Blog

News, stories, and updates from the Troops of Saint George.

Sep 4, 2018Blogs

Troops’ annual gathering gains momentum

(SEPTEMBER 4, 2018) — What began five years ago as a summertime outing for Troop 73 from Osceola, Wis., has morphed into an annual event for all Troops of St. George. “This summer event was cooked up by our first captain, Randy Borne, and our chaplain Fr. William Brenna,” said Tom Brannon, the current captain of Troop 73. Last year, the event was held at Round Hill-Camp Angelus in Arkansaw, Wis., and it became the first annual Troops of Saint George’s Midwest Assembly. The property was founded by now-Cardinal Raymond Burke when he was bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis. Today, the camp is governed by a board and operated as a non-profit organization, a “historical and sacred Catholic refuge for families located on the beautiful Chippewa River.” This summer, their second annual event —Aug. 16-19—drew nearly 80 fathers and sons from troops in Wisconsin and Minnesota. That doubled last year’s attendance. “We already have interest in next year’s event from troops in Oregon, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Texas,” said Brian Squibbs, TSG’s National Director of Communications and Recruitment. “The exciting thing is that families who come for the Midwest Assembly can turn the trip into a pilgrimage….

Patrick Novecosky

Aug 28, 2018Blogs

Masculinity, heroism and the Gospel

(AUGUST 28, 2018) — There was a time not long ago when men were expected to be the provider, protector and leader of their household—and of their culture, society, and nation. In our day, however, such “outdated thinking” is sometimes branded as “toxic masculinity.” According to Wikipedia, “scholars have used the term toxic masculinity to refer to stereotypically masculine gender roles that restrict the kinds of emotions allowable for boys and men to express—including social expectations that men seek to be dominant (the ‘alpha male’) and limit their emotional range primarily to expressions of anger.” In common parlance, however, men who exercise authentic masculinity are often branded as being infected with toxic masculinity. Certainly, the most toxic thing for anyone—man or woman—is sin. Further, as rational, God-fearing men, we can all agree that “stereotypical gender roles” are just that—stereotypes. True, some men seek to be dominant, alpha-male types and have a limited range of emotion. The converse is also true. Some men have a wide emotional range and have no interest in dominating anyone. However, the vast majority of boys and men (at least in my experience) fall somewhere in the middle. We have a normal range of emotion and….

Patrick Novecosky

Aug 21, 2018Blogs

The selfless courage of St. Maximilian Kolbe

(AUGUST 21, 2018) — I have a short list of what I call “Male Power Saints.” These are the manly men who showed absolute fearlessness in the face of great evil and didn’t bat an eye at death when it stared them in the face. Amazingly, I have a connection to all three. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina—better known as Padre Pio—was physically assaulted by the devil in his room numerous times. Padre Pio had many gifts—bilocation, the ability to read souls, and he had visits from Jesus and Mary. In 1998, I visited the monastery where he lived, and I saw his cell (room) in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. I’ll write more about it next month. During the Second World War, a young Karol Wojtyła—the future Pope St. John Paul II—studied for the priesthood in an underground (secret) seminary in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. Had he been discovered, he would have been arrested and likely sent to a concentration camp. I met John Paul five times and will share more about that in a future blog post. Finally, the third Male Power Saint—Maximilian Kolbe. When he was a boy in Poland, Kolbe had a vision of Our Lady, her….

Patrick Novecosky

Jun 26, 2018Blogs

The practical wisdom of St. Josemaría Escrivá

(JUNE 26, 2018) — Men need tough role models—other men who are bold, fearless and champions of the good. We need these types of mentors because, left to our own devices, we become complacent, lazy and stagnant—whether we’re a young man, middle aged, or nearing the end of our life’s journey. The Bible affirms this wisdom: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). The great Spanish saint, Josemaría Escrivá, had a knack for practical insights into the human heart—especially those of men and boys. He drew inspiration from his father’s work as a merchant and partner in a textile company. When he was a young 26-year-old priest, he went on a prayerful retreat where he discerned more precisely God’s will for his life. He founded Opus Dei (Work of God), a way by which men and women might learn to sanctify themselves by their secular work. “You must realize now,” he wrote, “more clearly than ever, that God is calling you to serve Him in and from the ordinary, secular, and civil activities of human life. He waits for us every day, in the laboratory, in the operating theatre, in the army barracks, in the university chair,….

