This weekend was a much needed time of rest and relaxation after several busy weeks of FRAT Nights, EXPOSURE outings and travels to the FRATERNUS Ranch in Colorado.

My weekend started with an epic surf session Friday afternoon after work! I love the fall! Cool nights, warm days and some of the better surfing days here on the gulf coast of Florida! Sitting out in the line up with 4-6′ waves exploding around me, I could not do anything but give thanks to God! What a blessing! What a way to end the week! After three hours of top-to-bottom surfing and a few tubes , I headed in exhausted, but rejuvenated!

After a quick warm shower Chris and I drove up to Catholic High for the homecoming tailgate party and football game which ended up to be a shut-out as Catholic High dominated Ft. Walton Beach HS the entire game. The fans were stoked! It was great to see several FRATERNUS Brothers at the game as well. By 930p we were out and on the way back to the "The Base" (our house’s nickname) to hangout and relax with the roommates and seminarian (Tom Dillon).

The rest of the weekend was filled with plent of sun, beach and rest. Sunday was our parish picnic were we (FRATERNUS Brothers) gave a hand to set up and keep things rolling! A great opportunity to meet people and serve the parish!

Now back to the grind as a Missionary! Staff meetings, program development, prayer and hangout time with the Brothers! Its going to be a busy week!

Peace,

Tommy

My body did not want rise this morning. The late nights and early mornings have began to add up over the past several months. But when I feel I can not go forward, that I can not give anymore, He provides the strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Last night after the conclusion of a successful Fraternus Captain’s meeting and night prayer I was beyond ready for sleep at 11pm. I do not remember falling asleep last night, all I remember was laying my head down and what felt like five minutes, my alarm began to ring. It was 5:33 am. My body struggled to respond. “Just five more minutes” I thought to myself. I did not want get up, but my brothers were counting on me

Knowing that a five minute snooze would turn into a 25 minute snooze, I willed myself out of bed, dragged myself across the cold travertine floor to the restroom. The cold, damp air and howling wind outside only made my warm bed more inviting but I continued forward.

As I pulled into the parking lot of the Church I found a few members of my discipleship group ( HAWC- Honest, Avaliable, Willing and Chaste) waiting outside in the cold and rain. We committed as a band of brothers to prayer. And to pray as a brotherhood before our LORD in the Blessed Sacrament…every Friday at 6am! What a great blessing! Once I stepped into the chapel with five other young men my heart began to soar! This is what is about! This is the joy and beauty of a brotherhood. To call eachother on, to a higher calling, to bring (sometimes drag) eachother to our LORD who strengthens and renews our hearts and sets us free!

I could not believe this was real (again). I was praying before our LORD with five young men! Five young men who our Father is forging into men of virtue. Five young men who have chosen the road less traveled and who are allowing God to not only transform their hearts, but the hearts of their peers!

The hour before our LORD, flew by! So may prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving. I reflected again on what He has been doing, and still do not understand. FRATERNUS. The FRATERNUS RANCH. The People. The Brothers. Why? Why me? Why Pensacola and Tallahassee? I do not know why, but only give thanks.

After prayer we head to the local breakfast hangout “Bagel Heads” to grab a bit and catch up on life before the had to goto class!

This is my JOB????

Now its off to emails, curriculum writing/editing, conferences, (SURFING ) and homecoming football games for the rest of the day!

Grace and peace,

Tommy

“I can’t believe I’m ‘at work’ right now, ” I said to my missionary partner and mentor Tommy yesterday.  We were both at home, working on our computers, steadily doing the million and one things that come with being in FRATERNUS’ first year.

 I listened as Tommy showed me the ropes and gave me a list of things to do, trying to hold it all together in my head.  As we worked, sent emails, and talked on the phone, I got a real sense of awe at what we’re doing.

 That happens a lot working for FRATERNUS…that feeling that something powerful is happening, and we’re a part of it.  Tommy and Justin, our founder, both tell me that they wake up every morning and they wonder if it’s all a dream, if it really is too good to be true, that what they do every day could actually be their JOBS?!

Not a bad gig to stumble into, eh?

