No More Lone Wolves: How Heroic Men Is Uniting Catholic Men Across North America | Heroic Report: First Quarter
Hi men, starting now, we send you quarterly reports on our progress and projects to strengthen men across North America and beyond.
Let’s recap the essentials:
Men are increasingly isolated and alone, and they lack authentic friendship. In fact, 31% of faithful Catholic men do not have one close personal friend in their parish. (New Emangelization Project survey data). This is tragic…and dangerous.
When men are lonely, rates of anxiety and depression skyrocket. In fact, loneliness has been found to be worse for long-term health than alcoholism, obesity, and smoking 15 cigarettes per day…combined! (Regenstrief Institute & Indiana University School of Medicine).
Often, when men feel this way we try to relieve the pain artificially with entertainment, alcohol, drugs, porn, or a combination of them. Clearly, these things don’t satisfy our heart’s desire but only lead us into greater despair.
What is an answer to turn this around? Keep reading.
Let’s recap the essentials:
Men are increasingly isolated and alone, and they lack authentic friendship. In fact, 31% of faithful Catholic men do not have one close personal friend in their parish. (New Emangelization Project survey data). This is tragic…and dangerous.
When men are lonely, rates of anxiety and depression skyrocket. In fact, loneliness has been found to be worse for long-term health than alcoholism, obesity, and smoking 15 cigarettes per day…combined! (Regenstrief Institute & Indiana University School of Medicine).
Often, when men feel this way we try to relieve the pain artificially with entertainment, alcohol, drugs, porn, or a combination of them. Clearly, these things don’t satisfy our heart’s desire but only lead us into greater despair.
What is an answer to turn this around? Keep reading.
The Heroic Men solution
St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” I believe it. But how do we help men realize this in the midst of their hectic lives, families, and careers?
At Heroic Men, we believe a big part of the solution is Christ-centered brotherhood. Our goal is to help men get together at the local parish level “to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
When men gather in authentic friendship, to pray together, and help each other grow faith great things begin to happen. They become better husbands, fathers, and leaders in their parishes and communities. I’ve seen this many times myself.
In fact, I’ve lived it.
In 2007, my family and I moved to Denver. I became friends with a man named Jeff McGarrity. He was active and involved in our parish where a new men’s group had just been started. He invited me 7 times to come check it out. 7 times!
I declined - not because I wasn’t interested, but because I was super busy and traveling a lot. I finally gave in and decided to join him just to get him off my back! I’m glad he was so persistent because those men changed my life. I met men just like me who were busy with their careers, raising their families, and fighting just to get by. But they weren’t alone. They had each other, they shared their trust and belief in Jesus Christ, and they centered their lives around their Catholic faith.
I found a group of men that encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me to want to be a better man. I will eternally be indebted to Jeff, and I’m so glad he didn’t give up on me.
This is what Heroic Men is all about. We’re committed to leave no man behind.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude at everything God helped our team accomplish for this mission in 2024:
At Heroic Men, we believe a big part of the solution is Christ-centered brotherhood. Our goal is to help men get together at the local parish level “to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
When men gather in authentic friendship, to pray together, and help each other grow faith great things begin to happen. They become better husbands, fathers, and leaders in their parishes and communities. I’ve seen this many times myself.
In fact, I’ve lived it.
In 2007, my family and I moved to Denver. I became friends with a man named Jeff McGarrity. He was active and involved in our parish where a new men’s group had just been started. He invited me 7 times to come check it out. 7 times!
I declined - not because I wasn’t interested, but because I was super busy and traveling a lot. I finally gave in and decided to join him just to get him off my back! I’m glad he was so persistent because those men changed my life. I met men just like me who were busy with their careers, raising their families, and fighting just to get by. But they weren’t alone. They had each other, they shared their trust and belief in Jesus Christ, and they centered their lives around their Catholic faith.
I found a group of men that encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me to want to be a better man. I will eternally be indebted to Jeff, and I’m so glad he didn’t give up on me.
This is what Heroic Men is all about. We’re committed to leave no man behind.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude at everything God helped our team accomplish for this mission in 2024:
- REGIONAL LEADERS: Our team of Regional Leaders grew from 6 to 28 throughout the United States and Canada. These are volunteers committed to the mission of strengthening men throughout their states and provinces. Our Regional Leader of the Year was Santos Hernandez, an extraordinary man of God, leading the charge with an incredible group of men. They are hosting men’s conferences and growing groups throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
- HEROIC MEN App Re-Launch: We relaunched the Heroic Men app and platform in July 2024. App use has skyrocketed 448%. We have 25,000 registered users, and add new video series monthly.
