Ah, here it is, the season to be Jolly.

And I’m always jolly when I get to come to St. Augustine and spend some time with my fellow FRATERNUS workers.  It’s amazing just how far we’ve come in a year.  It seems like forever ago, last December, when all of us came together for our first annual (though I don’t know if we knew it would be annual at the time) planning conference.  Last year, our main concern was that we all knew what FRATERNUS was, never mind how to implement it!

Amazingly, it has only been one year, and our planning conference looks totally different.  We’ve all been here before, we know the drill, and we’ve all spent enough hours in that conference room to know what to expect…and it feels really good.

When I think about the last twelve months, it’s amazing everything that’s happened.  We have been writing:  an employee handbook, a Captain’s Manual, programming, new curriculum, scores of talks, blog entries, and newsletters.  We have been growing:  A full time headquarters staff, office space, TWO NEW CHAPTERS, two new missionaries and one executive missionary.  We have been changing lives with FRAT Nights, Camping trips, and the SUMMER RANCH…and this is only the beginning.

FRATERNUS has a completely different feel than it did twelve months ago.  Last year it was like “man, how can we possibly do all of this??”  This year it’s like “man, this is WORKING, so let’s KEEP GOING!”  The past year really has been one of definitions.  What is FRATERNUS exactly?  How do we do it?  What does it look like when it’s working?  Some of those definitions are starting to come into focus, and now that they are, it’s time to take the next step.

I feel truly blessed to be a part of the beginning of this organization, and blessed to have such great co workers as my mission partners and friends.  I can only wonder at the direction God is taking us next…

-Rush

The three main elements of FRATERNUS are the weekly FRAT Nights, the HAWC groups for senior brothers, and the twice-per-semester Exposure Outings. St. Augustine was ready for its second Exposure Outing after the Territory-Wide Exposure Outing in October. The boys were all excited.  Our campground had been checked out and we had a whole game plan ready for the brothers to completely enjoy the experience in the wild and away from any distractions. Then Thursday showed signs of a whole lot of rain coming our way. We still remained optimistic, wanting the total experience for the St. Augustine brothers, hoping that shear will power and hope would deter the weather. On Friday, it was realized that we were going to be rained on throughout the entire day with absolutely no where to find shelter at our camping site. We asked the question, “Do we want every brother to catch pneumonia and forever hate the idea of Exposure Outings?” The answer to that question, “Probably not.”

But we had to do something for the brothers. So the last-minute solution was to spend the day of Saturday at Cathedral Parish School, having fun, playing games, hanging out, watching an entire movie, and ending the day with some greats words from Captain Jason Craig and the Vigil Mass at the Cathedral.

Unfortunately, a lot of the brothers didn’t come, which is a huge shame for them because they missed some of the most memorable moments that will be experienced by this chapter. We played manhunt on the school grounds for at least 2 hours straight, with people hiding in everything possible from inside a trash can to directly behind the door where the other team came out of. It was a ridiculous amount of fun. We then took our “urban hike” through the rain to a deli owned by a parishioner for lunch. During the walk, we all prayed a rosary…in the rain…with no rain gear. We just looked like straight-up ballers walking in the rain with our rosaries, completely drenched, with a solemnity and excitement that I can’t quite explain.

We then got car rides back to the school, where we watched Spider-Man 3 in full, much to the agreement of the brothers in attendance. We then had received some great words from none other than Jason Craig about what it means to really be a man with some great examples from his own life. This was then immediately followed by the vigil Mass at the Cathedral to end a great day all around that I will not soon forget.

Brothers, you may have missed your Exposure Outing this weekend, but you were able to experience an equally incredible Exposure Inning. Welcome to FRATERNUS.

The experience of community over the course of the past week together as a staff gave me a profound glimpse into the calling of communion on every human heart. There was such anticipation on all of our hearts as we talked about the future of forming boys into chaste young men of integrity, faithful to the Catholic Church as disciples of Jesus Christ. The vision of FRATERNUS deepens as we face new challenges and prospects, and I believe we are becoming more authentic every day.

The reality of Emmanuel – God with us – reveals this simple truth. In this season of Advent, the dawn breaks in a distant land. The echo of chirping birds can only be heard from afar and the increasingly crisp air of early morning remains a hazy vision, a distant anticipation. The reality of newness and the joy of adoption into God’s family – inherent in the spirit of Christmas – are a few days away. We’ve been invited to gaze beyond this world into the blinding horizon of daybreak. We’ve been invited to come to the Father with great expectancy. But we must be still and wait, just as the Virgin obediently awaited the Savior’s birth during her pregnancy.

This beauty of anticipation has captured my heart and left me uneasy. I fall into the arms of paradox yet again as I see the sanctity of Emmanuel mixed with the reality of human poverty. The eyes of so many of our brethren are filled with something desperate and incomplete. In the words of G.K. Chesterton, our Father is young, and we have grown old in our sin. We so desperately seek the wonder and beauty of childhood yet settle for old age.

To find peace in the midst of this perpetual brokenness is to understand one’s spiritual poverty and embrace the beauty and mystery of redemption. To love the world with open arms in spite of itself is to embrace the beauty and joy of the Incarnation.

In the days to come, may the hazy vision of dawn become ever-clearer by the light of life. May you embrace this season of expectation, allowing it to elucidate your mind and fixate your being on the manger of a newly born baby. In the words of Gustavo Gutierrez, “Human history is in truth nothing but the history of the slow, uncertain, and surprising fulfillment of the Promise.”

Be vigilant. Be still. And just wait.

We are soaring into daybreak.

Storms encompass nearly all of the senses – thunderous claps, cleansing (and sometimes musty) aromas, thirst-quenching liquid, lit-up skies, and soaked clothing. With it comes renewal, purification, and power. It inspires awe and wonder while commanding it at the same time.

