By Father Jonathan Gibson, St Peter’s Catholic Church, NW Calgary

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Man is by nature and vocation a religious being. Coming from God, going toward God, man lives a fully human life only if he freely lives by his bond with God.” (CCC para 44)  As such, by virtue of our baptism, we inherit the three fold ministry of priest, prophet and king. 

The Wise Men testify to Jesus’ states of Priest, Prophet and King with their three gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold.  Likewise Jesus’ friends:  Mary, Lazarus and Martha in turn represent the same. “The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them.” (CCC 783) We in fact “remain members of Christ, Priest, Prophet and King, unto eternal life.” 

Part of living out this trifold ministry is offering God right worship in obedience to the first commandment (CCC 2135).  Evangelization is proper to the layperson’s prophetic mission in the ordinary circumstances of the world; (CCC 905) and particularly in the proclamation of the kerygma.  The spiritual and corporal works of mercy fall within the Kingly ministry (see CCC 2447) 

Father challenges us men to embody leadership in our parishes and in our families to the living out of this threefold ministry: Proclaim the Word of God; Live a Sacramental Life; and, Live a life of Charity. (Deus Caritas Est, 25)

How are you living out your Baptismal Vocation as Priest, Prophet and King?

By Sean Lynn, president of God Squad Canada

I would like to personally invite you to the 26th annual God Squad conference. I have not been given the gift of bilocation, as I have a long way to go to get to that kind of holiness. So picture myself or one of the God Squad team with a big smile asking you to join us at this year’s conference.  We are joined by our Episcopal Advisor, Bishop Scott in this invitation to join us on March 17th and 18th at St Michael’s Catholic Community. We need to start building up men through joining together to form and strengthen men, inspiring them to embrace God’s vocation in their lives.

 For the last 25 year’s God Squad Canada has done that at our annual conference. This year will be no different as we welcome Fr. Raymond de Souza and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. As we reflect on our theme, Memento Mori, which means remember your death. We were invited on Ash Wednesday to do the same thing as the priest applied the ashes saying the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Please register today and invite a brother, friend, neighbor, hockey team, pickleball partner or any other man that you know to be part of this inspiring conference!  We will be serving world famous Spolumbos sausages for lunch which will enhance the fellowship. Cost is $60 or $10 for students, priests and deacons are free. Financial assistance is available. Register today at https://godsquad.ca/register

Sean Lynn

President of God Squad Canada

Bishop Scott McCaig, C.C.
RC Military Ordinary of Canada

February 22, 2023

Dear Brothers in Christ,

As you are aware, God Squad Canada is a dynamic outreach that seeks to form, strengthen, and inspire men in their faith and vocation. Under the patronage and intercession of St. Joseph it has successfully been doing so for twenty-six years!

As the Episcopal Advisor to God Squad Canada, it is my great privilege and joy to invite you once again to the annual men’s conference. The theme of the 26th conference is Memento Mori (a Latin expression which means ‘remember your death’). In remembering the last things of death, judgement, heaven, and hell we are summoned to live our lives to the full! In the midst of today’s darkness of spiritual famine and moral confusion, we are called and empowered to be bearers of the light of Christ, to live for heaven, and to draw others with us.

The mission of God Squad is to equip each of us to be the men we are called to be, and to take up the challenge to reverse the tide of darkness in these difficult times. “The mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church”*, needs men willing to engage the mission and “proclaim the great works of God.”* I sincerely hope that you will all attend this year and bring at least one other man with you.

As always, I lift you up in prayer and extend to all of you my blessing.

In Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Bishop Scott McCaig, C.C.
RC Military Ordinary of Canada

Ash Wednesday, 
February 22, 2023.

* REDEMPTORIS MISSIO, St. John Paul II, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio.html accessed February 8, 2022

By Sean Lynn, president of God Squad Canada

Register today for the 2023 God Squad Men’s Conference, March 17 and 18, 2023.  Guest Speakers:  Father Raymond De Souza, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, with Father Troy Nguyen celebrating the opening Mass, and as always, we’re going to have some Spolumbo’s .

Our theme is Memento Mori (Remember Your Death).  Sean wants to see 500 men at the conference this year.  Students can come for $10.  That’s a great deal for all you can eat Spolumbos. So no excuses young men.

But wait!  There’s more.  Sean has an even more exciting revelation concerning him and the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance. You have to listen to this video.

