RAISING UP SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST

The Soldiers of Christ is a men’s apostolate, based in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, CA helping men to be more virtuous and to draw into a deeper relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fulfill the awesome mission God created you for!

Email The Soldiers of Christ

Our Mission

To bring men together in Christian brotherhood, and train them for daily spiritual battle to be Christ-like leaders through the model of St. Joseph.

Be formed in the image of Our Lord and train for spiritual battle in a fraternity of Catholic Men.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27: 17

The Soldiers of Christ are small fraternities (5-8 men) that meet weekly (during a liturgical season), pray together, encounter Christ in Sacred Scripture, and hold themselves accountable to be more Christ-like, through a Spiritual Game Plan.

St. Michael's Lent

August 22, 2024 - September 26, 2024

Thursdays @ 6:30 PM

Email to JOIN the St. Eugene's Fraternity

Why Join?

Be firm. Be strong. Be a man. And then...be a saint. St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 22

Develop a personal relationship with Our Lord through a brotherhood, Sacred Scripture & the Spiritual Game Plan.
Strengthen your marriage by learning about God's plan for the family.
Become a heroic father to your children through the model of St. Joseph.
Learn to live your faith in daily, ordinary life.
Find support and friendship in a brotherhood of Catholic Men.

The Spiritual Game Plan is a training system that includes prayers & disciplines that help form you into a Soldier of Christ.

The devil and his minions tempt you away from Our Lord through a lukewarm attitude and laziness. Be intentional with your relationship with Christ by being aware of him throughout the day, fighting against sin.

Action is worth nothing without prayer: prayer grows in value with sacrifice. St. Josemaría Escrivá, The Way, 90

When you join the Soldiers of Christ, you are committing to a plan of life. You will have a brotherhood that will hold you accountable for your commitment. Become a Soldier of Christ.

Spiritual Game Plan (Daily, Weekly, & Monthly)

Download: IPray with the Gospels (i OS & Andriod)

Daily: 30 minutes (2% of your day)

1. Heroic Minute: Get up earlier to make time for God/prayer.🔗

2. Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day

for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart

in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reperation for my sins,

for the intentions of my family, friends, and The Soldiers of Christ,

and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

3. 15 minutes (minimum) of Mental Prayer.

See the IPray…app section “How to Pray”

4. Gospel of the Day & Reflection

See the IPray…app section “IPray”

5. Grace at Meals

Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

6. One Decade Rosary

7. Nightly Examination of Conscience 🔗

Weekly:

Weekly Soldiers of Christ meeting
One (non-Sunday) Daily Mass
No meat Friday
Dress up for Sunday Mass
Celebrate Sunday as a mini-Easter

Monthly:

Sacrament of Reconciliation

About Our Patron Saints

St. Joseph, Terror of Demons - The model for all men because of his complete trust, faith, and perseverance in doing God's Holy Will as well as his humility and purity. As the head of the Holy Family, he is the model of all husbands and fathers. One of his titles in the Litany of St. Joseph is Terror of Demons. Why? "The devil knows the paternal intercessory power of Saint Joseph and will flee at the very mention of his name." Fr. Donald Calloway
St. Josemaría Escrivá is known as the saint of ordinary life and founder of Opus Dei. Canonized in 2002 by St. John Paul II, his core message was what the Second Vatican Council called the Universal Call to Holiness. In other words, God has called you to greatness in your regular daily life.
St. Michael the Archangel - The leader of God's army, he is the prince of Angels, and a model of strength, courage, and valor.

The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness. Pope Benedict XVI

About Us

Hello, We’re Joe & Donna Hernandez. We are the founders of The Soldiers of Christ. We met in 2011 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Sebastopol, CA while planning and organizing our first bible studies and parish conferences (Fr. Mitch Pacwa & Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers). We got married in 2015. In 2021 we adopted our daughter, Olivia Marie, from South Korea.

