March 4th Boldly and Invite!

March 4th Boldly and Invite!

March 4th Boldly and Invite!

Men of Calgary

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

Invitation

Invitation

Invitation from Bishop Scott McCaig

Register today for the 2023 God Squad Men’s Conference today!

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

February 2023 Man-Update

February 2023 Man-Update

February 2023 Man-Update

Register today for the 2023 God Squad Men’s Conference today!

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

January 2023 Man-Update

January 2023 Man-Update

January 2023 Man-Update

Don't let distractions suck life away!

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. 

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on this as it hit very close to home as my dad passed away on December 13th and I was sitting with him in the emergency room just hours before not realizing that it would be the last time that I would talk to him. I was busy doing a crossword puzzle on my phone for a bit, just trying to pass the time. He started talking about what he wanted for his funeral, like carrying him in his casket on our shoulders. “There is no way in hell you are wheeling me down the aisle!” He talked about the importance of family dinners and he wanted me and my siblings to take turns hosting the family. I was oblivious to the fact that it would be the last time I would hear him say anything. It was a very hard lesson for me thinking; I’ll have another week, or another month or year to talk about these things. I wanted to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with him, thinking I would have another opportunity to do so.

 

The question is; how much do we give away by having our phones at the dinner table or vegging in front of the television or computer, watching TV shows and playing games instead of engaging with those we love.

 

 One can see how much life is sucked away with these distractions.  Perhaps we need to set up some rules such as no phones at the dinner table, which allows for discussion and community building and family togetherness. We hope that we will learn from this experience and recognize when it’s time to have meaningful conversations with loved ones. This is just a little reflection of what we have coming with this year’s theme: Memento Mori; remember your death. 

 

We are blessed to have Fr. Raymond de Souza and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers as our speakers this year. The conference will take place on March 17th and 18th at Saint Michael’s Catholic community. Please don’t miss this opportunity to invite a friend or loved one who needs to belong to a community of men challenging each other to go out in this world and stand strong as a Beacon of hope within their families, the Church, and the world.

December 2022 Man-Update

December 2022 Man-Update

December 2022 Man-Update

We can move the needle in reaching out to men

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.”

“To my dad, Timothy Francis Lynn, may he rest in peace.”

 

God bless you all.

Giving Tuesday 2022

Giving Tuesday 2022

God Squad & Giving Tuesday Campaign 2022

Every Dollar Matched!

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.
Thank you for your support.

From left to right: Stephen Cross, Jeff Cavins, Sean Lynn, Brett Powell, Lorand Szojka, Stephen Kaip, Richard Beaulieu

November 2022 Man-Update

November 2022 Man-Update

November 2022 Man-Update

Support Ministry to Men

By Sean Lynn, president of God Squad Canada

 

In this installment of Man Update, Sean  makes a rare plea to men to support ministry to men.

 

God Squad has been extremely busy this year: BBQs, painting a church, completing the score for The Litany to St Joseph, partnering with the Catholic Men Leadership Alliance (CMLA), working with them to reach out to men where they are at, from the Calgary Diocese and across Canada.  Sean points out that this work is  “Ministry to Men” and is different from  “Men’s Ministry”.

 

To this end, Sean is asking you to continue to support God Squad with your prayers, your time and with financial support.

 

God Squad is extremely excited to announce that they have a donor that will match your donation up to $25,000.  Please prayerfully consider giving to God Squad Canada to support their endeavors.

We need your prayers.  We need you to volunteer as a leader, as a man on a mission for God. 

 

Join us on our mission, whether you want to run a disc golf tournament, a parish breakfast, volunteer with our BBQ outreach or whatever God is calling you to do to help men become the men that God has called them to be.

 

We invite you to reach out to us at info@godsquad.ca

Don’t miss A Dram With Friends with John Edwards.

Meet John Edwards founder and executive director of Pew Ministries, a Catholic speaker and evangelist that has spoken in Canada and across the United States.

October 2022 Man-Update

October 2022 Man-Update

October 2022 Man-Update

Celebrating with John Paul II

By Fr. Marius Sztuk, SDS

 

October 22 is the memorial of the Pontifical Inauguration of St. John Paul II in 1978 and Father Marius will be celebrating with John Paul the Second.

 

Come and take a look at the Orange County Chopper that gives tribute to one of the greatest Saints of our times.  This chopper has an S&S Engine with Baker transmission and has lots of horsepower.  Find out what the colours of Poland are and where to find the keys to the kingdom; who opens the gate and what is the gate?

Don’t miss A Dram With Friends with Jimmy Akin.

We have new friends visiting us in the pub like Jimmy Akin and  our old friends like Jeff Cavins, Jake Khym.  Don’t miss out.  Subscribe now!

September 2022 Man-Update

September 2022 Man-Update

September 2022 Man-Update

God is calling leaders in every parish

By Sean Lynn President God Squad Canada

 

We are so busy. From this summer’s motorcycle ride to BBQs and painting a Church in the hopes of building bridges with indigenous peoples. 