Next to our desire to love and be loved (a universal yearning that some call the fundamental human reality), I believe there is no greater condition common among mankind than the desire to stand in awe. Within all of our souls is a longing for a phenomenon much greater than ourselves – Something that we can call Awesome, Something that commands wonder and worship.

Glory is dripping all around us. We only have to open our mouths, eyes, and ears to receive. Once beheld, it begets peace, quieting our hearts and stirring our souls. It opens the buds of spring, allowing us to give and receive in new and enriching ways. It humbles, harking us back to meek and unadorned abundance.

Most of all, it breeds life. And it breeds divine charity. As Pope Benedict said, “Love looks to the eternal. A journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God.”

Today, I pray that we might find peace in our lives. And once we do, may we hang on to it and cultivate it with silence, liberated self-giving, and authentic self-discovery. Then, as Padre Pio once wisely said, we can “bear all things with peace.” It will become a part of our very existence, enabling us to share it with our world. Before we know it, we will have our pencil, paper, and guitar. And our song will do more than illicit emotion or nostalgia.

It will generate life.

Peace of Christ be with you this day and always.

Walk meek. Walk brave. Christ is in you.

Many of you know that FRATERNUS has a saying - sort of our motto - of "Take the challenge."  You can imagine that’s what we present to the boys, because it does speak to the masculine heart.  Well, it got passed back to me recently.  Thats right, this got-it-together FRATERNUS employee was challenged by one of the boys we are "reaching out to".

I have a Squad (small group) that I lead every week here in St Augustine.  Recently we were talking as we always do about translating our conversation that night in to day to day life.  The discussion was on prayer.  I was of course ready to give all sorts of advice thinking that I was clearly the one to lead here… well… a boy then spoke up and said why don’t we meet before FRAT Night each week and pray a Rosary?

BAM.

That challenged me.  I know this program, I know what goes into a FRAT Night and I get there every week to get things ready.  But this boy wanted to pray a Rosary before the night starts to make sure that we’re "prayed up".  Why not? I thought to myself. Why had I not considered that?

Thanks you to Brother X for that challenge.  Because I am now praying a Rosary before FRAT Night.  If it wasn’t for you I would still be running around trying to get ready.

I love FRATERNUS.

J. Michael Craig

“So…what do you do?”

Most people that ask this question have no idea what I do at all. I feel bad for those that unknowingly open Pandora’s Box.

“I am a missionary” is the easy answer. The easy answer rarely answers questions, but raises more. My role as a missionary is very important - to be present in the lives of young men and earn the right to be heard, but not alone - I also train and manage others to do the same.

“With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8. (I’m so proud I learned this verse, probably not the first time I’ve used it)

As a missionary I am present as a FRATERNUS representative for the entire community. I am at daily mass - an opportunity to start every day with the King of Kings. I’ll meet with principals, DRE’s, and priests to see how FRATERNUS can strengthen the schools and the communities. I work with the Commander to ensure the longevity of the program at the parish. I throw gasoline on the FRATERNUS fire by networking with influential members of the community, asking the question, “How can FRATERNUS better serve?”

I search for and work with Missionary Interns, college students that are able to devote some of their free time to FRATERNUS. The Missionary Interns, like the Captains, are the backbone of FRATERNUS, sharing their lives with the brothers. These MI’s work closely with the Missionaries, being present at FRAT nights, school lunches, and sports games. The hope for them is as they build relationships they will form and lead more HAWC groups.

My presence in the lives of the brothers is the most important part of my role as a Missionary. I sit and talk with the 8th graders on Wednesday, answering the questions that aren’t easy to ask. I lead a HAWC group - seven guys that desire holiness above all else. I am present in the schools, both the Catholic and the Public schools. I try to present the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, I’ll use words. It may be hard to imagine, but meeting with all of these folks and building real relationships with them takes more time than there is in the day.

My role as a Missionary is simple but vital. Be present.

As a FRATERNUS Missionary, I do my best to be as much a part of these boys’ lives as possible. I always enjoy this time, whether it be at FRAT Night, in the cafeteria, or at a middle school dance. It’s always a pure joy just to be with these boys. Recently, I’ve been able to combine two of my greatest passions in life, these young men of FRATERNUS and soccer. I am a soccer fan. Please excuse me for the rest of this post if I refer to soccer as football, but now you’ll know what I’m referring to. I completely fell in love with the game when I was in seventh grade. Before then, I was just one of the really bad kids on the team that you didn’t want to pass to because he was probably going to screw things up. However, in seventh grade, my parents "enrolled" me in a soccer clinic on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Under the tutelage of a former US Olympic team player, I finally learned all the skills that everybody else seemed to have. I started understanding how my body should move when passing, dribbling, or striking a ball. This experience led me to see the true beauty of this game.

Anyways, that’s enough of the back story. I am now the assistant coach for the Catholic middle school’s soccer team. As soon as I heard from the head coach that I could help out I was elated. I was actually jumping around a little bit, screaming, and hitting table tops. This means that I get to spend even more time with these boys that I already see on a pretty regular basis. But now, not only do I have more time to be with these boys, but the time that I’m spending with them is so much more intimate than just half an hour in a cafeteria. I’m actually watching over them, offering advice on how to improve their game, building our trust with one another even more! It’s awesome! We had our first game yesterday and we won 6-1! It was great watching these boys (and a few girls) working together as a team and developing that love that I have for this great game. We were even able to pray together before the game, which apparently doesn’t happen too often even though its all Catholic schools in the area that we’re playing.

It’s so wonderful to be able to see the development of these young men in so many different areas of their lives. I feel honored to be with them and hope that I can mirror Christ’s love for these boys and maybe get them to enjoy their football a little more as well. Sorry… soccer.