Malice fills today’s world. This is partly because organizations which families relied upon in past generations to foster life skills in the youth no longer hold the same values.
Many organizations and institutions that served as a path to manhood have strayed from their mission. In some cases, these organizations can no longer even define manhood.
Today some elements within the modern world also point to any form of masculinity and call it toxic. This puts young men and boys particularly at risk. It’s true that some men do behave like animals and have no honor. But this is certainly not true for all men.
Many honorable men have recognized this problem and stepped up. In less than 10 years, the Troops of St. George has established itself as pathway for boys to become Catholic men.
What are the Troops of St. George?
The Troops of Saint George is a fraternal Catholic, nonprofit organization for men looking for a life of adventure with virtue and honor. Their mission summary states their goals clearly.
“The Troops of Saint George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys. Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that of Holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage together to fulfill Christ’s desire for them to grow in virtue and in their Holy Catholic faith as they journey toward heaven.”
The Troops use God’s natural creation to build masculine skills such as rock climbing, marksmanship, and fishing. Members can experience a reverent and beautiful Mass using a turned over canoe as an alter. They can pray the Rosary around a campfire. Sometimes they even go to confession below the limbs of a tree in a dense forest.
The organization’s aim is to foster a love for the priesthood and a reverence for the sacrament of Matrimony. In supporting these goals, troop members support their parish and community by actively engaging in works of mercy and service.
Supported by the Catholic Church
The Troops of St. George was initially founded in 2013. Currently they have over 100 active troops in the United States and Canada. And since its founding, the Troops of St. George has gained support within the Catholic Church.
Bishop Michael F. Olson of Ft. Worth, Texas and Bishop David Dennis Kagan of Bismarck, North Dakota, sit on the Troops’ Board of Directors. Msgr. E. James Hart of Ft. Worth, Texas, functions as the current National Chaplain for all Troops.
Between Sons and Fathers
One key aspect of this apostolate is to foster the relationship between sons and fathers. Boys need formation from their fathers. As such the Troops of St. George has created a platform for men to practice and teach the Faith to their sons.
Together, fathers and sons work toward achievements and milestones. This is done while using the outdoors as a backdrop and Christ’s Holy Catholic Church as their guide.
The Troops of Saint George is definitely NOT a “drop off your kid” organization. Fathers must actively participate.
When a father is not available to join a troop with his son, a male guardian (grandfather, older brother, uncle, or another male role model) can serve as a troop member’s acting father.
Membership
All members must follow established guidelines. Young members, ages 6-18 (called cadets), must be Catholics in good standing. They must profess full fidelity to the Magisterium, the Holy Father, and the local bishop.
Adult officers and leaders must also be Catholics in good standing of high moral caliber and recommended by a Catholic priest in good standing. Adult members must possess and uphold 12 qualities, specifically:
- Hold firmly to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church
- Attend Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
- Have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Love his wife dearly and maintain a healthy marriage (if married)
- Provide for the spiritual education of his children (if a father)
- Honor his parents
- Does not practice contraception
- Is not given to drunkenness
- Is not given to profanity
- Love of adventure and challenges
- Possess an entrepreneurial spirit
- Able to lead other men with humility
These expectations provide clear Catholic examples to the young members.
Advancement
Young members and their fathers (or male role models) are Junior Cadets in grades 1-6 and Senior Cadets above the fifth grade. Adults work alongside cadets learning and building skills together. In many cases, the skills will be new to both.
Junior cadets meet within their age level. Each grade level completes a list of requirements to build knowledge. These requirements fall into one of five categories – spiritual, physical, family, patriotic, and manly skills.
Senior cadets advance by completing courses or sequences. The goal is to reach the rank of Tribune by completing 16 courses. They must also complete one project, and a 24-hour survival ordeal.
Of the available courses, eight are mandatory. The required courses include Apologetics, Camping, Financial Stewardship, First Aid, Knots, Latin, Patriotism, and Strength. To advance to the rank of Tribune members must complete eight additional elective courses. Altar Service, Canoeing, Ecology, Firemanship, Fishing, Handiwork, Hunting, Leatherwork, Machinery, Orienteering, Public Speaking, and Scholarship make up the 12 currently available elective courses.
Finding or Starting a Troop
There may already be a local Troops of St. George established near you. You can use the international group’s website to find a troop near you.
If there is not a local troop near you, you can form a new troop. First, identify an adult man to serve as Captain along with 6 cadets and their fathers. Second, identify a priest to serve as Chaplain. This team must then submit an application. If accepted, a charter will be issued to the troop.
An Oath to be Disciple of Christ
The Troops of St. George take an Oath originally written by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4:12. Men must seek to be a disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ by patterning their lives after Saint George of Lydda. “Set an example for those who believe in speech (in verbo), conduct (conversatione), love (caritate), faith (fide), and purity (castitate).”
13 thoughts on “The Troops of St. George Transforms Boys into Catholic Men”
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You might also be interested in writing about the Federation of North-American Explorers (FNE), also a growing Catholic “scouting-type” organization in the US and Canada. FNE is a branch off the root of European scouting, which traces its origins to a collaboration between Baden-Powell and Venerable Fr. Jacques Sevin (“the father of Catholic scouting”). It includes programs for boys and girls in four different age ranges, such as Timberwolves (ages 8-12) and Explorers (ages 12-16). If you’d like to learn more, check out fneexplorers.com or look for the facebook page of an FNE group in your area.
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1Timothy 4:12 says: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example to the faithful, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chastity.” Saint Paul does not state this as an oath.
Only the vocations of the priesthood, the religious life, and that of Holy fatherhood are listed. Many men do not fit into these categories. There is also the single life that is fully consecrated to Christ by a voluntary personal consecration. It does not require vows or participation in a formal community.
Most of the precepts of this group are things atheists support in bringing up their own children. Unfortunately this group has no interest in dialog.
CaptCrisis, I would recommend you reread this article. I think you missed a few key points. I suspect atheist groups do not support teaching apologetics, alter service, and the spiritual & corporal works of mercy. Can you share exactly which precepts presented are atheistic as opposed to Biblical? Also, as I am not a member of the Troops of St. George, I would recommend you contact their central office. When I called and talked to them, they were very willing to hold a dialog with me even though they had no idea who I was.
12 precepts are listed, and atheists believe in nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 (mostly), 10, 11 and 12. At least the ones I know.
Now I understand. When you wrote precepts, you were referencing the 12 qualities for the adults leading the cadets. Yes, I would agree that some atheist organizations have such standards, as well as organizations of numerous protestant and non-Catholic religions.
Thanks.
(“dialog”!)
Too bad that this is the first requirement, “hold firmly to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church”, while there is no mention of being a devoted disciple of Jesus and the Holy Spirit at all in the “12 qualities”. The importance of such discipleship thankfully gets mentioned at the very end though, even though it should take pride of place.
Andrew, after reading your post, I accept your critique. There is much more about the Troops of St. George and Christ’s teachings that I did not include in the article. With respect to your requirement you quoted, I would argue that if one holds firmly to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church one is a devoted disciple of Christ. I believe both go hand in hand.
It’s telling how Jesus hung out with sinners while the ‘Troops’ will be thanking God they
are special and not like them.
First, I would like to reply to the Ordinary Papist. I reject the premise you offered that the Troops of St. George has no sinners. Of course, they are sinners. The way you wrote your response, it sounds like you are condemning their attempt to honor standards of behavior, for trying not sin, and for working to hold members accountable for their actions.