Yahoo

Richard Beaulieu News, Uncategorized July 15, 2022indigenous, involve, native, reconciliation, volunteer

Can I get a Yahoo!

Join us in painting St Paul’s Church in Brocket on Saturday August 27th

I just finished working the first three days of The Calgary Stampede as a police officer and it was packed! It amazed me to see the number of serving members who take annual leave to volunteer to help out at the stampede. This event attracts 2500 volunteers to work long days to pull off the World’s Greatest Outdoor Show!

We need that volunteer spirit to bring our diocese and parishes into the vibrant church community that God wants us to have. God Squad has chosen the mission of inviting men into God’s work in Canada. To make it clear, we are not asking you to join under the God Squad banner but rather to work collaboratively with us to encourage men to be part of the fabric of the Church’s mission. We would love to hear what is happening in your parish regarding ministry to men and how we can help. Please contact admin@godsquad.ca

To this end I would like to invite the men of the Diocese of Calgary to join us in painting St Paul’s Church in Brocket on Saturday August 27th (weather permitting). This is an excellent opportunity for us to build relations with our First Nations brothers and sisters. Please consider joining us and partake of our Barbeque Outreach for some great food, fellowship and community service.

Sean Lynn

President of God Squad Canada

We are hoping to gather a team of 10 and be able to start and complete the work on Saturday Aug 27, 2022 (weather- permitting).

An 8:30 start will give us time to finish.

Volunteer

Mighty Men

Richard Beaulieu News, Uncategorized June 16, 2022indigenous, involve, native, reconciliation, volunteer

Mighty Men

30 mighty men in every diocese and 3 mighty men in every parish!

These are the names of the mighty men whom David had:

Josheb-basshe′beth a Tah-che′monite; he was chief of the three;
he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time.

And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea′zar the son of Dodo, son of Aho′hi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand cleaved to the sword; and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Har′arite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.

…These things did Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

2 Samuel 23:8-12, 22-23

Image if we had 30 mighty men working in every diocese and 3 mighty men working in every parish? Imagine instead of slaining 800 we brought that number of men to Christ! There is nothing we could not do with the power of God!

We are coming out of a very difficult time in our lives and in the church and many ministries became inactive during the last 2 years. God Squad Canada, on the other hand, continued to reach the men of Southern Alberta and beyond. With the world normalizing again, we are receiving many requests for God Squad to do BBQ’s and works of service, not to mention trying to build the network of men in our diocese.

We need you!

Please prayerfully consider joining our mission with your gifts and talents. We would love to see you, and we would especially like to invite the young men to join us in the following apostolates.

BBQ outreach, which is 2-4 hours of volunteer time depending on the event and what is being served. Recent examples are CCO banquet serving brisket, Bishop McNally Grade 12 retreat serving 500 Spolumbos and the same for the 200 at the Diocese Synod wrap up.
Parish leaders or captains to help build men’s ministry at the parish level and be a conduit for God Squad to invite men to events.
We have requests from Bishop McGrattan and the community to do different works of service. We have recently been asked to paint the church in Brocket and lead a procession for a statue of Our Lady of the Cape from the cathedral to the shrine in Canmore.
Disc Golf evangelization is a new endeavour that God Squad has undertaken. It is still in its infancy and we are hoping to host a tournament, run clinics and create more disc artwork.

Please fill out this form and together we can win the day for Christ!

We are hoping to gather a team of 10 and be able to start and complete the work on a Saturday.
Right now we are tentatively looking to schedule this on one of the two last weekends’ of August 2022.

Volunteer

Disc Golf

Richard Beaulieu Disc Golf, News, Outreach, Sean Blair February 12, 2022

Why Disc Golf and God Squad?

Disc golf is a great fit for God Squad

By Sean Blair

My first exposure to disc golf was a number of years ago when my young family went out to the Canmore Nordic Centre. We saw the maps of the course and thought “Hey, why not! Throwing frisbees is fun!”.

We rented our discs and trotted out to the first hole with our small army of (at the time) 6 young children and thought “how hard could it be?”

Very hard, actually.

We quickly found ourselves off in the trees looking for lost discs, and also found many young adults “playing through”. Many of them, I noted, had full backpacks of discs, and seemed to know how to handle them.

After two holes of playing hide and seek with our discs, we decided maybe this wasn’t the right time and place for our family to figure this game out (Nordic Centre is a tough course), and we instead decided to do some orienteering.

I found out that there was a tournament happening the next day and all the young adults playing through were doing their practice rounds for it.

I was intrigued at the passion and dedication that these players showed.

