RAISING SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST

The Soldiers of Christ is a Catholic men’s fraternity based at The Cathedral of St. Eugene in Santa Rosa, CA. We form men through prayer, discipline, brotherhood, and the Rule of 7.

Step into the fight.

Join a Fraternity Group

Our Mission

To forge a brotherhood of Catholic men who are trained for spiritual battle, steadfast in virtue, and committed to leading like Christ, following the example of St. Joseph.

Be formed. Be ready. Be a man of God.
Train for spiritual battle with Catholic brothers.

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

Brotherhood in Battle

We stand together in groups of 7–10 men.
Bound by the Rule of 7: seven core disciplines that forge men of God.

St. Michael's Lent

The Battle Is Real. So Is the Call to Holiness.

August 15 – September 29

A 40-day season of prayer, discipline, sacrifice, and brotherhood.

Your Next Steps

Step 1: Email Joe to join
Step 2: Commit to Thursday nights
Step 3: Begin living the Rule of 7
Step 4: Show up weekly with your brothers

Thursday nights only. Space is limited.

Email Joe to Join

What You Are Committing To

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

When you join St. Michael’s Lent, you are committing to:

Begin Together

Saturday, August 15 — Solemnity of the Assumption
Attend Mass and begin the 40-day season together.

Weekly Brotherhood

Meet Thursday nights with your brothers for prayer, accountability, Gospel discussion, and formation.

Thursday Meetings:
August 20
August 27
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24

Daily Prayer

Live the Rule of 7 through the Morning Offering, vocational prayer, Rosary, and examination of conscience.

Weekly Sacrifice

Attend one additional weekday Mass, practice Friday penance, and spend time in Eucharistic Adoration.

Monthly Confession

Go to Confession at least once during St. Michael’s Lent.

Finish Together

Tuesday, September 29 — Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
Attend Mass and conclude the 40-day season together.

No excuses. No comfort zone. Just formation for battle.

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—and to a brotherhood that will hold you accountable to it. Our Spiritual Game Plan is a training system built on the Rule of 7, a set of prayers and disciplines that form you into a Soldier of Christ:

Rule of 7: Daily, Weekly & Monthly Disciplines

ST. MICHAEL’S LENT

RULE OF 7

Soldiers of Christ — 40 Days of Prayer, Discipline, and Sacrifice

DAILY DISCIPLINES

1. Morning Offering
Begin the day under God’s command. Offer your work, sacrifices, struggles, and victories to Him.

2. Vocational Prayers
Pray daily for your vocation as husband, father, single man, or future vocation.

3. Rosary
Pray for protection, purity, leadership, and perseverance for yourself, your family, and the brotherhood.

4. Examination of Conscience – Review your day, acknowledge sins, and thank God for blessings.

WEEKLY DISCIPLINES

5. One Extra Mass
Attend at least one daily Mass in addition to Sunday.

6. Friday Penance
Abstain from meat and social media. Offer the sacrifice for your sanctity and the intentions of the Soldiers of Christ.

7. Eucharistic Adoration
Spend at least 20 minutes in Adoration asking for strength, clarity, and courage to do God’s will.

MONTHLY DISCIPLINE

Confession
Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once during St. Michael’s Lent.

EXTRA CHALLENGE (Optional but Encouraged)

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Meditate on Christ’s Passion and entrust your sins, struggles, family, and future to His mercy.

Daily Carry for Catholic Men

Every man needs a few essentials in the fight, tools you can actually carry, pray with, and lean on when life hits hard. These aren’t accessories; they’re weapons. Here are the three I recommend for every Soldier of Christ:

WWII Battle Beads Rosary – Built like the rosaries carried onto the beaches in WWII. Durable, pocket-ready, and made for daily use.
Miraculous Medal – A powerful sacramental from Rugged Rosaries, not pictured above. Wear it as a reminder of Our Lady’s protection.
Prayers for Catholic Men by Mike Pacer – The best men’s prayer book I’ve found. Straightforward, practical, and perfect for Rule of 7 disciplines.

