Men's Perspective Group

Men find common ground and support through conversation

  Jerry Kwasek, married 50 years with Marlyne, has been through it. By "it" we’re talking about life —the joyful, wonderful parts and the heart-wrenching, I-don’t-think-I-can’t-bear-it ones. It’s a life he describes as "imperfect," but he believes that is exactly why he — and the other facilitators like Dennis, of the Men’s Perspective Group — are perfect for their roles.

  Kwasek founded a group at Mission Valley YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association ) in 2023. The goal: Provide an outlet for a group of men to share experiences, discuss their lives and help each other to become better versions of themselves.

  A former media executive with a master’s degree in social science, Kwasek has “decades of real-life, family and professional experience dealing with family alcoholism, chemical dependency, marital tensions and separations, and criminal justice issues. At 74, he’s gained his own hard-earned perspective and is convinced he is onto something critical and life-changing for the men in his group.

  The concept for the Men’s Perspective Group took hold back when Kwasek was a scout master. “On campouts, after the boys retired to their tents, the men would sit around the campfire and begin to open up to each other about the stressors in their lives at home and at work.”

  He remembers thinking, “Holy cow, the men need a respite; they need a safe place to release and talk about whatever is going on in their lives.” That got Kwasek, a longtime YMCA member, and part-time swim instructor, thinking about George Williams, who founded the first YMCA in London in 1844. Williams's mission was to build a supportive community where young men like himself could tackle the pressing social challenges they faced. Then Jerry thought why not MIssion San Diego de Alcala his home parish.

  Kwasek figured his group could offer that outlet for men today. “The men start to look at themselves and see direction they’re in or have been in and maybe the direction they’d like to go. We encourage people to think about how they want to be remembered — what is your legacy?” The sessions, Kwasek says, “help them make new male friends without

talking about sports or politics. Hopefully men of all backgrounds, faith and no faith could find a closer relationship with Christ through the parish men who participate in the group.”

  Interest in the Men’s Perspective Group is growing. It’s open to men 18 and older, with most in the 40 to 60 range. They meet regularly now at the parish's California Room on the first and third Sunday of each month, 4:00 p.m. In addition to the meetings there are optional gatherings. The men can find discipleship camaraderie in parish service projects and in some recreational activities together. It is yet another way Kwasek has observed that the conversation flows. His ethos is “Men are never alone with Christ and a sense of purpose becoming a fountain with their talents in the service to others!”

For more information, please contact Jerry Kwasek.