Patrick Novecosky

Jun 22, 2018News

Cardinal Burke praises new US scouting club for boys as being ‘authentic Catholic apostolate’

(JUNE 22, 2018) By Lisa Bourne KELLER, Texas (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Raymond Burke has endorsed a new scouting organization for Catholic boys and young men that unapologetically follows the Magisterium of the Church. “For some time, I have been happily following the development of the Troops of Saint George as an authentic Catholic apostolate of scouting,” Cardinal Burke wrote in a May 25 letter. “My heartfelt congratulations on the recent recognition of the Troops of Saint George as a Catholic Apostolate of the Diocese of Fort Worth.” The cardinal was referring to Fort Worth, Texas, Bishop Michael Olson’s May 16 approval of the Troops of Saint George as an official Catholic apostolate for his diocese. Bishop Olson had offered congratulations “on this important step in the life of the Troops of St. George,” adding that the Troops were to “be assured of my prayerful support.” “Bishop Olson’s approval of our organization is confirmation that we are following the path the Holy Spirit has laid out for the Troops of Saint George, Brian Squibbs, the group’s National Director, for Communications and Recruitment told LifeSiteNews. “As we re-envision the outdoors movement for the formation of Holy Catholic men in authentic masculinity, we have set out from day one to follow….

Brian Squibbs

Jun 19, 2018Blogs

Troops of Saint George are on a roll

(June 19, 2018) — When the news broke yesterday that Cardinal Raymond Burke had just endorsed the Troops of Saint George, most people who read the letter recognized the perfect timing. Even though the letter was dated May 25, it arrived on Father’s Day weekend. Cardinal Burke, one of the world’s most recognized and admired prelates, lavished praise on the Troops for its mission to build relationships between boys and their fathers. “In a particular way,” he continued, “the Troops of Saint George safeguard and foster the irreplaceable relationship between fathers and sons as a fundamental experience of the Fatherhood of God and of His special gifts to men for the good of the family and of all society. Boys and young men are thereby helped to know their vocation in life, whether God calls them to the married life, to the consecrated life or to the Holy Priesthood, and to embrace and follow it with pure and selfless love.” Cardinal Burke, who serves as the patron of the Rome-based Sovereign Military Order of Malta, follows Fort Worth Bishop Michael F. Olson’s approval of the Troops as an official Catholic apostolate in the Diocese of Fort Worth. “After a careful review….

Patrick Novecosky

Jun 18, 2018Blogs

Cardinal Raymond Burke endorses Troops of St. George

KELLER, Texas (June 18, 2018) — Cardinal Raymond Burke, a member of the Roman Curia who serves on the highest court at the Vatican, the Apostolic Signatura, has lavished praise on the Troops of Saint George. “For some time, I have been happily following the development of the Troops of Saint George as an authentic Catholic apostolate of scouting,” he wrote in a just-released letter dated May 25. “My heartfelt congratulations on the recent recognition of the Troops of Saint George as a Catholic Apostolate of the Diocese of Fort Worth.” Cardinal Burke, one of the world’s most recognized and admired prelates, is also the patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, based in Rome. He is the former archbishop of St. Louis, Mo., and former bishop of La Crosse, Wis. “The Troops of Saint George, in an excellent way, assists Catholic boys and young men to develop a sound appreciation of nature, in accord with the Law with which God has created all things,” he wrote. “In a particular way,” he continued, “the Troops of Saint George safeguard and foster the irreplaceable relationship between fathers and sons as a fundamental experience of the Fatherhood of God and of….

Patrick Novecosky

Jun 12, 2018Blogs

Modeling our lives after God the Father

(June 12, 2018) — One of the key points I hit every time I give a talk is this—we’re at war. The battle raging all around us is a war of ideas, a war over the best way to run our country, the best way to raise our children, the best way to live our lives. This war is bigger than left versus right, liberal versus conservative. The real war is a spiritual one. It’s a battle for souls that will rage until Jesus comes again in his glory. Men cannot be passive. We’re called to engage. Father’s Day is a great time to take stock of the battle—and the role we’re called to play in this war for souls. At the end of it all, when we take our last breath, we’ll face Him—the Lord of Lords. If we’ve been faithful and selfless, living our lives for others, we can expect Jesus to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). But Jesus will likely also ask us, “Who did you bring with you?” It’s not time to shrug and say, “I dunno.” Our job as members of the Church Militant, in a nutshell, is to get to….

