“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

“I’m walking through some incredible healing right now and as I’m healed I’m going to be on the frontlines of the battle and I want you there right next to me.” An older brother, courageous in his pursuit of God, recently shared that with me.

His encouragement is more than a well-formed sentence, it speaks to the core of my being.

Man means to remember but what are we called to remember? Anniversaries?* To check our tire pressure? JPII’s Theology of the Body beautifully brings truth and understanding to the question “What does it mean to be a Man?” The world relentlessly tries to answer that question and oftentimes the answer is a man has no one, he must fend for himself because he’s alone in this world. I say “nay.”

So what then am I on the frontlines for? Surely not for myself. How many movies and books that inspire you feature a character that is constantly self-seeking? Who wants to root for a mercenary, fighting a war for personal gain and profit? The young men I’m walking with want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They are inspired to grow in virtue, not for their own gain or profit, but for the Body of Christ. As they grow older they see that they are not given strength for themselves, rather, we are called to be strong for our fellow brothers and sisters.

FRATERNUS forms boys into virtuous Catholic men, who are disciples of Jesus Christ and loyal sons of the Church. Nowhere in our mission statement is there a focus on making islands out of these guys, making them singular in life. We are Men! We are Disciples! We are sons! Whether it be growth in the Cardinal virtue of Temperance or shattering records in a high rope course, we cannot do this alone.

FRATERNUS is forming us as men of faith, standing strong together on the frontlines. Whatever your struggle brothers know that you are never alone.

Brothers, remember who you are. I remember. Paratum cor meum Deus, paratum cor meum.

KWess

*September 8th, 2009

I love Frat Night. It is simple and made for dudes.

Last night my fiance and I had our first marriage prep class with our mentor couple. The program we are doing  walks us through all the tough stuff - but its done along side a couple who has been married for 30+ years.

In our conversation we were talking about how men and women communicate and what we talk about. Al and I both admitted that in order for us to be open with another man - we have to be doing something with them. We just don’t typically sit and talk.

My mind immediately jumped to Fraternus, "That’s what we do at Frat Night - dodge ball, knockout,movies and squad time.

Maybe that is one reason why Fraternus is working….

:T$

Man can be man or he can be a beast.  He is not an animal.  In the vein of bullying that’s been discussed recently, I present this article on bullying that I think thoroughly displays the great need there is in schools for examples of virtue to break a very vicious cycle.

I am praying for everyone who enters into the lives of young people.

J Michael Craig

Early in my college career, I began to understand the greatness of the Church and the beautiful mystery of her Sacraments. While my love for the Lord was very real before this point, a much deeper intimacy began with my growing love for the Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Ever since, I have wanted to invite people into these Sacred Mysteries. Among other things, this desire led me to the apostolate of FRATERNUS.

Last week at FRAT night, we finished the virtue of temperance and had an incredible night on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Towards the end of Squad Time, Vanderbilt’s chaplain came over and started hearing Confessions. Before we knew it, a long lined had formed in the hallway outside. Sins were being forgiven in our midst, and we could feel the graces in the room next store as we began REC time.

Yesterday morning, I attended Mass at Church of the Assumption in downtown Nashville. It is one of the only parishes in our diocese that offers Confession on Sunday mornings. While waiting in line before Mass, I remember seeing a family that does not usually come to Assumption on Sundays. I did not think much of it until right after Mass. I ran into their several children as their mom came up to me smiling. Her son, who is a committed FRATERNUS brother in the 8th grade, brought all of them to Assumption that morning so he could respond to a challenge from last week’s FRAT night.

And he did not go to Confession alone. He brought his entire family with him. As best as I can see it, there are few better indicators of our fruitfulness as a ministry. We have a young men going to Confession and bringing their families with them. Let us be encouraged and carry on in this great work!

Well, it’s February, the month of love and the month of another FRATERNUS EXCURSION.  Last weekend FRATERNUS St. Paul piled into cars and made another adventure out to Blue Angel Recreation Area, an awesome former Navy Air Base that’s been converted into a gulf side campsite with beautiful gulf front pavilions, a HUGE field, and some great camping ground.

Our group was VERY NEARLY defeated by a massive, no-instructions-in-the-bag, nine person, living room holding, mega tent.  It took TWO HOURS to set that bad boy up (not even exaggerating).

Our delay in setting up lead to a delay in dinner.

And that’s when I started to freak out.

Sometimes I have a little bit of a streak in me that some refer to as “micro-managing”(whatever that means).  We had a very carefully drawn out schedule for our EXCURSION….if we got behind on one thing, then we would be behind on the next activity, and the the one after that…it was like a long row of dominoes in my head, falling down, down, until our camping trip would inevitably end in total chaos.

I literally had no idea what to do with myself.  Some very capable camping dads were working with the brothers on the supertent, while other adults started getting dinner ready.  I was relegated to pacing around our campsite as we drifted farther and farther off schedule.  I would walk over to the mega tent, which was in various stages of construction and ask:

“How’s it going over here?”

Then I’d walk back to the cooks and ask the same thing.  I had completed three or four of these cycles when finally the voice of God spoke to me.  He was wearing the disguise of a Captain named Harvey, the backbone of all our excursions, a veteran of the National Guard and veteran of all things camping.  Seeing my nervous pacing, he looked up from his griddle and spoke words of wisdom I will never forget:

“Dude!  You need to chill out.  Don’t worry about your schedule.  The boys are in the woods, and they are having a blast.”

When he said that, I stopped and looked around, seemingly for the first time.  Although I was going to pieces over the fact that we were seven minutes behind, it didn’t seem that anyone else was sharing that sentiment.  Around the campsite, not much was going on.  Some were setting up tents, others were talking around the fire, and some were throwing a football.  They weren’t doing anything in particular, but it sure looked like they were HAVING FUN.

With that, I relaxed a bit, and just tried to enjoy the rest of the weekend.  We played, we prayed, we brought everyone home safe and sound, and we sure did HAVE FUN.

Sounds like a successful EXCURSION to me.

To see the pictures from our excursion, click here.

~Rush