03/14/2021
The Society of St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family
The purpose of this Society is to glorify the Life and Teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ in concrete ways through prayer and acts of charity.
1. This Society has been inspired by the Canadian psychologist Jordan B. Peterson and a single mother and her 4 children. Peterson's significance is in his call for young men to imagine what the highest good they can conceive of and to strive for that. This mother's story, who I met through a Facebook group tugged at my heart and I felt compelled to help this single mother in a material way. Furthermore, my discernment with the archdiocese of Toronto, Augustinians and Jesuits of Canada has given my idea some structure and guidance.
2. The intention is for young men to find meaningful ways to engage with the world while fulfilling the two Great Commandments of our Lord. The malaise of modernity is to be analyzed, thought about and prayerfully combated while being fools for Christ.
3. The secular purpose of this Society is to identify and support single mothers and to have 2 or 3 single working men offer as much care to that family as possible. The exact nature of these relationships between the two groups is indeterminate, but should include at least monetary assistance and prayer for the mother and her children.
4. The young men might provide other material support like purchasing groceries, providing transportation, home maintenance etc as determined by their relationship with the single mother. The mother will determine what levels she wishes for support. She will be the primary determinant how and what the support will be.
5. This Society might evolve into a religious order with focus on urban and communal aspect. I envision it as a home for young men in particular who have difficulty adjusting into "normal" larger society. In some ways, I almost consider it as a Society that wants "nerds" who are worldly failures but love philosophy, history and are intellectually curious by nature.
