The Spiritual Warriors, "I Am A Soldier Of God" Men's Conference

St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church to Host Men's Conference

The Spiritual Warriors of St. Paul The Apostle Church in Chino Hills will host a Men's Conference on Tuesday, March 9th from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. The theme of the conference is entitled "I am a soldier of God" and will feature Southern California Lay Evangelist Jesse Romero.
For more information contact the number below or check out the calendar on For Catholic Men for directions.

St. Paul The Apostle Church , March 9th 7:00 - 9:30 PM
14085 Payton Dr. Chino Hills, 91709
909-456-5503

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference Talks

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference Talks
Now Available

Audio files have been made available from the Sharing the Treasures® 5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference. The conference held on February 20th, 2010, featured Fr. Larry Richards.

Fr. Larry Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie, Pennsylvania.

BE A MAN

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference

February 20, 2010

Click below for audio links

Conference Audio File Download

These are being provided for FREE
If you like the talks then send a donation to St. Kieran School
For Donations to St. Kieran School
Make a check payable to St. Kieran School and mail it to
St. Kieran School
1347 Camillo Way
El Cajon CA 92020

The Importance of Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder as Catholic Men

The Importance of Standing Shoulder-to-Shoulder as Catholic Men
By Maurice Blumberg
Shared by Ed Vasquez

God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in proclaiming the gospel of his Son, that I remember you constantly, always asking in my prayers that somehow by God’s will I may at last find my way clear to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine (Romans 1:9-12).

Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you (Romans 16:21-23).

When the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe (Acts 14:20).

The community of believers was of one heart and mind (Acts 4:32.)

What is your image of St. Paul? Do you imagine him to be a “lone ranger” Christian traveling from town to town and evangelizing without a support system to help keep his spirits high and his eyes fixed on the Lord? But the reality is that Paul’s missionary work would have been impossible without his brothers in Christ. In fact, as he opens his Letter to the Romans, Paul tells his readers how much he wants to visit them again, “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith” (Romans 1:12). It’s obvious, too, how much he cherishes them, because he sends personal greetings to so many of them at the close of his letter along with his other brothers in Christ (Romans 16:21-23). Even after being stoned in Lystra, he still needed to rely on his brothers to tend to his wounds, help him regain his strength, and send him on his way with Barnabas, his faithful companion. (Acts 14:20).

I do not believe that God intended for Catholic men to live out their faith on their own. We too need brothers in Christ for strength and encouragement as we face the challenges of the Christian life. Like Paul, we too need a community of believers to help us become more and more like Jesus (Acts 4:32). We need friends with whom we can share our ups and downs, just as Paul did with Timothy and Barnabas. We need brothers in Christ to hold us accountable for living authentic Christian lives as Catholic men. And we need the grace that comes from giving of ourselves to help our brothers as well.

In your prayers, take an inventory of your relationships. Do you have a close Christian brother who you can rely on for spiritual encouragement? Are there men you can give more time to in order to help them? Are their friendships that fill you with the peace and confidence of Jesus? Is there a group of men you can meet with to support and pray for one another? If so, they are the relationships to cultivate. If not, why not talk to your pastor about forming a men’s group in your parish.

As a trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM), I encourage all Catholic men to seek other men who share their faith and who have some common interests. They may be fellow parishioners, co-workers, or neighbors. Begin meeting together regularly. You’ll be surprised at what God will do within your group, especially a group of men who love Him and one another. By standing shoulder to shoulder with other Catholic men, you can accomplish so much more than on your own.

All over the country, the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM) is supporting the formation of Catholic men’s fellowships groups where Catholic men build relationships with one another, share their faith, and support one another through prayer. The NFCM website (www.nfcmusa.org ) currently offers many different resources for small Catholic men’s groups. A good description of each of these resources is provided on the website. The website also offers resources for forming and leading men’s groups.

I believe Catholic men standing together in Christ can change our families, our culture, and the whole world.

“Father, thank you for calling me to build relationships and community with other Catholic men. Help me to set aside my fears, my timidity, and my selfishness so that I can be more united with those you have joined to me in fellowship with your Son. Lord, open us all up to the grace of community and fellowship!”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/ ), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism , (http://www2.wau.org/partners/ ), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us .