- HEROIC BROTHERHOOD Community: We launched an online community for Catholic men called the Heroic Brotherhood, where men can connect with each other online to share thoughts, ideas, prayers, and inspiration - without the fear of ever being deplatformed because they are boldly sharing their faith. We cross our first 1000 members mark soon.
- HEROIC LEADERSHIP LAUNCH PROGRAM: Men asked for training to multiply their ministry impact. So we launched the Heroic Leadership Workshop and Launch Program. In cohort sessions, men learn leadership essentials that empower & equip parish small groups. We have successfully conducted them in Denver, CO, Long Island, NY, and Rochester, MN and we’re scheduled in Brooklyn, Boston, Calgary, and Edmonton.
Even more specific goals:
Today, we have doubled down on more specific goals to grow this movement of Heroic Men:
HEROIC MEN PARISH GROUPS: After years of testing, tweaking, working with other ministries, and watching what actually works, we’re training men to step up with confidence, not just to grow in their own faith but to actually lead other men. And…it’s working:
HEROIC MEN PARISH GROUPS: After years of testing, tweaking, working with other ministries, and watching what actually works, we’re training men to step up with confidence, not just to grow in their own faith but to actually lead other men. And…it’s working:
- “I’m ready to start a men’s group to help men grow in their faith and get back to church—but I don’t want just another men’s club. I want something that works, something simple and impactful, so we can start right away without having to invent a whole new ministry. That’s why I’m turning to Heroic Men. Their program is field-tested to build confidence and faith, creating a brotherhood of men who are bold followers of Jesus Christ. I've got a dream that every parish in our area has a Heroic Men group—a place where men can form their faith, grow together, and step into their God-given role as heroic Catholic men." - Tom Melton
- “It challenged me and made me grow in my zeal! I want to share my faith with more people. Relationships are the most important thing. First, my relationship with Jesus, and then sharing about him with others.” - Paul Tringali
- “The Heroic Leadership Launch Program opened up a lot of ideas and helped me increase my desire to enhance my men’s group. It challenged me to grow. It forced me to use different spiritual muscles that I don’t regularly use. I feel stronger! I love the lessons, the questions, and the assignments. If you want to start a men’s group it gives you everything you need.” - Jonathan Gamarra
The “Be a Man” Series: Powerful Truth (That Sticks): As promised in December 2024, we’re creating our own series for men to build habits of heroic virtue. We’re going to equip all these Heroic Men groups with a powerful, life-changing series to help them become the men God made them to be. Father Larry Richards - one of the Heroic Men co-founders - he wrote the bestseller book ‘Be a Man!’. We're turning it into an epic series for Heroic Men groups.
As of this report, a film crew is packing their bags to fly down to Fr Larry’s parish in Pennsylvania. They will film twelve, must-watch episodes, packed with raw, life-changing wisdom from one of the best preachers out there.
We’re working to double our audience of 25,000 men to 50,000. We must get this series into their hands.
As of this report, a film crew is packing their bags to fly down to Fr Larry’s parish in Pennsylvania. They will film twelve, must-watch episodes, packed with raw, life-changing wisdom from one of the best preachers out there.
We’re working to double our audience of 25,000 men to 50,000. We must get this series into their hands.
The Heroic Men Summit: A Mission, Not Just an Event: We’ve secured the beautiful campus of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas to host our annual Heroic Men Summit Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 8, 2025.This is our annual, life-transforming masterclass in ministry to men. Men fly in from across the USA, Canada, and beyond to attend. Here’s what some attendees said about 2024:
Registration is open soon for this Heroic Men Summit. Get on the waitlist right now. Bring your men or send your team to join us.
We couldn’t do this without you, and we wouldn’t want to.
Please continue to pray for all of us at Heroic Men, and count on our prayers for you. God bless you,
- The Heroic Leadership Summit is an amazing and powerful experience. I highly recommend it to any man, especially those serving in ministry to men. It was inspiring, encouraging, challenging and most of all, a great environment to encounter Jesus. - 2024 Attendee
- The Holy Spirit was here this weekend! The best conference I have ever attended. Both in content and precision in how it was run. I can’t wait to get to God’s work. - 2024 Attendee
Registration is open soon for this Heroic Men Summit. Get on the waitlist right now. Bring your men or send your team to join us.
We couldn’t do this without you, and we wouldn’t want to.
Please continue to pray for all of us at Heroic Men, and count on our prayers for you. God bless you,
Dan Donaldson
President
Heroic Men
President
Heroic Men
Let's change the lives of 25,000 Men in 2025!
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Posted in Updates