matt Maher live in concert. For full details on speakers and events visit the SCRC Site by Clicking Here or view the pdf convention flyer by Clicking Here. Life changing talks, spiritually inspiring speakers, powerful prayer experience, soul stirring music, dynamic masses & healing service. All in all, the SCRC Convention is always an awesome way to spend quality time with the Lord among His people. If you've never been, then Trust in the Lord and give it a try.

17th Annual National Catholic Family Conference

July 28-29, 2007 at the Anaheim Convention Center Join Fr. Bill Casey, Bishop Andrew Francis from Pakistan, Michael Barber, Jesse Romero and many more speakers at this year's conference. Each session will offer 3 concurrent Adult Presentations, plus a Teen/Young Adult Session and a full Children's program. Faith, family & fun! Read and print the Conference Flyer. Find out more and Register

Catholic Men’s Fellowship of California Summer Retreat 2007

August 10-12, 2007 The California Catholic Men's Fellowship invites you to spend a weekend away from the world in fellowship with your brothers in Christ. Recharge your spiritual batteries and enjoy the presence of the Lord. Prayer, reflection, worship - even free time relaxing by the pool. The retreat leader for 2007 will be Fr. Charbel Grbavac, a young, dynamic Norbertine priest from St. Michaels Abbey in Orange County. Fr. Charbel received his BA degree in Philosophyat St. John's Seminary and later reveived his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University in Rome. He presently is presently secretary to the Abbot and teaches religion at JSerra Catholic High School. The retreat will be held at Mission San Luic Rey. For registration information Click Here.

July 2007 Breakfast Meeting - Saturday 7/14/07

The July OLR Catholic Men's Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, July 14th. This month our guest speaker will be Cliff Armstrong. A long time OLR parishioner, Cliff will discuss the story of his Father's quest to reunite his family, fighting to reclaim his children who had been made wards of the court. The family's heartwrenching yet triumphant story was dramatized in the 1987 film After the Promise, starring Mark Harmon.

Cliff will relate the events from a child's perspective, using various clips from the film to help illustrate the story. All men are welcome to attend. We will start with 8:00 am Mass, followed at 8:30 by breakfast and fellowship in the parish Cafeteria. Bring a friend. RSVP to Steve Shanklin at sshanklin@verizon.net with expected headcount so that we can be prepared with enough food.