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. Prayerfully reflect on the Scripture passages at the beginning of this article. In what way do they reflect God’s desire that we as Catholic men need to be in fellowship and community with other men?

2. In what way do you agree or disagree with the following statement from the article? “I do not believe that God intended for Catholic men to live out their faith on their own. We too need brothers in Christ for strength and encouragement as we face the challenges of the Christian life.”

3. In what way has your understanding of authentic Christian manhood increased by your relationship with other men or by being part of a Catholic men’s group?

4. How is the love between brothers in the Lord different from the love of your wife or the love between men and women?

5. Whether or not you are part of a men’s group, do you believe that “By standing shoulder to shoulder with other Catholic men, you can accomplish so much more than on your own”? Why or why not?

6. In what way do you agree or disagree with the concluding statement, “I believe Catholic men standing together in Christ can change our families, our culture, and the whole world”? If you agree, what steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your life?

Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.

What Sin is About?

What Sin is About?  

Check out this great video excerpt from Fr. Larry Richards' talk. And get a handle on what it really means to sin.

A Daily Plan for Being a Man of the Spirit

A Daily Plan for Being a Man of the Spirit
By Maurice Blumberg In Catholic Man
Shared by Ed Vasquez

Brothers, God is infinitely more powerful than sin, Satan, and the world. We also know that through faith and Baptism, this same powerful God has taken up residence in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. If this is so, then why shouldn’t we as Catholic men expect to be victorious in our battle against these same forces? Are you experiencing the Holy Spirit’s power and love at work within you? Would you like to experience this work in a deeper way?

As men, we may think the answer to these questions is to just try harder or strive more. But this approach will fall short, unless we strengthen our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and open ourselves more to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This, of course, requires God’s grace, but we still have a role to play. Below are some steps we can take each day in this New Year to open ourselves to this work of God. They are not intended to be a daily “To Do” list to just check off each day. They are intended to be daily spiritual habits that allow us to grow and mature as a men of the Spirit and lead Spirit-filled and Spirit-led lives.

As you read and reflect on these steps, you may want to pick just a few to implement now and, perhaps, implement others at a future time during the year.

1. Every day when you first wake up, give your life to the Lord and ask him to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit. Whether you wake up full of zeal, or half-hearted or heavy-laden, dedicate yourself and your day to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Jesus know how dependent you are on the work of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Ask him to give you that love, peace, and joy – fruits of the Spirit that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord, and knowing and experiencing his great love for you.

2. Every day, spend ten minutes or more in personal prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you. Pursue the Holy Spirit every day in prayer. Ask the Lord to enlighten you with his Holy Spirit so that you might know him in your heart and that you might embrace his glorious plan for your life more fully. St. Paul told the Corinthians that God wanted to reveal to them his secret wisdom, things that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). St. Paul also prayed for the Ephesians that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts so that they could perceive his call and the inheritance that is theirs in Christ (Ephesians 1:18). This prayer of St. Paul is for us as well.

3. Every day, spend ten minutes or more prayerfully pondering Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the Scripture for you. Ask him to show you the Father’s love (Romans 5:5). Ask him to fill your heart and your mind with the truths of the Gospel. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how these truths can be applied more fully to your life.

4. Every day, offer the Lord all the gifts he has given you and ask him to deepen in you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God has blessed each of you with gifts of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let these gifts grow dormant and be powerless in your life. Consider the seven-fold gifts of the Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and awe (Isaiah 11:2). Consider the various charisms that God bestows for serving and building up the body of Christ: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and many more (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; see also Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:8-13). Every day, seek these gifts and be open to receiving them. Every day, surrender these gifts to the Lordship of Christ. These gifts, so generously given by God, will enable you to follow God’s will for your life, better serve Him and others, build up his Church, and further his kingdom (1 Corinthians 14:3-5).