Fast-forward a number of years and my kids are getting older. I see a course built in our local Baker Park in the NW of Calgary and I am intrigued. My young teens show interest as well and we pick up a couple starter sets and now three years later, it has grown to a passion for our family as well (I don’t have the backpack yet, but I’m getting there!).

Disc Golf has a number of positive aspects to it:

Depending on the course, pretty much all ages can play
It is challenging, and thus rewarding
It is easy to pick up (if you can throw a frisbee, you can play!), but difficult to master
Fosters socializing and camaraderie
It is not uncommon to see babies in strollers along for the ride, thus is a great sport for the whole family!

So why would a Catholic men’s organization be jumping into disc golf?

It would seem that the sport is a great fit for God Squad:

A chance for men and their families to get outside and join other men in a meaningful pursuit
Healthy competition between men is always a good thing
An opportunity to encourage each other (Iron sharpens iron)
A chance to promote our patron Saint Joseph? Yes Please!
Young men really enjoy the sport and it is still an approachable game for all skill levels
Last, but not least: Nothing beats a good Spolumbos BBQ after 18 “holes” of golf

We want to encourage you, as you register for this year’s conference, to pick up a set of discs, and plan to join us for the tournaments and activities being planned as we speak. If you’ve been inactive during these past couple years of COVID, I could not recommend a better sport to get limber and moving again.

We’ll see you on the course!!

If you are interested in learning more about the sport, feel free to check out the following sites:

https://www.pdga.com/news/what-disc-golf-guide-parents-kids

https://calgarydiscgolf.com

Faith Spotlight

Richard Beaulieu Conference, Men's Conference, News, Outreach, Uncategorized February 12, 2022

Faith Spotlight

With Mario Toneguzzi

Change is on the Rise:
Ushering The New Springtime

Mario interviews Sean Lynn of God Squad Canada on the theme of its upcoming 25th Anniversary Men’s Conference. Sean gives testimony on how 4 police officers started God Squad and how grateful he is for all the many volunteers over the years that made God Squad what it is today. From Men’s Conferences, to BBQ Outreach, to motorcycle rides or disc golf, God Squad is about reaching out to young men, forming and strengthening men and to inspire them to embrace God’s vocation in their lives.

Sean says that this year’s theme was inspired by Avi Kaplan’s song “Change on the Rise” and St. John Paul II’s new springtime in his encyclical REDEMPTORIS MISSIO, long before the current political winds and discourse in the media. Inspired by reflection, Sean recognizes, as farmers do, that the springtime is a time of hard work. As “we’re coming out of two years of struggle and strife we need to work hard at coming together and work for healing” and building up the Kingdom of God.

Sean is excited to announce our speakers and who will be presiding the opening Mass: Jeff Cavins, Brett Powell and Bishop William McGrattan of the Diocese of Calgary.

Undaunted by the pandemic, God Squad has been able, through the good graces and protection obtained from its patron Saint; Saint Joseph, to be able to host a men’s conference online at the St. Joseph’s Oratory, in the Year of St. Joseph, whilst it was closed. This year, the Conference will be in person. For those who are unable to attend physically, they can join the conference online.

“We understand that wherever you’re at, we want you to join, if it’s small groups across the country, get together and watch! But you’re not going to get the Spolumbo’s [sausages] if you don’t show up.”

There’s room for 1,200 now as the restrictions have been lifted. “So come and help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary!”

God Squad’s 2022 Conference is being held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Calgary on March 18 and 19, 2022. Everyone registering will get a free copy of Chris Stefanik’s “Rise A 30 – Day Challenge” that you can start on Feb 16 to be done in time for the Conference.

Also available from God Squad is a set of Disc Golf discs with a driver named Terror of Demons. Sean sees disc golf as an opportunity to bring families together or to strengthen mentor relationships with the men in your life.

Please join God Squad on March 10, 2022, in honoring God in St. Joseph by joining them in the Novena to St Joseph.

Rolling Thunder

Richard Beaulieu GS Motorcycle Ride, Inspire, News, Outreach, Sean Lynn October 16, 2021

Rolling Thunder

I was praying that God would use this opportunity to bring our group leaders together with a renewed direction.

Direction he gave!

Kevin Philip, Regina

“You gotta meet Sean Lynn and the God Squad.” 5 years ago, a good friend of mine encouraged me to reach out to Sean. His name was Gerald Montpetit and he was about to lead worship at our first annual men’s retreat in Regina. Our keynote speaker was the indomitable Jim “Butch” Murphy from Michigan (another excellent friend and mentor of mine–and a fantastic public speaker, FYI). I told Gerald that I wanted to host a men’s retreat and that I just had to serve a BBQ’d Pig on a Spit. Gerald said that Sean was the guy I needed to talk to.

