About That Man Is You! (Paradisus Dei)
That Man Is You! (often abbreviated TMIY) is a Catholic men's leadership and faith-formation program developed by Paradisus Dei, a lay Catholic ministry headquartered in Houston, Texas. Designed to be run at the parish level, TMIY addresses the pressures and temptations men face in modern culture — particularly in their roles as husbands and fathers — by combining current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints, in pursuit of what Paradisus Dei calls "the vision of man fully alive." Since its debut in 2004, the program has grown into one of the largest parish-based men's ministries in the United States, with 1,000+ participating parishes across 45 U.S. states, 150+ Catholic dioceses and 6 countries, and well over 100,000 men having experienced the program to date. A Spanish-language counterpart, ¡Ese Hombre Eres Tú!, extends the same format to Spanish-speaking parishes.
Mission
To facilitate a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ, meet men wherever they are in their spiritual lives and help them take one step further, turn the hearts of fathers to their spouse and children, form authentic leaders capable of transforming their families and greater society, form bonds of friendship and fellowship that strengthen the parish community, and provide a long-term solution for men's ministry and ongoing formation.
- Founded
- 2002 (Paradisus Dei); 2004 (That Man is You! program)
- Founder
- Steve Bollman
- Leader
- Steve Bollman, Founder & President of Paradisus Dei
- Reach
- 1,000+ parishes participating in TMIY; 45 U.S. states, 150+ Catholic dioceses, and 6 countries; well over 100,000 men have experienced the program since its inception; 95%+ year-over-year parish participation retention rate.
- Serves
- Catholic men — single, married, husbands and fathers — and their families, served at the parish level in cooperation with parish pastors.
About That Man is You!
That Man is You! (TMIY) is the flagship men's leadership and faith-formation program of Paradisus Dei, an organization of lay Catholics headquartered in Houston, Texas. It is positioned as an interactive, parish-based men's formation program that honestly addresses the pressures and temptations men face in modern culture — especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers. The program harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop what Paradisus Dei calls 'the vision of man fully alive.'
- A Catholic men's leadership program for parishes
- Designed to facilitate a personal encounter with Jesus Christ
- Meets men wherever they are in their spiritual lives and helps them take one step further
- Turns the hearts of fathers to their spouse and children
- Forms authentic leaders capable of transforming their families and greater society
Mission and Goals
Paradisus Dei publishes an explicit list of what TMIY is designed to do, and these goals shape every element of the program — from the content of the video presentations to the structure of the small-group time and the long-term arc of the multi-year curriculum.
- Facilitate a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ
- Meet men wherever they are in their spiritual lives and help them take one step further
- Turn the hearts of fathers to their spouse and children
- Form authentic leaders capable of transforming their families and greater society
- Form bonds of friendship and fellowship that strengthen the parish community
- Provide a long-term solution for men's ministry and ongoing formation with over 10 years of content
History of Paradisus Dei and TMIY
Paradisus Dei was founded in 2002 by Steve Bollman, a former Houston-based trader in energy derivatives. According to Paradisus Dei and several parish history pages, Bollman experienced a personal call to found a ministry dedicated to the renewal of marriage and family life during the Great Jubilee (the year 2000), and set aside his professional career two years later to bring it to life. In 2004, he developed the That Man is You! men's formation program and launched it at his home parish of St. Cecilia in Houston, in the parish Activity Center — a place St. Cecilia still calls 'where the seeds of an international ministry were first planted.'
- Founded as Paradisus Dei in 2002 by Steve Bollman in Houston, Texas
- TMIY men's program developed and first launched in 2004
- First pilot at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Houston, where the program still meets weekly
- Cardinal Daniel DiNardo has formally endorsed TMIY for parish use
- Bollman does not receive a salary or any other monies from Paradisus Dei
Program Content and Curriculum
The TMIY curriculum is delivered through a video series paired with small-group discussion, and is organized into Foundational Formation and Ongoing Formation tracks. Each program year is centered around a key theme with 26 sessions split across fall and spring semesters (13 weeks each), presented through the lens of the 7 Steps to Superabundance. Content is delivered by 30+ world-class presenters and combines the Church's traditional sources of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterial teaching with the findings of modern science.
- 26 sessions per year — 13 in the fall and 13 in the spring
- Foundational Formation: Becoming a Man After God's Own Heart; Revelation of the Father
- Ongoing Formation: The Vision of Man Fully Alive; All Things New; The Fight of Faith; The Light of Men; Thy Kingdom Come; Apostles of the New Springtime; Worthy of the Call
- Most recent published curricula include 'All Things New' (Fall 2024), 'The Fight of Faith' (Spring 2024/Spring 2025) and 'The Vision' (Spring 2025)
Sample Session Topics ('The Fight of Faith')
A representative spring semester, 'The Fight of Faith,' illustrates the depth of the TMIY curriculum. Its stated objectives are to contemplate the mysterious Will of God and discover a Kingdom 'not of this world,' to embrace the true identity of sons of the Father, to experience the intimacy and secrets of a deep and personal friendship with Christ, and to uncover the ultimate truth that sheds light on all things — God's own identity.
- Week 14: Put your Sword into its Sheath
- Week 15: Beloved Sons of The Father
- Week 16: The Prodigal Son
- Week 17: Paternal Expectations
- Week 18: I Have Called You Friends
- Week 19: The Thirst of Christ
- Week 20: Learning the Secrets of God
- Week 21: The Wounding of the Heart
- Week 22: Fruitfulness in Christ
- Week 23: Persecution in the World
- Week 24: The Depths of the Knowledge of God
- Week 25: The Question of Identity
- Week 26: Imperishable Crown of Glory
Featured Speakers and Presenters
TMIY draws on a roster of more than 30 Catholic speakers, theologians, apologists, authors and clergy. Paradisus Dei highlights these presenters as 'world class' speakers who 'clearly and dynamically present the truths of the faith in a way that moves hearts and renews minds.'