5. Throughout the day, turn to the Holy Spirit. Be attentive and sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Also, be alert to the battle between spirit and flesh. Whether you are facing a difficulty or temptation, or you are about to embark on a new effort, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your words and actions in accordance with God’s will. Keep a cross or crucifix in your pocket to remind you that God loves you, and that your position is secure as a favored child of God, because of Jesus death and resurrection. When you are bombarded in your mind with negative thoughts or images, ask yourself where they are coming from and whether this is the way the Holy Spirit communicates with you. Try to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, not the “world, the flesh, and the devil.”

6. Examine your conscience daily. Ask the Spirit to help you repent and ask forgiveness for the things that separate you from God. Try to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. As you experience the cleansing work of God’s forgiveness, you will be set free of shame, guilt, and self-condemnation. But more than that, through the work of his Spirit, you will receive grace and power to overcome sin patterns in your life.

In addition to the above steps, try to open yourself to the Spirit each time you attend Mass. Since you have so generous a Father, be eager to seek his Holy Spirit at Mass. At each Mass, ask Jesus to immerse you in his Spirit. Ask him to give you a new experience of the Spirit and a deep confidence in his love for you. In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest asks the Father to send his Spirit upon the bread and wine “so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But it’s not only the bread and wine God wants to transform. As you receive Communion, you too can be transformed by the Spirit as well. You too can come to share in the “love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Spirit he has given us” (Romans 5:5). Believe that your life can be changed each time you receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One last step I recommend is to design a plan for your ongoing spiritual growth. Your plan should include those things that will develop your faith, including spiritual reading, fellowship with other Catholic men, and active participation in the life of the church

As you implement and try to be faithful to the steps you have chosen, you will experience the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit as he transforms you into a “man of the Spirit.”

“May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones“ (Ephesians 1:18).

Come, Holy Spirit and enlighten our hearts and give us the power to be faithful to your call. Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit and give us all the gifts we need to serve you.

Mau

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article says that “God is infinitely more powerful than sin, Satan, and the world.” If this is so, why do we as Catholic men struggle so much to overcome sin, Satan, and the world?

2. Why is living more godly lives not just a matter of trying harder or striving more to be holy.

3. Of the steps listed above, which ones do you believe can be implemented right now in your life? Which ones cannot? Share the reasons why. Are there any additional steps you would add or delete from the list?

4. Are you willing to be accountable for implementing at least two or three of the above steps over the next few weeks? Use the steps you have identified as most applicable to your life right now to develop a personalized daily plan for yourself. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to your plans. If you are in a men’s group, share the impact at your next meeting these steps are having on living each day as a “man of the Spirit.”

5. What additional steps can you implement in the future (over and above those previously identified)? What impact do you expect these additional steps to have on strengthening your walk as a man of the Spirit? At a future men’s group meeting, share the impact these additional steps have had on you.

6. Pray for one another for the grace to be faithful to the steps you believe the Lord wants you to take to be a man of the Spirit.

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference (BE A MAN)

LAST CALL: 5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference
(BE A MAN) Feb. 20, 2010

PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

5th Annual San Diego Men's Conference (BE A MAN) with Fr. Larry Richards, Dr. Ray Guarendi, Patrick Coffin and Tom Wilson (AKA Biff from Back to the Future), will take place this Saturday, February 20th at St. Kieran Church in El Cajon.

Online Registration ends this Wednesday. If you haven't already registered, then be sure to register by Wednesday to avoid the higher registration fee. For more information or to register go to :

http://www.SharingTheTreasures.org/mensconf2010/mensconf2010.html.

Don't make up an excuse to miss this event. We have two of the foremost Mens Conference speakers (Fr. Larry and Dr. Ray) speaking at this event. The MC will be Patrick Coffin from Catholic Answers Live Radio and as a special guest we have Actor/Comedian Tom Wilson. Tom is famously remembered as the character Biff in the movie trilogy BACK TO THE FUTURE.

If you haven't stepped outside the box of the normal Sunday obligation, then it is time for a change. Do it for Lent! Do it for yourself! Most importantly, do it for your family and friends!

Share the Faith,
Kurt

Kurt Redlinger
Kurt@SharingTheTreasures.org
619-583-3810
www.SharingTheTreasures.org

Feeling Bad About Confession

Feeling Bad About Confession
By Fr. Dwight Longenecker from Standing on my Head

Emotions run pretty high in the sacrament of confession. Not a week goes by that either I or a penitent doesn't end up getting a bit misty. It's because hearts are open to God in the confessional and the Holy Spirit doesn't miss a chance to touch hearts and reconcile the lost sheep.

