If you’re a consistent or even compulsory in reading this blog, you’ve heard that we at FRATERNUS visit young people on their turf.  We go to schools, sporting events, etc. praying that we can bring the loving presence of Christ with us and that He (not us) will "do his thing".  We don’t preach with words.  We simply sit, listen, and over time earn the right to be heard.  And when that time comes, we can share in words the liberating truth about Truth Himself.

We use that phrase of earning the right often.  Young men have plenty of adults willing to dish out advice a plenty.  But when you earn their respect by being consistent, present, and not pushy, before you know it you’ll have them asking all sorts of questions.  In one day I’ve had boys ask about God’s laws, listening to the Church, and why drugs compatible with the Christian soul (i.e. deeper conversations than the intellectually offensive slogan "just say know").

My unsolicited advice (I hope I’ve earned it with blog posts) is that you’ll consider being a part of a ministry or apostolate (organized or not) that is actually present with young people.  No pamphlets.  No events.  Just ears, eyes, and hearts set on the person in front of you that Christ died for.

I know of one organization that could really use your help…

J Michael Craig

If you’ve ever gone to a huge public school (which I have) you’ll notice oil and water groups of students called “cliques.” A clique is a small, exclusive group of friends or associates. Cliques can be intimidating whether you’re actually in High School or just visiting.

No one likes cliques. No one wants to be on the outside of anything and our natural, hardwired desire for communion tells us this. Our faith is universal (read: not small OR exclusive, not cliquey) and our Church is strengthened by the blood of martyrs, those individuals that radically believed in the ONE Mystical Body of Christ. Jesus died for all mankind, not just the guys revving their engines during lunch. Jesus came to seek and save all that was lost, not just hang out at Orange Julius in the Mall. Love is not “cliquey,” Love goes beyond all social norms and small exclusive groups of friends. Love begets virtuous action which begets love which begets…you get the point. It’s a vicious cycle you really want to be a part of.

The virtue that the brothers are learning in FRATERNUS goes beyond all social norms. These young men are the future of the Church, men that will confidently walk independent of cliques to unite all of their brothers and sisters to the Lord.

Virtue is turning the tides towards unity…

KWess

“Who likes white water rafting?  How about high ropes course?  Rock wall climbing?  Zip lining?  How about football, soccer, basketball, and frisbee games?  Bonfires and S’mores?  Well then you will love FRATERNUS Summer Ranch.”

This pitch worked wonderfully…almost too wonderfully.  As I gave this pitch to the 6th to 8th grade boys at Trinity Catholic School, their excitement elevated to a dangerously high level as each question was asked.  I feared for my life as the boys stared rabidly at the Ranch packets in my right hand.  There was pushing and shoving to make sure they each got one faster than the next.  AND IT WAS GREAT!!!

The excitement and anticipation of Summer Ranch here in Tallahassee is at an all-time high.  I hope Pensacola, St. Augustine and Nashville can match the energy of the TLH brothers when we convene for the greatest week of the summer.

B-Rad

Last week was just one of those weeks…the one week a month when all of the field staff gets together in Tallahassee to talk about all things FRATERNUS.  I feel like every time FRATERNUS comes together I write a blog about it…I guess because I think it’s important.  No matter how many times it happens, I still fall into the same pattern.  Work by myself, get tired, forget that there are others doing the same thing I am.  And then, get together, feel renewed, talk to friends, get excited.

Repeat.

I know I can’t live off the periodic Tallahassee energy any more than I can live spiritutally from retreat high to retreat high, but man is it good to get together.

I think it’s just the part of me (perhaps the biggest part of me) that longs for communion.  I feel that longing with my wonderful wife, I feel it with my friends, and I feel it with my co-workers in FRATERNUS.  I’m not sure who said it (maybe Christopher West echoing JPII, or maybe it was John Eldredge), but deep down, we all have a longing for communion, and we’re bent on trying to satisfy that longing any way we can.  Some fill it with temporary things that bring them momentary bliss only to find the void still there when the moment fades.  Our goal, which is first and foremost directed at ourselves, is to direct that longing for communion to the only one who can really fill the void — the Father.  It is only in allowing the Father to fulfill that desire for communion in our own hearts that we will be able to direct others to drink from that same life-giving water.

