Exodus 90
Advent 2024
There is hope for our world. As we prepare for Christmas, God can renew our hearts in the gift of hope!
The Christmas season continues to bring our country together in the pursuit of joy and peace. Even if many overlook the reason for the season, we can refocus our attention on the coming of Christ in hope. The Son of God came into the world over two thousand years ago, but the celebration of Christmas continues to invite him to come anew into our hearts and the world. He comes to renew us, giving us confidence that God will triumph over all evil in the world, bringing his Kingdom of peace and love.
Join us this Advent as we put our hope in the Prince of Peace prophesied by Isaiah, the one who continues to bring peace into the world. He does so not by intervening from above, but by coming to abide in our hearts, making us men of peace who spread the Kingdom of God in the world. By taking the preparation of Advent seriously, we open our lives to the renewal of grace, becoming men of hope who stand ready to follow the Prince of Peace at all times. Through joyful asceticism, we will keep our gaze fixed on the things that matter most throughout the Christmas season.
Exodus is a spiritual exercise crafted for you to help you become the man you were created to be. You’ll learn to pray every day, allowing you to be more honest with God. Not sure how? Don’t sweat it, we’ll show you.
It is normal for men to be distracted, addicted, and enslaved by so many things today. Alcohol. Pornography. Social media. Sports. Gambling. Work. Comparison. Achievement. Wealth. Legacy. It is so normal, in fact, that society’s stereotypes of men are often associated with the very idols that plague them.
What is uncommon in our time is men who are free. A free man is not a perfect man but one who remembers who he is: a son of God whom God has called forth for love. And he knows how much more he can become by the power of grace unfolding in his life over time.
Exodus is not a spiritual marathon or another secular men’s challenge. Through contemplative prayer, men open up to a vulnerable relationship with God. Through asceticism, men grow in the power to say “no” to the common things of the world that hold them back. Through fraternity, men have the essential support, encouragement, and mercy of other men striving after the same uncommon ideals.
Why Join?
Saint Dominic once said, “A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them or be ruled by them.” If we’re ruled by our ‘modern Pharaohs,’ how can we truly be free to become the men God made us to be? Exodus gives you the tools to take control of your life and find deeper unity with God — and a brotherhood of men on the same path.
Our pastor - Father DeAscanis - offers more insights on the benefits of Exodus.
Yes, sometimes we fast. But, other times, we feast!
Asceticism is about saying “no” to lesser things so that we are able to say “yes” when God asks greater things from us. Though we should strive to reject evil in every instance, we should also abstain from good things for periods of time so that we can remain focused on what matters most in our lives. Asceticism is not about proving something to yourself, showing that you are strong enough to others, or earning God’s grace.
Numerous men from St. Louis and St. Francis pastorate have participated in multiple Exodus sessions over the past several years. All of these men had their lives transformed for the better. Many continue to invest in the relationships they formed during that time by continuing to meet weekly as a fraternity on Monday evenings.
Questions or want to know more about Exodus, contact Chuck Gait cfgait@gmail.com or Don Tsusaki designs@zitherist.com.
