ATLANTA—A time for men to step back for a few hours and reflect on their faith: that’s what the men envision who are planning the 2013 Blessed Trinity and Marist Morning of Reflection for Dads/Men.

The event, Saturday, March 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, is offered for fathers, grandfathers, alumni and friends of the two Catholic high schools, but because the planners know it is a great morning that can meet the needs of a lot of guys, they welcome all men, whether they have a connection to the schools or not.

Bishop Luis R. Zarama

“The format is very simple. It is a morning of reflection and retreat,” said Vince Baker, a Blessed Trinity High School parent. “We hope to get a lot of men to participate, to take that break out of their lives and focus on what their role is. … It is really just a time for men to reflect on God’s call for men as Christians. We want to open it up to the widest possible community.”

“We are all men coming together to grow in our faith and accept God’s plan for us,” Baker said.

Held annually for about 10 years around Lent, this year’s morning of reflection will be led by Bishop Luis R. Zarama, auxiliary bishop of the Atlanta Archdiocese. This year’s theme is “Men Focused on the Final Goal.”

The morning will be held at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell and will begin with Mass celebrated by Bishop Zarama in the main chapel of the high school at 8:30 a.m. Following that, the retreat will continue in the media center of Blessed Trinity. There will be a time of fellowship, continental breakfast and introductions from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Bishop Zarama will give a talk and spend time interacting with those attending from 10 to 11:30 a.m. After a brief closing, lunch will be provided from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation will also be made available.

There is no fee to attend.

Men from the two schools’ Bible study and spiritual life committees plan the event each year.

“While the event is rooted in the fullness of our Catholic identity, the intent of the event has always been to provide an opportunity for fathers and men of all faiths to come together in a simple manner, reflect on God’s call for us in becoming the men he has called us to be, and inspire us to work towards fulfilling that call given the challenges and demands on us as fathers and men in our secular world,” Baker said.

“We are simply fathers and men coming together, to set aside time to reflect on God’s plan for us and how we can become the men God wants us to be,” he said.