I think that’s what our meetings do more than anything else…the meeting is really secondary, because after all, we could probably solve the same problems over a conferene call that wouldn’t require me to drive three hours.  But coming together in the same room allows all of us to focus on more than what’s on the meeting agenda for the day.  It helps us unite our gaze on the only one that can fill us.  So that we can then go and show others.

~Rush

Anyone who’s been involved with the development of FRATERNUS is probably laughing when I say its simple.  After all isn’t there ranks, virtue marks, handbooks, trips, agendas, etc, etc, ad nauseum?  Well, yes, but those are details that were hard to work out but the end program is rather simple.

Boys get together with virtuous men.  Virtuous men show boys how to be virtuous men.  Love begets action begets love begets action.  Games, movie clips, talking, challenges.  Guys do these things anyway right?  Is it really so complicated to have a group of men playing a game and watching "man movies" and then talking about reality (well the talking might not come as natural to all…).  FRATERNUS is very simple in it taps into something that’s deep in a man’s heart - the need for brotherhood, the hunger to know the Father, a yearning to be rid of the burden of sin.

FRATERNUS has made this huge assumption, that the hunger for God is deeply rooted in being human.  And, as one of those believers, I know that the reason we have seen this success is because we look to the Father for guidance, and we point the boys to Him.  They learn that a life in God is all they ever really wanted (although that love was sought in wrong places in the past).

Its simple.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…” - The Lord

It’s 5:22pm on a Friday afternoon and I had laid down for a few hours asking the Lord to wake me in time for Mass. As I awoke I did quick Mass math, wondering if I could make it to 5:30 or if 5:45 was my best shot. I opted for the 5:30 and made (appropriate) haste to the Chapel to encounter my Savior. One minute late! Woohooo!

My hunger for the Lord has grown. How many years prior did I give little more than a head nod to Jesus as I went about my (self-assured) merry way? FRATERNUS has been encouraging deep growth in my relationship with the Lord and I can see it trickle from the top down. You can’t give what you don’t have and as I encounter Christ, I can bring the brothers to Him.

This program is radically transforming hearts (from the word radix, aka, at the root) and bringing young men into relationship with Christ. The Church will be transformed by men bold enough to encounter Christ at the core (the root) of their being. Pray for an earnest hunger in the brothers and the Lord will meet them there.

God Bless

KWess

Well, it was even kuh-razier than I thought it would be.

Last Sunday at FRAT Night, we had something to the tune of 50 brothers turn out for our first annual dodge ball tournament.  I don’t know if it was the flyers in the schools, word of mouth, or just the effect dodge ball has on young men, but I was totally pumped when I looked around the gym and saw the number of dudes that came out to play.  In fact, I think 8th grader Jason said it best when he arrived at FRAT Night.  He stepped into the gym, took one look at the chaos was unfolding, and simply said:

"Whoa."

Suffice it to say, I echoed his sentiment.

I have to give props to the Captains, who immediately stepped up to the challenge of hosting our mega dodge ball night.  With almost 20 teams, we needed a bracket, pronto.  To the rescue came the art teacher, wife of one of our Captains, who opened up her classroom and tore off a giant sheet of poster paper.  We stuck it to the wall with name tags, and in a matter of minutes, one of our captains cooked up a double elimination tournament that would make the NCAA jealous. Meanwhile, we set up the gym to be able to host two dodge ball games at the same time, and I grabbed the microphone and prepared to scream myself hoarse by providing live commentary on all the action.

It took literally all of FRAT Night for the dust to settle, and when it was all said and done, the middle school champion was the Guy Harveys and the high school champion was the Chi Rhos.