However, while I don't mind emotion in the confessional itself, it's not much good during the actual examination of conscience. Too often the sins we feel most guilty about or most ashamed of are not the most serious sins, while the ones we may overlook altogether or think are not so serious may well be the ones that are most serious.

So, for example, most people feel ashamed and guilty about sins of the flesh. Sins of the flesh are certainly sins, but the amount of shame and guilt one feels may be disproportionate to the seriousness of the sin. On the other hand, forgetting prayers or missing Mass may be a continual sin against God himself which we overlook and under-rate. Furthermore, if we had prayed more and got closer to God we may not have fallen into the sin of the flesh in the first place.

It is good to remember that a mortal sin is not necessarily the sin we feel terribly ashamed of and guilty about. It is just as easy to commit a mortal sin and not feel guilty or ashamed at all. Just because the emotions are high as we remember a sin or commit a sin does not mean it is the most serious sin in the book. We may lose our temper, have a terrible fight with our spouse or kids and our heart may be beating and the tears may be running and the voices may be raised, but despite the high emotion it may not be a mortal sin. It might just be a fight.

On the other hand, to gossip and talk badly about others, to complain and grumble all the time and to be bitter and negative habitually may be far more serious because we ignore it and pretend we're not doing anyone any harm. At least with the big fight we feel bad and know it is a sin. With the casual gossip, back biting, nasty comments and negativity we often come away actually feeling better about ourselves.

So a very objective and clear approach to the examination of conscience is what we need. Pray for guidance and a clear vision. Go through the questions. Make a list and leave emotions for when you actually get into the box.

Eucharist: The Breaking of Bread

Eucharist: The Breaking of Bread
by Mark Shea from National Catholic Register

Luke puts bookends on his gospel. There is both a prologue and an afterword to his gospel that are meant to refer us to the source and summit of our worship: Jesus Christ fully present in the Eucharist. The front bookend is the story of the Nativity, where Luke bothers to give us a very significant detail:

And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

Why does Luke pause to tell us Jesus was laid in a manger? Not because he was anticipating the needs of millions of greeting card manufacturers centuries hence and their requirements for a picturesque Christmas scene. No, the reason he mentions this detail is because of what a manger is: it is feed box—a grain container. And not just any grain container. This particular feed box is located in “Bethlehem”, which means “House of Bread”. In other words, Luke is reminding us that Jesus is the Bread of Life: the Eucharist and sees in these circumstance of Jesus’ birth a prophetic foreshadowing of the deepest truth about us.

Similarly, in the bookend at the end of his gospel, Luke likewise uses language that is pregnant with significance for the Eucharistic-minded ancient Christ Church. After Jesus meet the dejected disciples on the Emmaus Road he leads them in the very first Christian Bible Study, explaining to them that the message of Moses and the Prophets is that the Son of Man had to suffer and enter into his glory. (I might note here that, as an Evangelical, I would have supposed that this would be the moment that the disciples would experience the thunderbolt epiphany and realize what was going on.) However, the disciples remain clueless even after this divinely led walk through the Bible. So they invite the Risen Christ to stay with them, still not realizing who he is. He agrees, setting the scene for this moment:

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. (Luke 24:30-31)

It is in the Eucharistic gesture—the breaking of the bread—that the disciples finally have their eyes opened and see him for who he truly is. Not surprisingly then, Luke (and the early Church) see the Eucharist at the heart of their worship. That is why Luke tells us:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)

One of the earliest titles given to the Eucharistic banquet is “the breaking of bread”. It is such an unobtrusive title that many non-eucharistic Christians never notice it when they read Acts 2.

“The breaking of bread and the prayers” refers not to little informal holy potlucks by believers who just like to get together to share lunch but to the liturgy of the Eucharist. To be sure, the Church met in informal surroundings like the houses of believers (since there were no church buildings back then) but it was always liturgical.