Who would’ve known that 5 years later (in 2021) our small men’s ministry, Made for Greatness, would still be kickin’ around and that Sean would be rolling thunder through Regina with 5 other exceptional men to meet us–right when I needed it the most. I knew that God was calling our wee ministry to go deeper, I just didn’t know exactly how. While Sean was graciously coordinating when they were going to arrive, I was praying that God would use this opportunity to bring our group leaders together with a renewed direction.

Direction he gave!

The men from God Squad were such good men, and we had a great time together. The best, though, was their exhortation to Preach the Gospel–it was like they heard my cry to God for a clear path! They even used the same words I used in my prayer: Kerygma, Rekindle the Flame, Go Deeper with God. On a personal level, it was so cool for me to meet these exceptional men and hear God’s voice through their sharing. The Regina men who came to meet them were so impressed to hear from their God Squad brothers … as their Brothers with a shared goal: forming men into Disciples of Jesus.

Sean wanted me to be brief, so I’ll wrap it up with this: myself and our Regina Brothers are so grateful to have met Sean and the other men who came to Regina. We are so grateful that they rolled the Thunder of God into our hearts and into our city.

ADW Deacon Harold

Richard Beaulieu Inspire, News September 27, 2021

ADW Deacon Harold

Episode 44

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers – Portland, Oregon, United States

In this week’s episode of a Dram With Friends, Deacon Harold joins Sean in the pub to discuss his journey from the monastery to Law Enforcement to service to the Church, being ordained as a Deacon.

Deacon Harold shares some of his passions in engaging with people both in his time as a Police Chief and as a Deacon, and treating each person always with dignity and respect, and getting to know each person’s story.

2019 Annual Men’s Conference

Joey Paul GSC Team Blogs, Men's Conference, News, Sean Lynn January 13, 2018

Be not Afraid; To be a Saint

This Year’s Conference is March 15-16th.

Conference Schedule

Bishop Scott McCaig CC

Bishop Scott McCaig CC, is from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. He entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1987, and after serving with NET Catholic Youth Ministries USA joined the Companions of the Cross in 1989 in Ottawa. He obtained an undergraduate degree in History from Carleton University, a Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology from the University of St. Paul, and a Masters of Divinity degree from the University of Toronto (Toronto School of Theology). He was ordained to the priesthood in 1995 by Archbishop Marcel Gervais. He has served as an Associate Pastor, Parish Administrator, Hospital Chaplain, and Director of Formation for the Companions of the Cross from 200 to 2006. He served two terms as General Superior of the Society from 2006 to 2016.

Bishop Scott serves on the Board of Renewal Ministries Canada and has participated in missionary outreach to over 15 countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. He also serves on the Board of Catholic Christian Outreach and is involved in the spiritual formation of the members of the movement. He regularly assists with training of missionaries with NET Ministries of Canada and is a co-Chaplain to the Spiritual Motherhood of Priests Apostolate in Ottawa.

Jeff Cavins

Jeff Cavins is recognized nationally and internationally as a dynamic Bible teacher who can take complex theological concepts and make them practical for everyone.

After twelve years as a Protestant pastor, Jeff returned to the Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Paul Dudley.

Over the past several years, Jeff has dedicated his life to developing The Great Adventure Bible Studies, an extremely useful, practical and color coded interactive Bible study system. This system enables students to understand the chronological flow of Scripture, following salvation history. To date, more than 2,200 Great Adventure studies have been conducted helping hundreds of thousands of Catholics and other Christians learn Sacred Scripture in a practical way.

Jeff is founding host of EWTN’s Life on the Rock and his conversion story is found in the best-selling book, My Life on the Rock: A Rebel Returns to the Catholic Faith. He is also the author of I’m Not Being Fed! Discovering the Food the Satisfies the Soul and he is co-editor of the Amazing Grace series of books, which feature stories concerning faith, hope, healing, inspiration and humor that strengthen the spirit and nourish the soul.

Jeff received an MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is currently the Director of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute based
in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jeff resides with his wife, Emily, and their three daughters in Minnesota

March 15th and 16th, 2019 at St. Peter’s Parish, Calgary, AB.

Doors open at 6pm on Friday, 7:30am on Saturday.

Special Student rates. Priests and Deacon’s may attend at no cost!