 

There are so many things that God has put on our hearts.  We need you to let us know what God is putting in yours.  We are looking for leaders in every parish across the country.  That is the task that was given Sean at the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance (CMLA):  A vibrant Ministry to Men in every diocese in Canada. Let us go to St. Joseph who inspired us to begin the Litany to St. Joseph Project; putting the litany in song.  Stay tuned for updates whilst we count on your prayers and support. 

 

St. Peter’s Catholic Church https://st-peters.ca/ in Calgary is starting a Holy Hour for Men on the first Saturday of every month.  Please join us on Oct 1, 2022 at 08:00 for the Rosary, 08:30 Mass begins; followed by Adoration.  Confession will be available and there will be fellowship afterwards.  

 

Reserve March 17 and 18 2023 in your calendars for our 26 Annual Men’s Conference.  Remember Jeff Cavins Activated Disciple Change: Bring another man with you to the conference this year.  Sean is very confident that the Spolumbos’ sausages will be back again this next conference.

God Squad wants you!  

God Squad is looking for a leader to take over the Disc Golf Evangelization for the 2023 season.  We are especially looking for young men.  You will have all the support you need to be successful; including mentorship.  

God Bless.

Don’t miss season three of A Dram With Friends.

 

We will have new friends visiting us in the pub and we will have some of our old friends coming back; like Jeff Cavins and Jake Khym to start the season off.

July 2022 Man-Update

July 2022 Man-Update

July 2022 Man-Update

Holy Holidays

Holy Holidays are not a time away from God but a time to spend some quiet time with God.

 

Take your family to new churches and in that way learn some of the history and heritage of the Church.  Take this opportunity to make it a Holy Holiday.  

 

I encourage the men to take this time to reflect on what God is calling you to do in this next year; to what piece do you think He wants you working in.  

 

The Church needs your help to grow the Church in Canada; with ministry to men, whether you have your own group, let’s join forces.

 

Watch and see the beautiful scenery Sean has the privilege to enjoy during his Holy Holiday and how on fire he is returning from the Catholic Men’s Leadership Association (CMLA)  Summit just attended.

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.

June 2022 Man-Update

June 2022 Man-Update

June 2022 Man-Update

Go in the Peace of Christ Transforming the World by the Way You Live Your Life

Love or hate, ready or not, wide or narrow, what path do you observe?

Do you take this path intentionally or do you wander?

 

By virtue of our relationship with Jesus we are in sales and therefore need to be aware of what we’re selling?  Are we truly the bearers of light?

 

Are you happy with yourself or with life?  Lack of peace, and joy is a sign of the absence of Love which opens the door to fear, loneliness and despair.

 

Do you find yourself enslaved by porn?  Do you pray to St. Joseph or your guardian angel for strength in chastity.

 

We are always praying for you that you be open to the Holy Spirit. 

 

“Men, we are on the path. Make today that path a day of redemption.” 

 

Listen to Deacon Stephen’s words of encouragement as he proclaims scripture and offers us his blessings.

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.

March 2022 Man-Update

March 2022 Man-Update

How have you experienced journeying together as the Church?

By Sean Lynn of God Squad Canada 

We are well into March and you would think all my writing would be about our upcoming 25th annual men’s conference, but here I am writing about the Synod on Synodality

(For an article on the Conference see the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary’s blog “Why rise up?”)

I first heard about it at the beginning of the year and wondered what it was about.  From what I have been able to gather is that our Diocese has taken a simple approach asking two questions.

  1. “How have you experienced journeying together as the Church?”
    and
  2. “What steps does The Holy Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?” 

I want to strongly encourage men to take part in this process to ensure that our voices are heard as the church moves forward. We have Catholic news platforms that feel they need to point out all the wrong in the church. We have divisions in every parish across this country due to mandates and political stances.  When I phoned all the dioceses in Canada asking about men’s ministry in their diocese it was like I was speaking a foreign language. There is a lot of work to do and we need you to be part of that work.

God Squad has been trying to point to the truth and beauty of the church and where we are aiming for, Heaven. It is easy to look around and get caught up with the storm of what’s going on around us. We need to keep our eyes on Christ and not lose focus like St Peter did.

“Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water. ”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind,he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14

On our motorcycle ride last summer we were having a discussion about what is going on in the church and the world. The conclusion we came up with is that our job is sales and those were management problems. We are not going to change what the Pope, a Cardinal or Bishop says or does.  We can focus on Christ and walk with the brothers that are right in front of us. 

So invite that man that needs a friend to join you at the 25th annual God Squad Men’s Conference where they will be encouraged and fed (literally with Spolumbos and Tim Hortons). Consider doing the 30 day challenge, Rise, with a man that you can journey with. Order a set of God Squad golf discs to take a friend out to play a round and be a friend to a man that needs a friend. As you do these things hopefully they will help you answer the questions being asked for the Synod.

In closing please watch for your opportunity to take part at the parish level in the synod and join us at the 25th annual God Squad Men’s conference featuring Bishop McGrattan, Jeff Cavins and Brett Powell.

St Joseph Pray for Us!