This makes sense really, since liturgy was the only form of communal prayer known to the Jews of antiquity. And liturgy is not a thing imposed on freedom-loving “simple Christians” by hierarchs, bureaucrats and priestcraft. It is a thing that springs up naturally (and supernaturally) from the Jewish soil of the Church, since Judaism is itself a rich liturgical tradition.

That is why the word “liturgy” means “the work of the people.” Worship is the work of the people and Jesus—the Bread of Life who was broken for our sake—is the object of our worship, the sacrifice we offer and the food we receive from God.

--

Overcoming the Influence of the World As Catholic Men

Overcoming the Influence of the World As Catholic Men
By Maurice Blumberg
Shared by Edward Vasquez from an article in Catholic Exchange

I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:12-17)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. (Colossians 3:1-5)

What is the difference between having our hearts set on the world and having our hearts set on Jesus? To answer the question, we must first understand what John meant by the term “the world” (1 John 2:15-17). He was not speaking of the physical world, which is still very good (Genesis 1:31). Nor was he saying that everything in society is hopelessly sinful. Rather, he was speaking of society and culture to the extent that it is ruled by a mind-set focused only on the finite world that is opposed to God. For John, “the world” meant a way of thinking that forgets about God and puts self first.

John wrote that while this worldly way of life may appear attractive to us as Catholic men for a time, it is ultimately unsatisfying, fruitless, and passing away. Some of the fruits of this way of life are listed in Colossians 3:5: “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” This is in stark contrast to those of us who love God and seek him with all our heart (Colossians 3:1-2).

However old we may be, we are young and vigorous in the Lord (1 John 2:12-14). We have experienced forgiveness of their sins. Our hearts are raised up to understand and taste heavenly realities. We have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ himself. We are forward-looking visionaries who are learning to see our lives and the world around us from a heavenly perspective. With joy and purpose, we dedicate ourselves to advancing the kingdom of God on earth even as we go about our everyday lives.

Christianity is not meant to turn us into dreamers filled with naïve idealism. It makes us into realists. We may see the darkness in the world, but we are also filled with confidence in Jesus’ power to overcome that darkness and establish God’s kingdom.

This is the life in store for anyone who sets out to follow Jesus. Does it sound too good to be true? Does it seem too hard? Do you still find yourself too attached to the things of “this world”? We really can come to know the vitality of the Christian life because Christ is in us. It is not based on our personalities but on the transforming power of his Spirit. It is the result of having a living friendship with Jesus. The more we spend time with the Lord in prayer, the more we say yes to the Lord each day, the more we say yes to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit - the less influence the negative forces of the world will have on how we live.

“Lord Jesus, I am far from perfect, but I want to live as St. John described. I give myself to you. Please fill me afresh with your Spirit. Enable and empower me to love you and serve you more, and to be that Catholic man of God you have called me to be!”

Maurice Blumberg was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.nfcmusa.org/), and is currently a Trustee. He is also the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry to the Military and Prisoners for The Word Among Us. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@aol.org.)

[Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing me to adapt some material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. How does your understanding of the term, “the world,” compare to the Biblical understanding described in 1 John 2:15-17 and in the article? How attractive and how influential are the things of the world in your life?

2. How well are you doing in putting to death “the parts of you that are earthly” that are listed in Colossians 3:5? What steps can you take to do better? What role can other trusted Catholic brothers in Christ play in helping you?

3. Being a Christian does not mean we escape from the world. On the contrary, it enables us to live out our lives in the world more fully as Catholic men. As the article states, “We are forward-looking visionaries who are learning to see our lives and the world around us from a heavenly perspective. With joy and purpose, we dedicate ourselves to advancing the kingdom of God on earth even as we go about our everyday lives. Christianity is not meant to turn us into dreamers filled with naïve idealism. It makes us into realists. We may see the darkness in the world, but we are also filled with confidence in Jesus’ power to overcome that darkness and establish God’s kingdom.” What do these words mean to you? How can you make them a greater reality in your life?

4. The article ends with these words: “The more we spend time with the Lord in prayer, the more we say yes to the Lord each day, the more we say yes to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit - the less influence the negative forces of the world will have on how we live.” If you are in a men’s group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would take these words to heart. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.

This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at PO Box 8540, Waco, TX 76714 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, click here.