“Strong men, strong families. Strong families, strong Church. Strong Church, we take back this culture — but it has to start with us.”

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers — known in Catholic multimedia as the “dynamic deacon” — said this during his keynote talk after the opening Mass for the 2024 annual Archdiocesan Men’s Conference held in March at St. Joseph in Rosemount.

Deacon Burke-Sivers encouraged the 500-plus attendees to embrace accountability and responsibility — starting with taking a bold and honest look at how well, we, as men, lead by example in living our Catholic faith and how that resonates with those we provide for, protect and lead at home.

As attention-getting as those opening comments were, what stuck with me most deeply were his parting comments.

Deacon Burke-Sivers posed this question: “Who’s going to have your back?”

Having served four years in the armed forces a few decades ago, I still appreciate titles, themes and taglines derived from military expressions and experiences such as: “Band of brothers,” “No man left behind” or “I’ve got your back.” The latter was our keynote speaker’s reference in his closing comments and prayer.

He alluded to St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, to “put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil” (Eph 6:11). Subsequent verses speak to “your back” as being unprotected. Calling to mind the physical dress and equipment of Roman soldiers, St. Paul spiritualizes this armor and armament as “loins girded in truth,” “righteousness as a breastplate,” “feet shod in readiness,” “faith as a shield,” “the helmet of salvation,” and finally, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (see Eph 6:14-17).

Tracing back to the era of sword fighting, warriors would cover each other’s backs by fighting back-to-back. Deacon Burke-Sivers’ point was that spiritual warfare in the Christian life is no different.

Beyond this annual conference, we need to look to each other and gather regularly in Catholic men’s groups. Fellowship activities planned and designed for spiritual strength, support and livelihood can occur during parish evangelization small group sessions, prayer vigils, quarterly rallies, barbecues, guys nights out, service activities and numerous other ways for men to engage. Brothers in Christ that “have your back” is why Catholic Watchmen accentuate and stress the proverbial Scripture “as iron sharpens iron” (Pr. 27:17).

The conference was grace-filled not only with two highly acclaimed Catholic speakers and authors — Deacon Burke-Sivers and Jeff Cavins — but the attendees also had a chance to meet and listen to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Bishop Joseph Williams, Bishop Michael Izen and Deacon Joe Michalak. The day was enveloped with the presence of Jesus from beginning to end — his real presence in the Mass which kicked off the day, and Eucharistic adoration, procession, and Benediction, sending us out on mission with God’s blessing. Our shepherds, our priests, our deacons, our lay apostolates and vendors, all participants and volunteers, made the presence of Jesus that much more realized. And an assurance that there is an army of true believers — men of Christ — who can look to each other and confidently say, “I’ve got your back.”

During a closing prayer, Deacon Burke-Sivers said: “Loving Father, thank you for sending Jesus your son to be our perfect example of a Godly man, who demonstrated that living as a man of God is to walk in Spirit and truth, in submission to the Holy Spirit and obedience to you, his heavenly Father. Lord, we lift up Catholic men everywhere and pray that your spirit of grace and truth may rest on each one. … Endow these men with courage, strength and fortitude to meet the challenges of a post-pandemic world head on. Enlighten their minds and inflame their hearts so that they may grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. That they do not rely on their own abilities but become strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty arm alone. Build up the body of Christ, we pray, with an army of Catholic men who will become fierce enemies of the evil one. Faithful men to become prayer warriors and intercessors for their families and for the whole Church in these dark days we are currently facing. May they be men that pray always in humility and in supplication and may they stand as watchmen, guardians and defenders of all entrusted to their care. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and assists with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for existing tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or any other questions regarding ministry to men, contact him at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.