In 2022, John Eakin, Eric Umile & Joe Hernandez, started our first men’s group focused on encountering Christ through prayer and Holy Scripture. Guided by the Holy Spirit, and the overwhelming response from our clergy and diocese, The Soldiers of Christ now focuses on men’s ministry and will establish groups at multiple parishes in the diocese.

We are an officially registered group of The Cathedral of St. Eugene’s in Santa Rosa, CA, and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cotati, CA.

On December 16, 2023, John, Eric, and Joe were instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte by his excellence, Bishop Robert F. Vasa.

To LEARN MORE about this ministry click here or see below.

In 1973, in his Motu Proprio, Ministeria Quaedam, St. Paul VI abolished the minor orders and restored the Office of Acolyte (and Lector) to a lay-instituted ministry. The Subdeaconate, a major order, was also suppressed and the sacred functions were assigned to the Instituted Ministries of Lector and Acolyte. It is the local bishop's discretion whether to have the Ministry of Acolyte (and/or Lector) active in his diocese. Still, it is rare outside those pursuing ordination to the diaconate or priesthood in the U.S.

Those installed to the Ministry of Acolyte are Instituted and NOT ordained by a bishop. During The Rite of Institution of Acolytes, each candidate goes to the bishop, who gives him a sacred vessel with the bread or wine to be consecrated, saying:

“Take this vessel *of bread (wine) for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.”***

The acolyte answers, "AMEN!"

“The Ministry of the acolyte has been established in some dioceses. By institution, he is authorized to serve at the altar, assisting the deacon and ministering to the priest, especially by preparing the altar and vessels. He may distribute Holy Communion, as needed, taking precedence over other extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. He may also take precedence over servers in acting as cross bearer, thurifer, etc. …The chief server could be an instituted acolyte. The acolyte wears an alb, but, if he acts as M.C., choir dress may seem preferable.” Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite, 2nd Edition by Bishop Peter J Elliott, # 177

Functions & Distinctions of an Acolyte

GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful.In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally. GIRM 98

In the absence of an Installed Acolyte some of his duties can be performed by an Altar Server(s) and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

There are, however, a few things that are distinct to the Ministry.

The Bishop of the Diocese installs the Acolyte and accepts a life-long ministry. Non-installed servers, such as a Reader, Altar Server, or EMHC, have a typical commission to serve a few years and may stop at any time On the other hand, the Installed Acolyte accepts a permanent commitment to the Ministry.
An Installed Acolyte may prepare the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, if there is no Deacon, by laying out the sacred vessels, and may also purify the sacred vessels after Communion or Mass.
An Acolyte is the official Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. If the Clergy requires assistance in giving out Holy Communion, an Acolyte should assist before other non-installed Extraordinary Ministers are asked.
An Acolyte may expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for Adoration (he may not give Benediction)
Finally, Acolytes may also distribute Holy Communion to the sick

The Diocese of Santa Rosa is one of the few dioceses in the Country that has Instituted Acolytes. You can learn more about the Ministry of Acolyte by reading St. Paul VI's apostolic letter, Ministeria Quaedam.

Resources for Acolytes & Altar Servers

Here are some of the resources that have been extremely helpful in formation to serve in the Ministry of Acolyte. All of these materials can be purchased online or if you are local, at The Cathedral of St. Eugene’s bookstore.

Ceremonies Explained for Servers: A Manual for Altar Servers, Acolytes, Sacristans, and Masters of Ceremonies by Bishop Peter J Elliott
Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite, 2nd Edition by Bishop Peter J Elliott
Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year by Bishop Peter J Elliott
Altar Server Manual by Thom Ryng
General Instruction Of The Roman Missal (G.I.R.M.)

Formation & Spirituality

An Instituted Acolyte should be willing to serve his parish regularly since his installation is a lifelong commitment. Acolytes should strive to learn all altar server roles to lead teams, train other altar servers, and encourage vocations in young altar servers. A strong prayer life with eucharistic adoration and frequent participation in Holy Mass is the foundation for the spirituality of the Instituted Acolyte. The Ministry of Acolyte is centered around service to the Church and the people.