About

The Catholic Family Men Story:

As a Catholic husband and father, I understood the importance of my vocation, but in the midst of everything else, I found it difficult to stay intentional about advancing in it, and once intentional it was a challenge to find a good and effective Catholic resource that was focused specifically on building up husbands and fathers. So I started my own study of holy husbands and fathers who have been recognized as Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God. I searched their lives for good spousal and fatherly examples that I could apply to my own. I wanted to share what I was discovering with other Catholic husbands and fathers and Catholic Family Men was born.

From 2015-2016, I posted a good example from a saintly husband/father every two weeks with some ideas for practical application. I eventually compiled all 26 examples into an ebook entitled Top Seven Decisions of Saintly Husbands and Fathers: A 52-Week Challenge Toward Becoming the Man God Made You to Be.

From 2016-2017, I began a new series featuring Catholic husbands and fathers who are still in the midst of their earthly vocations, each sharing his #1 lesson for husbands and fathers in Christ based on what he has learned so far.

Founder/Director: Jim Havens
22 years ago I opened my heart in sincere prayer one evening and experienced a real and extremely powerful spiritual encounter with Jesus, and then with His mother Mary. It began a search for truth which eventually led me back into the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church three years later. Striving to seek God’s will above my own, I started on a path of grace that led me to Franciscan University for three years (M.A. Theology and Christian Ministry) and then to subsequent apostolic work for the past 15 years.

I answered God’s call to marry my best friend Rebecca in 2008. We have five children on earth: Theresa (12), Faustina (10), Francisco (9), Augustine (6), and Isaac (4). We also have three children in Heaven due to miscarriage: Mariam Joseph (2013), Jude (2014), and Grace (2021).

God has done and continues to do amazing things in my life. My conversion to a life fully alive in Christ is an ongoing reality, struggle, and an every day decision. It is both an awesome gift and a challenging responsibility. I desire to be the best husband and father that I can possibly be (my primary vocation) and, while I am grateful for the insights God has already given me, I know I have volumes more to learn. This has led to the creation of Catholic Family Men.

“As Founder/Director of Catholic Family Men, I consecrate every effort herein to Jesus through Mary and Joseph. I submit all content to be in agreement with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is ‘a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion (Fidei Depositum, IV. St. John Paul the Great).’ I begin Catholic Family Men by God’s grace on March 19, 2015 (The Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary).”