Blog

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

Jul 22, 2015Blogs

7 Reasons Priests need Troops of Saint George at their Parish:

The Troops of Saint George is an apostolate that follows the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and is best described through the words of the TSG Mission Statement: “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.” To sum it up, camping isn’t the goal—it’s the context. Reason #1 – Many fathers are spiritually absent. Lay fathers have taken a backseat to religious formation of their children in today’s Catholic Church. In His creative design, God desired for men to rise up and stand as the spiritual head of their family. The Troops of Saint George has created a platform for men to both practice and teach the faith to their sons. Reason #2 – Boys need dads. Boys need to be formed by their fathers and need a….

Jeremy Lustig

Jul 13, 2015Blogs

8 Reasons Why the Troops of Saint George may not be right for you:

Our cultural problems (same-sex unions, abortion, broken families, lack of priestly vocations, etc.) all come down to this: our culture lacks authentic Fatherhood (if you agree, keep reading). We need authentic Fatherhood in Holy Matrimony. We need authentic spiritual Fatherhood in the Catholic priesthood. Elephants and Teenaged Men Several years ago, biologists at the Kruger National Park attempted to relocate young adolescent male elephants to another wildlife preserve. These young male elephants began to display neurotic behavior by violently killing the rhino population. The biologists then introduced fully mature adult male elephants into the heard. The mature male elephants began to discipline and check the young males. With the re-introduction of adult males, the younger males mellowed and peace returned to the elephant population. Biological Lesson: young adolescent males go crazy without the presence of mature males. Multi-Generational Male Fraternitas In May of 2013, when I founded the Troops of Saint George, I did not yet fully understand what God had planned for us. In the last two years, the Troops of Saint George has become (in my opinion) the single most important apostolate for fostering virtue among men. In the years to come it will, by God’s….

Taylor Marshall

May 26, 2015Ceremonies

Troop 31 celebrates the Feast of Saint George and End of Year Rank Ceremony

On the Saturday following Saint George’s Feast Day, Troop 31 started their day with a pilgrimage to St. Peter Catholic Church in Lindsay, Texas, which was founded by German colonists (more information here: http://stpeterlindsay.org/history). After spending the day learning about this historical North Texas parish, Troop 31 made their way back to their home parish, Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Lewisville, Texas. Upon arriving 30 minutes early for Mass, they were able to practice the flag ceremony one last time, finish the setup for their after Mass ceremony, and go over the cues in and after Mass. Father Assaad El-Basha celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, allowing Troop 31 to process in and sit in the front pews amongst the congregation. Father El-Basha took a moment to comment at the beginning of his homily on the Troops of Saint George and their importance in forming the future Catholic leaders and dads of tomorrow. After Mass, Troop 31 processed out of the Church and over to the parish hall for the Awards Ceremony and celebration. The Awards Ceremony began with a Flag Ceremony led by Senior Cadet, Sergeant Marincel and an Opening Prayer by Troop Chaplain Mark Omvig. Captain Tim O’Flaherty….

Brian Squibbs

May 26, 2015Best Practices

Troop 19 – Proverbs and “the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys”

With keeping the Troops of Saint George mission and the Holy Spirit as their guiding light, Troop 19 in Spring, Texas has incorporated a “Proverbial Minute” into each meeting and campout. As biblical scholars have noted, The Book of Proverbs is concerned with the development of holy men through regulating the morals of men and leading them to wisdom and virtue. As Saint John Paul II wrote in Fides Et Ratio (Faith and Reason), though we may be knocked down along the way, “believers do not surrender”: For the sacred author, the task of searching for the truth was not without the strain which comes once the limits of reason are reached. This is what we find, for example, when the Book of Proverbs notes the weariness which comes from the effort to understand the mysterious designs of God (cf. 30:1-6). Yet, for all the toil involved, believers do not surrender. They can continue on their way to the truth because they are certain that God has created them “explorers” (cf. Qoh 1:13), whose mission it is to leave no stone unturned, though the temptation to doubt is always there. Leaning on God, they continue to reach out, always and….

Brian Squibbs

Feb 27, 2015Blogs

What is Your Troop’s Favorite Weekend Activity?

What has been your Troop’s Favorite Weekend Activity? So far we’ve tried: compass orientation rock climbing hiking bass fishing trebuchet/catapult building cold weather survival What have been your troop’s most successful outings or camp themes? Please leave a comment.

Taylor Marshall

Feb 27, 2015Blogs

What’s your favorite Dutch Oven Recipe?

Dr. Marshall’s Favorite Dutch Oven Recipe Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to Please leave a comment below and please leave the recipe so we can try it.

Taylor Marshall

Apr 21, 2014Inspiration

The Feast of Saint George! April 23

What a blessing that the feast of Saint George (April 23) falls within Easter week of 2014. This is our first annual celebration of our movement’s patron saint. I’m often asked why I chose Saint George as the patron of the Troops of Saint George. Saint George is our patron for three reasons: 1. Saint George was a martyr. He demonstrated his love for Jesus Christ with great fortitude. He conformed his own life and death to that of his Master and Lord. 2. Saint George was a virgin. All the traditions surrounding George affirm his love for holy purity. He is a chaste model for young men and older men. He is also a great intercessor for those in the struggle. 3. Saint George was a living icon of struggle against evil. Saint George is always depicted upon a white horse slaying a terrible dragon. The white horse signifies his purity. The dragon is an image of the Devil (Rev. 12:9). His rescue of the maiden is also a Christological echo of the Divine Bridegroom’s love for the Church as Bride. The icon of George is a reminder that we are called to fight the evils of our time. These three features….