Patrick Novecosky

Jun 5, 2018News

Texas Bishop Approves Troops of St. George as the Official Catholic Apostolate of His Diocese

(JUNE 5, 2018) By Peter Jesserer Smith FORT WORTH, Texas – Five years after its founding, the Troops of St. George achieved a major milestone in its development by becoming a diocesan-approved apostolate for Catholic fathers and sons. Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, gave the Catholic organization official ecclesiastical approval May 16, concluding a nearly yearlong vetting process for the Catholic organization, which has now more than 50 troops spread through 23 U.S. states, with a significant contingent located in Texas. “Congratulations on this important step in the life of the Troops of St. George, and be assured of my prayerful support,” the bishop wrote in his May 16 letter approving its status in the diocese. The Troops of St. George now joins other diocesan-approved options for Catholic faith formation such as the American Heritage Girls troops, Girl Scout troops and Scouts BSA troops that are chartered by Catholic parishes in the Fort Worth Diocese. Dr. Jeremy Lustig, national executive director of the Troops of St. George, told the Register that the organization is pleased to have diocesan approval. He said several other dioceses and parishes have requested this diocesan recognition, so they can be assured the organization is a….

Brian Squibbs

Jun 5, 2018Blogs

Corpus Christi: Two boys who gave their lives for Jesus

(June 5, 2018) — For most adult Catholics over the age of 50, the traditional Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi was part of the rhythm of the Church’s liturgical year in their childhood. As an altar boy during the early 1980s, it struck me that this was the only time we moved the liturgy outside the church building. Corpus Christi Sunday was usually in early June when the grass was lush, and the smell of flowers was in the air. My parish had outside altars built specifically for Corpus Christi Sunday. For a small, poor parish, that was a big deal. We should make a big deal of the Most Sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord. It is the source and summit of our faith. It’s Jesus Himself. Therefore, it’s everything that matters. Unfortunately, most altar boys these days don’t have the opportunity to experience a Corpus Christi procession. It’s sad because the procession is a public display of our love for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Two special boy saints had a special devotion to Jesus in Eucharist—and they joyfully gave their lives publicly because of that love. Saint Tarcisius of Rome Tarcisius lived….

Patrick Novecosky

May 30, 2018Blogs

Troop 31 Blessed to be Color Guard at Maronite Ordination Mass

Troop 31 of Flower Mound, Texas were blessed as the Color Guard for the Ordination Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church as requested by pastor Father Assaad El-Basha. The Cadets marched in with the flags, as well as saluted Bishop Zaidan as he entered the parish hall. The cadets also helped with cleanup in the parish hall after the festivities had ended. Bishop Zaidan was very pleased and took a moment to bless the troop. Saint George, pray for us!

Tim O'Flaherty

May 29, 2018Blogs

Maryland Troops of St. George honor veterans on Memorial Day

(May 29, 2018) — President Donald Trump honored veterans by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday morning. Patriots across the country—including members of Troops of St. George—took time on Memorial Day to honor service members who died for our freedom. Andy Pontzer, who leads Troop 303, in Lexington Park, Md., gathered a group of boys to put flags on the graves of 150 veterans on Friday afternoon. “Our troop teamed up with our parish’s Knights of Columbus last year to do this, and it’s become a tradition to honor all of the veterans in our parish cemetery,” he said. “We would have had more than eight boys from the troop, but most of them were in school. These boys are homeschooled, so they had more flexibility to come out on a Friday.” Honoring the fallen Pontzer, who is also a member of his parish’s Knights of Columbus, Council 9986, said that when he found out the Knights were putting flags on veterans’ graves, he knew it would be a good fit for the Troops of St. George to partner with them. “It’s a great way to honor the veterans,” he explained…..

Patrick Novecosky