Financial assistance is available – please contact us

2017 Annual Men’s Conference

Sean Lynn GSC Team Blogs, Men's Conference, News, Sean Lynn January 13, 2017

Our annual Men’s Conference this year is March 17-18th

Conference Schedule

An invite from God Squad's Chaplain, Fr. Jonathan Gibson

Featured Speakers at this year’s conference:

Steve Wood has led youth, campus, and pro-life ministries. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, he served as an Evangelical pastor for a decade before his entire family converted to Catholicism in 1990. Responding to a challenge from Pope John Paul II to strengthen families, he started the Family Life Center International in 1992. Over the past fifteen years, the Family Life Center has networked with thousands of families in over 68 countries.Steve is also the founder of St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers, a movement that seeks to transform society through the transformation of fathers and families. Utilizing his books Christian Fatherhood & Legacy, CDs, television, radio, and conferences, Steve has reached tens of thousands of men in the USA, Canada and overseas with a message of Christian faith and responsibility. He is the host of the live Faith and Family broadcasts on EWTN worldwide radio, as well as the host of The Carpenter Shop, a show for men on EWTN television.Steve has also written two books: The ABCs of Choosing a Good Husband and The ABCs of Choosing a Good Wife to assist young adults in choosing a lifetime partner and preparing for marriage.Steve and Karen Wood have been married twenty-nine years and are the parents of eight children.

Damon Owens, international speaker and evangelist, is the founder and executive director of Joy To Be (joyTOB.org) a new 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry of Stewardship: A Mission of Faith centered on St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Following four-years as the first executive director of the Theology of the Body Institute, he served as Chairman of the 2016 International Theology of the Body Congress. He previously founded Joy-Filled Marriage New Jersey, and New Jersey Natural Family Planning Association, non-profit organizations dedicated to building a marriage culture through training, seminars, and conferences. Damon and his wife Melanie taught Natural Family Planning (NFP) for 14 years, and served as NFP Coordinators for the Archdiocese of Newark (NJ).
A Certified Speaker for the Theology of the Body Institute, National Trainer for Ascension Press, and presenter at the 2015 World Meeting of Families, Damon keeps a full international speaking schedule at conferences, marriage seminars, universities, high schools, seminaries, and parishes on the good news of marriage, sexuality, Theology of the Body, Theology of the Family, adoption, and NFP. Damon currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Melanie and their eight children.

Jon Courchene is originally from Lanigan, Saskatchewan. After graduation Jon spent four years doing various types of youth ministry, including two years as a Deanery Youth Ministries Coordinator in the Diocese of Prince Albert. With a renewed desire for retreat ministry, Jon joined FacetoFace Ministries in 2007. After completing a Bachelors degree in Social Work, Jon began working full time with FacetoFace. He is now the Executive Director and co-leads the FacetoFace School Retreats.

March 17th and 18th, 2017 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Calgary, AB.

Doors open at 6pm on Friday, 7:30am on Saturday.

Special Student rates. Priests and Deacon’s may attend at no cost!

Financial assistance is available – please contact us

Divine Mercy Novena

Sean Lynn News, Sean Lynn March 23, 2016Divine Mercy, Mercy, Novena, St. Faustina

Please join the God Squad in praying this Novena that begins on Good Friday and ends on the Sunday immediately following Easter.

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

“These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.’ The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.”

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

“On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy … On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.”

The Divine Mercy Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

Feast of Divine Mercy

St Joseph – Humility for the ages

Sean Lynn GSC Team Blogs, News, Sean Lynn February 2, 2015

Mark Wiebe and Sean Lynn in front of the side altar dedicated to St Joseph in St Peter’s Basilica

Michele and I have been on the pilgrimage of a life time. We went to to the Holy land with Jeff Cavins and his wife, Emily. There were 180 pilgrims, 23 from Canada. We visited so many of the holy

sites, that it may take months to comprehend it all. We decided to add Rome to our itinerary on our way home.

Many of you know that I have a great devotion to St Joseph and have relied heavily on his intersession over the years. I just did another novena before Christmas asking him for assistance in finding a speaker for the 2015 God Squad conference and completing our house renovations. He has never failed to help my family including making the pilgrimage a reality.

During our time in the Holy Land I saw a simple church dedicated to St. Joseph next to the Church of The Annunciation, which was massive. St Joseph’s humble workshop is housed in the basement of the little church. I inquired of our guides if there was a spot that is St Joseph’s resting place. There was not.

Then in Rome we toured the excavation under the Vatican to see St Peter’s bones which are located under the High Alter at St Peter’s Basilica. This led us into the Vatican Grotto where many of the popes are laid to rest. We then proceeded into St Peter’s Basilica where we were able to pray at the tombs of St Pope John Paul II and St Pope John XXIII. It was a little later in our visit that I located the side alter dedicated to St Joseph.