I’ve almost got my voice back.

-Rush

FRATERNUS is about virtue.  Virtue is the firm and habitual choosing of the good.  Notice the word habit in that definition.  A habit is something we do almost without thinking - its a reaction - not quite knee jerk but not quite rational.  We just do it.  If they’re good they’re good, and if they’re bad they’re bad.  To grow in virtue is to grow in those habits that are towards the good.  Often times they simply replace the bad, but sometimes a removal of bad habits are the focus.  Particularly in lent.

FRATERNUS men, I think, are vital in bringing back a good habit - trusting men.  By being trustworthy, we show that not only is this possible, but its the norm for men not the exception.  Most of us reading this can instantly think of a time when our trust of a man was violated - perhaps even a very painful experience.  Unfortunately that can cause us to apply that (un)trustworthiness to most men we encounter, especially if it was painful before (we don’t want that pain to come back, right?).

But a lack in trust causes mistrust of trust.  Mistrust rarely stays in one heart.  We begin to keep an eye over our shoulder.  Suspicion takes over.  Communication breaks down.  Then the monster of anger is born.  He begins to break our bonds of trust in the most vital areas.  The habit of not trusting becomes a downfall for many - not just the one.

Our prayer is that the men working with FRATERNUS be an example of one to be trusted in their community.  Only a good old fashioned handshake is needed.  This is of course monitored closely by our friend prudence, the cheif of the cardinal virtues.  But hopefully we can propogate a posture of trust amongst men.  After all, we are brothers.

J Michael Craig

Two weekends ago, we had over thirty men - brothers, captains, and fathers - venture into the wilds of Pegram, Tennessee. Between the firearms and marksmanship training, hikes to the peaks of a mountain, football games, and capture the flag, we were not lacking in physical intensity. Between talks on manhood and chastity around a campfire, opportunities for prayer (including the mountaintop rosary), and beginning the day with the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, we were not lacking in spiritual intensity either.

I suppose this “intensity” in all things is what I love most about FRATERNUS. It is simply the philosophy and pedagogy of St. John Bosco, who is renowned for his 19th century work with young men in Turin, Italy. They ran around playing soccer and other sports until they were covered in mud and sweat. They subsequently went into the Oratory chapel at Valdocco for Mass, Confession, and Adoration (still dripping in sweat and covered in mud).

Young men thrive when challenged - physically, intellectually, and spiritually. I believe in our mission with my whole heart and continue to be amazed by the Father’s blessing. Let us be heroic in our pursuit of virtue and faithful to our interior lives, for God is moving.

And may we never cease to get muddy along the way.

It’s a nice Sunday afternoon.

It’s been a peaceful morning.  Everything is calm.  Today, Sarah, my wife, and I woke up with some guests that we’re entertaining.  We ate coffee, eggs, and cheese danish.  Now it is afternoon.  As I sit here on my couch writing this blog, Sarah is sitting next to me, reading a book.  Our home is quiet.  Everything has an air of stillness.  The cat is sleeping silently on a chair.

It won’t last long.

Sunday, you see, is FRAT Night here in Pensacola, and though FRAT Night is rowdy enough by itself to shatter any silence, tonight is no ordinary FRAT Night.

Every once in a while, it’s nice to have a little change of pace.  It keeps us on our toes, keeps us from getting too stagnant.

Tonight is one of those nights.

Tonight, at FRAT Night, we are having ourselves a little change of pace in the form of a dodge-ball tournament.  Three on three.  Best team wins.  I’ve even convinced the school P.E. Teacher to loan us some special lightweight dodge-balls — not the red playground balls — these are the ones that fly really well but are soft enough that they don’t hurt (much) when you get it.

Tonight, chaos will rule.  Music.  Mayhem.  Food.  Dodge-ball.

When the time comes, I will be ready.  But for now…

I enjoy my peace.

~Rush