Keep them with you. Use them daily. Let them keep you grounded in Christ.

GET THE BOOK

About Our Patron Saints

St. Joseph, Terror of Demons
Protector. Husband. Father. Silent warrior of Nazareth. His obedience, humility, and strength made him the head of the Holy Family and the model for every man. The Church calls him Terror of Demons because hell itself trembles at his name. Every Catholic man who invokes him takes up a shield no demon can withstand.

St. Josemaría Escrivá
Known as the saint of ordinary life, he preached that holiness is found not in escape, but in the grind of daily work, family life, and sacrifice. His call was clear: sanctify your everyday life, because God has chosen you for greatness right where you are.

St. Michael the Archangel
Commander of heaven’s armies. Defender of souls. The warrior prince who cast Satan from the heights. St. Michael embodies strength, courage, and valor, and stands as our heavenly captain in the battle every man must fight.

Friday Adoration & Rosary

Take your stand at the altar — lead your family in prayer.

Men, families, and parishioners gather in the Main Church of the Cathedral of St. Eugene for Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Rosary.

This is the time to step out of the busyness of the day, kneel before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and fight for your family and parish in prayer.

Next gathering: TBD

Take your lunch break. Pray with your family. Strengthen your parish family.

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

About Us

The Soldiers of Christ began in 2011 at St. Sebastian’s Church in Sebastopol, California, and was renewed in 2022 through three men — John, Eric, and Joe — who gave it a sharper mission: to form Catholic men for spiritual battle through

Prayer. Brotherhood. Discipline.

On December 16, 2023, Bishop Robert F. Vasa instituted John Eakin, Eric Umile, and Joe Hernandez, founders of Soldiers of Christ, into the Ministry of Acolyte. On June 20, 2026 additional Soldiers of Christ members Jon Flores, Addison Gaspar, Matt Fontana, Rowan Prown, Brandon Barron, and Carlos Ramirez were instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte.

Founded by Acolytes. Forged for Sacred Service.

The Ministry of the Acolyte: Learn More

An instituted Acolyte is a man formally installed by the bishop to serve at the altar and assist the priest and deacon in Holy Sacrice of the Mass.

Sacred Service at the Altar

Prepare the altar and sacred vessels for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Distribute the Eucharist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick.
Expose and Repose the Blessed Sacrament for the faithful to adore (without giving Benediction).
Lead devotions and liturgical functions with the authority of the Church.
Giving certain blessings from the Book of Blessings that are permitted to lay ministers

Acolyte Formation Resources

The ministry of the instituted acolyte extends well beyond serving at Mass. The following resources have been especially helpful in understanding the Church's liturgy, Eucharistic ministry, and the practical duties of serving at the altar. These are excellent additions to every acolyte's library:

A Ritual for Laypersons :Rites for Holy Communion and the Pastoral Care of the Sick — A practical ritual for bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound and leading approved prayers when delegated.
Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass — The Church's official ritual for Communion outside Mass, Eucharistic Exposition, and Adoration.
Ceremonies Explained for Servers by Bishop Peter J. Elliott — The best practical manual available for altar servers, acolytes, sacristans, and masters of ceremonies. It provides detailed ceremonial instruction for Mass and many other liturgical celebrations.
Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite by Bishop Peter J. Elliott — An outstanding reference for understanding the Church's liturgical ceremonies and the roles of bishops, priests, deacons, acolytes, and other ministers.
MTF Daily Roman Missal — An excellent daily companion for praying with the Church's liturgy. Become familiar with the Order of Mass, liturgical seasons, feast days, and the prayers you hear at every Mass.

Contact Us

Ready to Join the Brotherhood?

Step into a Tuesday or Thursday fraternity group and begin training for spiritual battle with other Catholic men.

Email Joe to ask about joining Soldiers of Christ.