St. Patrick Catholic Church, Lake Forest, IL

We are a group of Catholic men who determined that in greater fulfillment of our roles as Catholic husbands, fathers, business colleagues, neighbors and friends we have a duty to inform ourselves as completely and maturely as possible about our Catholic Faith and to channel our God-given energies, intellects and earthly goods into living out Christ’s maxim to love one another in word and deed. Essentially, we seek to bind ‘Faith and Reason’ together in our daily lives.

What We Do

We gather for regular monthly meetings that are simultaneously informational and spiritual. “Not for the feint of heart” is how the sessions are billed as they rigorously search the deeper reasoning and foundations of Catholic theology. From this central focal point we structure initiatives to develop our interior lives while helping others. Each initiative is originated by one or more members with the voluntary involvement of likeminded men who elect to commit talents and time within their ability to do so to bring the initiatives to reality.

Thus far, our members:

Serve to ensure Catholic elementary education at the Academy of Our Lady (AOL) in finance, mentoring and other roles
We host an annual retreat attended by as many as 80 men from the parish and surrounding areas.
Staff homeless shelters in the Waukegan
Several lively scripture/prayer groups meet regularly to examine the Gospels’ meaning in men’s lives
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity projects
Sponsor a fledgling Speakers’ Bureau to provide topical presenters on a variety of subjects
We support financially and materially the Cardinal Newman/John Paul II Center at the University of Illinois Medical School (the largest med school in the U.S.) to enliven and heighten Catholic bio-ethics and Catholic identity in the medical profession.

Additionally, we organize and/or support annual pancake breakfast, the Fall Festival, to assist the parish youth programs, and host the St. Patrick’s Day Party and annual Men’s Bar-B-Que.