Taylor Marshall

Apr 17, 2014Uncategorized

Jesus the Outdoorsman (and a note on Camping with Cell Phones)

During Holy Week we turn our minds to the life and death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although He is the Son of God with a divine right on all material things, He did not spend His days living in a modern home. He did not enjoy air conditioning, heat, or a tempur-pedic mattress. He cooked his meals on an open fire. He hiked by foot all over Israel. Jesus was an outdoorsman. In order to appreciate the life of Christ in the Gospels, we need to remind ourselves and our children that the Bible times did not include luxuries like running water, cell phones, and microwaves. Camping is a great opportunity to experience the life of Christ in its simplicity. To cook meals on a fire like Jesus did (Jn 21:9), and schedule your sleep with the rising of the sun and the setting of the same is a good thing. The Troops of Saint George not only teaches virtue and manliness, it reminds us about the simplicity of Christ’s life while He was among us. Do you love being part of the Troops of Saint George? Please forward this email to any parents that might be….

Taylor Marshall

Apr 10, 2014Uncategorized

Wild Boys and the Wild Woods – Troops of Saint George

Baseball season has started. Last night I was at our first practice with my oldest son Gabe. Many of the dads were there, and we were enjoying the blue cloudy sky and the freshly cut grass in the infield. One of the fathers there began to ask about the Troops of Saint George. He was lamenting how our boys need more time outside. Yes, baseball is great. But the young men also need to be out where there are no umpires, chalk lines, or ballpark lights. The boys need to be in the wild Saint Thomas Aquinas spends quite a bit of time talking about how God created Adam outside of Paradise and then placed him inside Paradise (see Gen 2:15). Adam began his existence outside and then entered Paradise. Eve, on the other hand, was created within Paradise. This shows that there is something prehistorically wild about the male. Our boys are pampered by air conditioning, television, soft couches, and mom’s baking them goodies after school. These are not a bad things (way to go mothers!), but a young man also needs to get in the wild if he is going to be a true man among men. Father/son camping is the perfect….

Taylor Marshall

Feb 19, 2014Inspiration

Saint George Motto, Law, and Trinitarian Salute

Saint George Law The Saint George Law was written by Saint Peter, our first Pope: “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17) Saint George Motto: Parati Semper The motto of the Troops of Saint George is “Parati Semper” which also comes from Saint Peter, our first Pope: But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being prepared always (parati semper) to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you. (1 Peter 3:15) Dominum autem Christum sanctificate in cordibus vestris parati semper ad satisfactionem omni poscenti vos rationem de ea quae in vobis est spe (1 Peter 3:15, Latin Vulgate) Saint George Oath The Saint George Oath was written by the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 4:12), and defines the five traits of the man who seeks to be a disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ by patterning his life after Saint George of Lydda. “Set an example: in speech (in verbo) and conduct (in conversatione) in love (in caritate) in faith (in fide) in purity (in castitate).” (1 Timothy 4:12) Saint George Trinitarian Salute The Troops of Saint George salute their officers, the flag, banners of the saints and Our….

Taylor Marshall

Jan 1, 2014Uncategorized

Our January 1 Hard Launch for the TSG!

It’s 2014! The Troops of Saint George have come a long way. We were an idea on paper back in May of 2013. Now we have over one hundred troops in formation, plenty of hard-working Captains and Lieutenants, a Board of Directors, an Officer’s Manual, and a published ranking system. A Full Fledged Program Based on Catholic Subsidiarity I know that many of you hoped that we would have a full fledged program with books, hats, knifes, etc., but I think we are in a very good position for the next 12 months. I think that we are ahead of other similar programs – but we have remained small and grass-roots while practicing subsidiarity. Best of all, we are preserving our Catholic and liturgical identity. We legally and successfully responded to the Boy Scouts of America in an amicable way. Both sides are happy. We have proven ourselves to be something beyond “scouting.” We are an apostolate dedicated to preserving the Catholic Faith from one generation to the next. Not Just for Boys… The most notable development is that the Troops of Saint George has grown from a “boys movement” to a “men and boys movement.” I articulated this vision….

Taylor Marshall

Nov 1, 2013Uncategorized

TSG Liturgical Norms for Camping

Liturgical Matters During Camp Outs The priest, not the captain, is in charge of all things liturgical. That being said, here are the norms and customs for the Troops of Saint George when camping. If Holy Mass is celebrated at a camp out, we want the liturgy to be reverent and beautiful. This is the true sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. No sloppy kumbaya liturgies just because we’re outdoors and dirty. The altar boys should be attired in cassock and surplice or Class A uniforms, which means you’ll have to pack accordingly. Only true lectors should read the lessons in cassock and surplice or Class A uniforms. When Holy Mass is celebrated at a camp out, the altar must be arrayed with white linen, flowers from the region placed in two vases, and two or six candlesticks should be on the altar. Ideally, a Byzantine antimins or antimension (in which is sown the relics of a saint) could be used on a campout. The antimins functions as a substitute altar. If not an antimins, perhaps the priest or chaplain can bring a relic to signify our devotion to the saints and martyrs of Christ. Young men should have a special devotion to….

TSG HQ