That was where the pilgrimage, and all I had done and seen, hit me hard. I had been on this trip due to St. Joseph’s intercession and there was very little recognition of him anywhere. He was so humble that his final resting place is not even recognized. I asked myself how this could happen? I struggle to imagine how it was that he didn’t brag about his boy – “Did you see how Jesus blew away the Rabbis in the Temple when he was 14?”

This was not him though. There is very little recognition of him and his role as the foster father of Jesus and the head of the holy family on earth, in the churches we visited. I found out that of the 66 basilicas in Rome one bears his name but it was only started in 1912. Pope Pius IX declared him Patron of the universal church. He wasn’t even included in the mass for the first 1900 years. Pope John XXIII added him to the canon of the mass and Pope Francis just added him to 3 of the eucharistic prayers.

Canadians are so privileged to have St Joseph as our Patron Saint (which could be why we are so polite). We have 2 basilicas dedicated to St Joseph, including St Joseph’s Oratory, which is the 3rd largest dome in the world. He is finally being recognized after 1900 years of sitting in the shadows.

I pray that I can begin to follow St Joseph closer, walking in humility.

Looking from the Mt of Olives

Wake Up Parents!

Tim O'Connor GSC Team Blogs, News, Sean Lynn December 1, 2013

I say that in my loudest firm police voice!

It’s the day after Thanksgiving Day and I want to scream. I listened to the news about how a 12 year old girl in Florida committed suicide after being bullied on-line by two 12 and 14 year old girls. The 14 year old posted IDGAF when she learned of the girl’s death.

I picked up my son from school later that day and he talked about a survey they did in Religion class that day. He said that only 3% of the class attended mass regularly (I told him that meant he was the only one) and half the class didn’t even believe in God!

My question in both of these situations is, where are the parents? I must have missed the part in the 10 commandments where it says that you must have Facebook account! Why is a 12 year old girl getting bullied for a year on social media with neither set of parents figuring it out? It was allegedly over a boyfriend. Why are 12 year old girls even worried about boys? We have sexualized our kids way too young and adults encourage it as being so cute. I remember watching a dance show on TV where Paula Abdulla was asking a young boy and girl between the ages of 7 and 9 years old if they were a couple. Seriously!! If I could have grabbed her through the TV I would have given her my best Fr. Sean speech.

Then there are all the grade 10’s that don’t even believe in God, let alone attend Mass. They didn’t get to that point on their own. I understand that they may start questioning the faith at that age but to have the epic failure of faith? It took time to get there. Parents, why are your kids in the Catholic school system if you don’t pass on the faith to them? Teachers, how does a kid get through 9 years of religion class and not believe in God. We are failing these children because when they have troubles like the bullying listed above, they do not know that there is a loving God to turn to.

It is important that you lead by example by attending Mass regularly (it’s one of the precepts of the church). Give your children room to make the faith their own by attending solid Catholic youth events or camps. Talk to them by having family dinners at least 5 nights a week. On holidays attend historical churches and places. It is also ok to say no to Facebook, Twitter and cell phones. Get some good parental controls on your computer if you do allow them so you can monitor inappropriate conversations (some programs will notify you if certain words are used).

Most of all don’t give up the fight to be a good father or mother. It is easier to give in to the world pressures, to have the latest greatest thing. You will thank yourself later when you are not are trying to figure out what to do with the 20 something year old living in the basement playing Grand Theft Auto 5 (over a billion dollar in sales) for 15 hours a day. Start today by being that example that your kids desperately need.

Novena to St. Joseph

Sean Lynn News, Sean Lynn March 11, 2013

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Come to my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me. Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all good gifts, I come before you to honor you in your saints and ask their help in my many needs. You promised those who ask, would receive; those who seek, would find; those who knock, would have doors opened to them. Hear the prayers of your church, grant my requests, and pardon my sins. Amen

St. Joseph, just and true, with a father’s care you raised the Child Jesus, and with a husband’s love you shared your life with Mary, his mother. I entrust myself to your care and place in your hands these requests of mine.

(Personal intention)
In quiet Nazareth long ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart and you followed God’s will with wonderful faith.
In the quiet of my days, and in the hard choices I must make, help me follow the Spirit’s guidance and believe when I cannot see.

Day 1

O God, guide of those who listen and helper of those who hear your voice, speak to me, as you did to St. Joseph, and help me accomplish the things you give me to do.