- Steve Bollman (Founder & President, Paradisus Dei)
- Mark Hartfiel
- Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
- Dr. Scott Hahn
- Dr. John Bergsma
- Dr. Peter Kreeft
- Fr. John Burns
- Dr. Andrew Swafford
- Michael Gormley
- John Sablan
- John Pridmore
Reach and Scale
TMIY is one of the largest parish-based men's ministries in the United States and continues to grow internationally. Paradisus Dei publishes reach statistics that demonstrate the breadth and stickiness of the program.
- 45 U.S. states
- 150+ Catholic dioceses
- 6 countries
- 1,000+ parishes currently running TMIY
- Well over 100,000 men have experienced the program since inception
- 95%+ year-over-year parish participation retention
- Participants rate the content 9.4 on a 10-point scale
Impact and Proven Results
Independent research by a Faith Advisor to The Gallup Poll identified TMIY as 'one of the most life-transforming programs ever studied.' On average, men entered TMIY in the bottom quartile of the Gallup Poll Spiritual Commitment Index and finished 26 weeks later 'well into the top quartile.' Paradisus Dei reports measurable changes in the sacramental and devotional lives of the men who participate.
- Increase in Sunday Mass participation
- Increase in monthly confessions
- Increase in morning and evening prayers
- Most profound transformation seen in marriage and family life
- Reduction in pornography use
- Better balancing of work demands
- Greater participation in the sacramental life of the Church
How a Parish Brings TMIY Onsite
TMIY is designed to be parish-led. Paradisus Dei walks each parish's Core Team through the launch process with free materials, a dedicated Program Coordinator, a Core Team Manual and a training video. The five-step launch path is the same whether a parish is starting fresh or restarting the program for a new year.
- Step 1: Obtain your pastor's approval
- Step 2: Build your Core Team
- Step 3: Contact Paradisus Dei to register your parish
- Step 4: Run a promotional campaign
- Step 5: Launch the program!
Parish Session Format
Based on details published in the program's Core Team Manual, a typical TMIY session at a parish is divided into three roughly equal parts, beginning with a meal fellowship window. The structure intentionally creates space for honest conversation and bonds of brotherhood, while explicitly avoiding solicitation or donation appeals within the program itself.
- A meal / fellowship window to start the morning
- A DVD presentation forming the core content
- Small-group discussion time for honest, faith-sharing conversation
- No donation appeals inside TMIY itself
¡Ese Hombre Eres Tú! — Spanish Edition
Paradisus Dei publishes ¡Ese Hombre Eres Tú! (EHET) as the Spanish-language counterpart of TMIY. It offers the same proven format, fellowship and content that has been the hallmark of the English program, and is coordinated by Deacon Carlos Ramirez. Paradisus Dei notes that three years' worth of content is currently available to Spanish-speaking parishes.
- Same format, fellowship and content as TMIY
- Three years of content currently available
- Coordinated by Deacon Carlos Ramirez
- Spanish inquiries: [email protected] or 281-974-3541
Experience TMIY (Parish-to-Parish Initiative)
Experience TMIY is a parish-to-parish initiative designed to let men explore what the program can do for them, their family, and their wider community. A recent published Experience TMIY window ran February 23 – March 8.
- A way to explore what That Man is You! can do for you, your family, and your community
- Recent Experience TMIY session: February 23 – March 8
- Designed to lower the barrier to starting TMIY in a new parish
Endorsements and Church Approval
Paradisus Dei emphasizes TMIY's standing within the Catholic Church. The program holds a formal pastoral endorsement from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo (then Archbishop of Galveston-Houston), who determined that TMIY does not need the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat at this time, while reserving the right to submit TMIY for evaluation at a later date. The program has also received endorsements from other Catholic clergy and bishops.
- Cardinal DiNardo's letter of recommendation included in TMIY's promotional literature
- Cardinal DiNardo determined that TMIY does not currently require the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat
- Additional endorsements received from other Catholic clergy
Costs and Funding Model
Paradisus Dei publishes details on where donated funds are used so parishes and supporters can see how the ministry is sustained. The program itself is provided free of charge to parishes and participants.
- Three largest areas of developmental cost: professional DVD production; website development; TMIY promotional materials
- Three largest areas of operating cost: salaries for Paradisus Dei employees; travel; administrative costs (promotional materials, shipping, telephone, etc.)
- Founder Steve Bollman does not receive a salary or any other monies from Paradisus Dei
Contact, Headquarters and Staff
Paradisus Dei operates the TMIY Global Headquarters from Houston, Texas, in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The office is staffed by a team that includes multiple dedicated Program Coordinators who walk each parish Core Team through the launch process.
- Office: 900 Threadneedle Street, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77079
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19127, Houston, TX 77224
- Phone: 281-974-3541
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Staff include Program Coordinators Anne, Emily and Oscar
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Paradisus Dei — The Broader Ministry
TMIY sits within the broader Paradisus Dei family of ministries, all dedicated to what Steve Bollman describes as 'the mystery of the family according to the Three Wisdoms of the Church' — harmonizing theology with the findings of modern science while providing a vision that 'touches the divine.' Paradisus Dei's wider work also extends to marriage and family renewal beyond the TMIY men's program.
- Paradisus Dei = 'Paradise of God' (Latin)
- Dedicated to the renewal of marriage and family life
- Signature program: That Man is You! (TMIY)
- Related initiatives include Missionaries to the Family
- Spanish-language outreach via ¡Ese Hombre Eres Tú!