Speaking to the Canadian Western Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sean tells us they hunger for men to step up and grow men’s ministry.  Reach out to Sean and he will hook you up with mentorship and the content you need to get going now matter how big or small the ministry you are called to.

Visit heroicmen.com or Sean’s show: A Dram With Friends where he talks about family, faith, food and fun.

Please pray for our conference and join us this Lent with Sean’s Scripture Challenge:  One chapter per day of Proverbs and then Ecclesiastes for 44 chapters; starting on Ash Wednesday (today Feb 22, 2023) ending with the last chapter on Holy Thursday April 6, 2023. Challenge other men and share with them the pearls of wisdom you collect along the way. Post your pearls on our Facebook page God Squad Canada FB

By Sean Lynn, president of God Squad Canada

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new possibilities and challenges. It’s that time of year where we start promoting our annual men’s conference. Each year we come up with a theme for our conference.  We trust the Holy Spirit to inspire us to pick a theme that will be meaningful to many, like in 2020 we had a theme of being joyful. We did not know that the world would be locked down and need a reminder of the importance of joy.

This year’s theme is “Memento Mori” (remember your death). I started the year welcoming my adult children and grandkids into town as they were all arriving for my Dad’s funeral later in the week. They were able to celebrate with their brother who just got engaged at Christmas and their sister who had just given birth to twin girls days earlier. With all this happening and the funeral, being there for my family gave me a great perspective on the theme of this year’s conference. 

By Sean Lynn, president of God Squad Canada

In this installment of Man Update, Sean shares a personal note addressed to you, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in a way that only Sean can.

Listen as he reflects on the past year, on his father that recently passed and how his passing brings home next year’s conference theme “Memento Mori” and as he announces our guest speakers.

Sean has other announcements, like “An Evening with Bishop McGrattan” on Jan 26, 2023.

As usual, Sean exhorts us to be there for each other and has a shout out to men, especially young men. So many things are coming your way, including our exciting Litany of St. Joseph Project.

“I pray that your family has a blessed Christmas season and I look forward to a new year with new challenges, and one that I think, with God’s help, we can move the needle in reaching out to men.”

By Dave Cichon of God Squad Canada

God Squad Canada aims to form and strengthen men, inspiring them to embrace God’s plan in their lives.  God Squad needs your financial support to help it in its endeavours.

Donate today. A generous benefactor has pledged to match each dollar you give up to $25,000.00. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity.

“But why should I give?” 

Because of the fruit we bear

God Squad Canada helps form and shape the spiritual lives of men to positively influence those around them by hosting in person and online an annual men’s conference packed with the most inspiring speakers, authors and influencers, providing a worldwide impact.

God Squad’s BBQ ministry serves men and youth at community and pastoral events, serving local Catholic schools and parishes. 

God Squad responds to the call of the poor with support and free services donating time and money to churches and special events such as the exhibit of the relic of St. Francis Xavier, painting/maintaining churches and sponsoring Knights of Columbus events like the Mens’ Night Out.  

God Squad maintains a website and publishes a monthly online newsletter, strengthening men and letting them know they are not alone, serving men around the world.

The whimsical production of a Dram with Friends, produced by God Squad helps men virtually meet others who share both a passion for evangelization and Christian influence while enjoying the finer aspects of whiskey from around the world. (*Sean provides all the whisky out of pocket and offers it up in your honour.)

God Squad has initiated a special project to put the Litany of St. Joseph to music by commissioning Conductor Carlos Foggin to compose the musical score we hope will endure alongside the likes of The Mass in B minor by Bach, Handel’s Messiah, or Requiem by Mozart.

Consider that 85% of men currently incarcerated come from homes either without fathers or from fathers who were physically, emotionally or sexually abusive.  90% of all homeless and runaway children, 63% of teen suicides, and 85% of children and teens with behavioural disorders come from FATHERLESS HOMES. https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/

Help us break this cycle.

Support God Squad Canada and help us keep Fathers in the lives of their families, and weave real men of faithful courage back in the fabric of society

God Squad Canada is a registered charity and all donations are tax deductible.

Ways to donate:

1. Use the Donate button to access our website and donate online.
2. e-transfer to donations@godsquad.ca and make sure you provide your name, email and mailing address so we can issue you a proper tax receipt
3. Contact Sean Lynn at sean@godsquad.ca to discuss other ways to give; including large sums or gifts of a non-monetary nature.