What is Man Up Philly?
Man Up Philly is a once per year conference focused on men to energize and enable us to be better sons, fathers, and husbands, by living our faith and leading our families by example. Its a day filled with inspirational speakers which over the years has included athletes like Mike Piazza, Rich Gannon, Phil Martelli, Fran Dunphy and other notables like Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and Camden police chief J. Scott Thomson, who are constantly working to bring their faith into their everyday lives.
Jesus made us an amazing promise “For where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) This promise is at the heart of the goal of Man Up Philly, to help men start, facilitate or support men’s Gospel Reflection Groups.
“What is a Gospel Reflection Group?” you might be asking. Very simply, it’s a gathering of men just like you who seek to follow the will of God. It is typically a one hour weekly gathering of either humble men and/or women, where a universal Gospel reading from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) is read. After a brief moment of reflection, a spontaneous sharing of how this Gospel reading impacted the participants hearts, relative to their lives today, ensues. It has been said by one participant: “Miss a meal – yes. Miss the weekly Gospel Reflection – Never!”
How did it all start?
In 2002 a group of five men saw a void in enabling men to come together to share the Gospel with each other outside of Sunday Mass. To that end, they started a Gospel Reflection Group in Chester, PA that has grown into over 50 parishes and locations and now brings over 600 men together each week! These men share the Gospel, but also how to become better fathers, husbands, sons, and good Catholic men.
In 2008 our priests, bishops, and our Archbishop (along with these men) started what is now known as “Man Up Philly” the Men’s Spirituality Conference! It’s only one day a year, starting with inspirational speakers including athletes and other notables who are constantly working to bring our Lord into their everyday lives not just in Church, but in the workplace and most importantly, the home.