Last night we had a Captains meeting, where the adult volunteers, mostly (but not all) fathers of some of our FRATERNUS brothers come together for a weekly meeting.  This is a week of firsts for me, so I’m just soaking it all up.  In addition to discussing several topics, one thing I learned was that these captains meetings have a spiritual component as well.  It’s more than just a group of men discussing how to best implement FRATERNUS…it’s men doing their best to learn about and live the virtues that they are sharing with the brothers!  What an awesome thing to be a part of…men learning about and sharing their faith, and growing in virtue…growth that isn’t for them alone, but is for them to share with the next generation.

Meanwhile, I’m STILL not moved in yet.  On the docket for today:  coffee prayer emails unpack read business plan make brochure start fundraising don’t forget to eat homecoming game this is the best job ever!

Rush

What!! Chris Rush! As a FRATERNUS Missionary! In Pensacola…I could hardly contain myself to think the GOD sent him to us! We are blessed beyond measure to have another insanely-awesome (if that is a word), proactive, super-stoked guy on board! And in a time of great need! The harvest is ripe, and the workers are few!

I wake up every morning, expecting this to be a dream. I think to myself “Is this really happening?” Is God really creating this organization? Is He really sending these people? I feel like it was yesterday when I was driving through snow covered mountains in Colorado on my mission to help spread the word of FRATERNUS, and now! Now it is real. Young men, 120 young men, 20 Captains, 3 missionaries, 2 parishes.

Is this Really happening?

I have concluded it is..ha! It is and I would not want to be anywhere else, then where the Lord has called me. To be in the “trenches“, to experience the suffering, the pain and the glory. To see young men continually recommit their lives to Christ, to go deeper, to rise to the Challenge and live a life of virtue, when so few men are!

Like Chris mentioned earlier (yesterday) we (Chris, Mike Williams and myself) are going to commit to you (our supports) to do a way better job of sharing the stoke, a surfing word for “passion”, and sharing what God is doing in the lives of the youth in Pensacola and Tallahassee, Florida.

He is transforming lives, families, parishes and communities. He is transforming the heart of His sons to be courageous, to pursue, to suffer and to be faithful. Men who once were fearful to say a prayer of blessing over their meal at school are now leading their tables in prayer, their homecoming dinner party’s in prayer. Men who once prayed on occasion are now commiting to visit our Lord fifteen minutes a day in the Word and once a week before the Blessed Sacrament.

Some politicians these days speak of “change”. I will speak of change that IS echoing in eternity, that IS causing a shift in society, a change that IS happening today and that is transforming our country…for the good! This change may appear small today, but I believe the LORD will be sending this groundswell of renewal throughout this country and throughout the world! Hold on…

PLEASE!! Continue to pray for Fraternus, for the employee’s, for the missionaries, for the Captains and for the Brothers! Your prayers are transforming lives!

Grace and Peace,

Tommy

October 22, 2008

Officially my third day on the job! After my first unofficial weekend on the first ever FRATERNUS Exposure outing, I’m three days into the FRATERNUS culture. One thing we have a ready supply of around here is excitement about what the Holy Spirit is doing with FRATERNUS. Day one was spent at a coffee shop with my partner in crime, Tommy Van Horn, writing my bio, updating the website, and listening to Tommy talk about new developments.

This has been a baptism by fire for me. As a longtime friend of the founder, I remember hearing about FRATERNUS a few years ago back when the idea was first being formed. It hasn’t taken long for FRATERNUS to get going, and when the Lord unexpectedly called me into service as a FRATERNUS missionary, it was a whole new ballgame! I made a quick move, and before I could even unpack my things, it was off to Tallahassee for a business meeting. I spent the entire car ride there and back doing my best to be a human sponge, spending three hours each way soaking up as much as I can about the vision of FRATERNUS.

As my third day on the job comes to a close, I can only imagine what the Lord has in store for myself, and for this awesome movement in the Church. For now, I’m going to be joining Tommy as a missionary to the FRATERNUS group at St. Paul’s parish in Pensacola, learning as much as I can from him and helping out with some of his duties. I can’t wait to get into the swing of things, but first, I’ve got to unpack!

peace,

Chris Rush